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 | $62,400 |
Castilleja School is a private school just for girls. It is located in Palo Alto, California. Girls from sixth grade through twelfth grade attend this school. Castilleja is special because it is the only all-girls middle and high school in the San Francisco Bay Area that is not connected to a religion. About 70 teachers work at the school. Castilleja is also part of important groups like the California Association of Independent Schools.
Contents
School History: How It Started
Castilleja School was started in 1907 by a woman named Mary Ishbel Lockey. She was from Montana and studied English at Stanford University. A very important person, David Starr Jordan, who was the first president of Stanford, encouraged her. He wanted her to create a school that would give girls a great education. This education would help them get ready for college. In the very early days, a few boys were also allowed to take classes at Castilleja.
The school has five main values, which they call "the 5 Cs." These are conscience, courtesy, character, courage, and charity. These values help guide the students.
In 1910, the school moved to its current spot at 1310 Bryant Street. The first building was the administration building. It was designed in a style called American Craftsman. Later, in 1926, the school's chapel was built. It was designed to match the first building. In 2007, Castilleja School celebrated its 100th birthday!
Campus Changes and Growth
In 2016, Castilleja announced plans to make its campus bigger. They wanted to build an underground parking garage. They also planned to update and replace some buildings. These changes would allow more students to attend, increasing the number to 540 girls.
Because the school wanted to build so much in a neighborhood, some people living nearby were concerned. 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 and build the parking garage.
What Makes Castilleja Special
Castilleja School is recognized by many important organizations. It is approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. This means the school meets high standards for education. It is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.
In 2007, a newspaper called the Wall Street Journal said Castilleja was one of the top 50 schools in the world. This was because of how successful its students were. In 2009, Castilleja received the highest possible rating from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. A magazine also named Castilleja one of the best private schools in the Bay Area.
More recently, in 2023, Niche.com ranked Castilleja as the 18th best private high school in the United States. It was also named the #2 girls' high school in the country.
Famous People Who Went to Castilleja
Many talented women have graduated from Castilleja School. Here are a few of them:
- Tori Anthony, a skilled pole vaulter.
- Amy Chow, an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics. She is also a pediatrician, which is a doctor for children.
- Nancy Ditz, an Olympic marathon runner.
- Helen Katharine Forbes, a graduate from 1908, who became a famous muralist and painter.
- Pansy Ho, a businesswoman from Macau who operates casinos.
- Josie Maran, an actress and model.
- Penny Pritzker, a philanthropist and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
- Beatrice Judd Ryan, an art dealer and curator.
- Grace Slick, a well-known singer and songwriter.
