Junior High and High School Profile
Our School and Faculty
Pinewood School, established in 1959, is an independent, coeducational, nondenominational college preparatory day school serving grades K–12.
- Upper Campus Enrollment: 300 students (Grades 7–12)
- K-6 Enrollment: 300 students at two separate campuses in Los Altos
- Student-Teacher Ratio: Approximately 7:1
- Maximum Class Size: 18 students
- Faculty: 47 teachers, with 33 holding advanced degrees
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Our Community and Students
Pinewood serves a diverse student body from various cultural, religious, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds, drawn from across Silicon Valley. The school nurtures well-rounded individuals who are insightful learners, critical thinkers, self-motivated students, clear communicators, and respectful community members.
- College Attendance: 100% of Pinewood graduates attend college.
Graduation Requirements
- English: Literature - 4 years
- Social Studies - 3 years
- Math - 3 years
- Lab Science - 3 years
- World Language - 3 years
- Physical Education - 2 years
- English: Writing - 1.5 years
- Visual and Performing Arts - 1.5 years
- Computer Science - 0.5 years
- Upper Division Electives - Minimum two courses
- Community Service - 20 hours per year
Curriculum and Course Load
Pinewood’s curriculum is designed to be college preparatory. The typical course load is six academic courses per semester. For students enrolled in three or more AP classes, the minimum is five academic classes per semester.
Honors, Advanced Placement, and Advanced Topics Courses
Pinewood offers Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and Advanced Topics (AT) courses in a wide range of subjects. Enrollment for Honors, AP, and AT courses is determined by teacher recommendation or department consent.
- Honors Courses: American Literature, Precalculus, Biology 1, Chemistry, French 4, Mandarin 4, Spanish 4, Graphic Design
- AP Courses: English Language, English Literature, Art History, Modern World History, United States Government, United States History, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Chemistry, Physics C: Mechanics, French Language, Mandarin Language, Spanish Language, Computer Science Principles, 2D Art and Design, Drawing
- AT Courses (college level): Biology 2, Data Science & Machine Learning
AP Exam Results
(May 2023)
- Total AP Exams Taken: 255 by 111 students
- Scores:
- 5: 43%
- 4: 34%
- 3: 16%
- 2 and Below: 7%
- Mean Score: 4.13
- AP School Scholars: 54
- AP Scholars with Distinction: 33
- AP Scholars with Honor: 4
- AP Scholars: 17
Grading and GPA Calculations
- GPA: Weighted and calculated for all Pinewood courses. AP and Honors courses receive an additional point. Courses taken outside of Pinewood appear on transcripts but do not affect GPA.
- Grading Scale:
- A: 93-100
- B+: 87-89
- C+: 77-79
- D+: 67-69
- F: 0-59
Athletics and Extracurricular Activities
Pinewood encourages students to explore individual talents and interests through a variety of extracurricular activities and athletics, including:
- Sports: Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Cross-Country, Swimming, Track and Field, Golf, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball
- Activities: Student Government, Yearbook, Journalism, Drama, Speech and Debate, Choir, Robotics, Special Interest Clubs, Service Clubs, Honor Societies
College Admission and Enrollment
Pinewood graduates pursue higher education at a wide range of colleges and universities that align with their individual interests, talents, and aspirations, both in the U.S. and internationally.