Castilleja School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castilleja School |
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United States
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| Type | Private, College-prep |
| Motto | Women Learning – Women Leading |
| Established | 1907 |
| Founder | Mary Ishbel Lockey |
| Head (interim) | Kathy Layendecker |
| Grades | 6-12 |
| Gender | Girls |
| Enrollment | 426 |
| Average class size | 15 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 6:1 |
| Campus size | 6 acre |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Athletics conference | CIF Central Coast Section (West Bay Athletic League) |
| Mascot | Gator |
| Tuition | $59,600 |
Castilleja School is a private school just for girls in grades six through twelve. It is located in Palo Alto, California. Castilleja is special because it's the only non-religious all-girls middle and high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. The school has about 70 teachers, both women and men. Castilleja helps prepare girls for college.
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History of Castilleja School
Castilleja School was started in 1907 by Mary Ishbel Lockey. She came from Montana and studied at Stanford University. Stanford's first president, David Starr Jordan, encouraged her. He wanted her to open a school that would give girls a great education. This education would help them get ready for college. In the very early years, some boys also took classes at Castilleja.
The school has five main values, called "the 5 Cs." These are:
- Conscience (knowing right from wrong)
- Courtesy (being polite)
- Character (being a good person)
- Courage (being brave)
- Charity (being kind and giving)
In 1910, the school moved to its current spot at 1310 Bryant Street. The first building was the administration building. It was designed in the American Craftsman style. Later, in 1926, the Castilleja chapel was built. It was designed to match the older building.
In 2007, Castilleja School celebrated its 100th birthday.
Plans for School Growth
In 2016, Castilleja announced plans to make the school bigger. They wanted to build an underground parking garage. They also planned to update and replace some buildings. This would allow more students to attend, increasing enrollment to 540 girls.
Because of these big plans, some neighbors had concerns. They worried about things like more traffic. In June 2022, the Palo Alto City Council approved the school's plans. This means the school can expand, update its campus, and build the parking garage.
School Achievements and Recognition
Castilleja School is approved by important education groups. These include the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.
In 2007, the Wall Street Journal named Castilleja School as one of the top 50 schools in the world. This was because of its success in educating students. In 2009, Castilleja received the highest rating from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. San Jose Magazine also called Castilleja one of the best private schools in the Bay Area.
Niche.com, a website that ranks schools, also recognized Castilleja. In their 2023 rankings, they named it the 18th best private high school. They also said it was the #2 girls' high school in the United States.
Famous Former Students
Many talented people have graduated from Castilleja School. Here are a few:
- Tori Anthony – a pole vaulter
- Amy Chow – an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics and a doctor
- Nancy Ditz – an Olympic marathon runner
- Helen Katharine Forbes – a painter and muralist (graduated in 1908)
- Pansy Ho – a businesswoman from Macau who operates casinos
- Josie Maran – an actress and model
- Penny Pritzker – a leader in charity work and a former U.S. Secretary of Commerce
- Beatrice Judd Ryan – an art dealer and curator
- Grace Slick – a famous singer and songwriter
- Daniella Klebaner – a Radiation Oncologist
