School Profile

Pinewood School, founded in 1959, is an independent, coeducational, nondenominational college preparatory day school serving grades K–12. Upper Campus enrollment in Los Altos Hills (grades 7–12) is 300 students; K–6 enrollment, at two separate campuses in Los Altos, is 295 students. The student teacher ratio is approximately 7 to 1. Upper Campus faculty includes forty-five full-time and eight part-time teachers, thirty-eight of whom hold advanced degrees. Pinewood is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.

Los Altos Hills and Los Altos are located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Drawing from communities throughout the San Francisco Peninsula and greater San Jose, our student body is comprised of students from diverse cultural, religious, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds who seek rigorous academics and support a high standard ofbehavior. Pinewood provides a nurturing environment where every student is encouraged to become a well-rounded individual, an insightful learner and critical thinker, a self-motivated student, a clear communicator and a respectful member of any community. 100% of Pinewood graduates attend college.

Pinewood’s curriculum is college preparatory; six academic courses per semester are required of most students. For those students enrolled in three or more AP classes, the minimum requirement is five academic classes per semester. Exceptions may be made for students taking college courses in addition to their Pinewood course work, or for those students who enter after grade nine. Graduation requirements are:

* Students may test out of the last semester of writing by scoring 3 or higher on the AP English Language exam.

The school year is comprised of two semesters of approximately eighteen weeks each. All classes meet every other day (four classes per day) on a rotating four-day repeating schedule.

Pinewood is committed to providing Advanced Placement and Honors level courses to all eligible students. Eligibility for enrollment in AP and Honors courses is determined by teacher recommendation and/or department consent. Beginning Fall 2015, the maximum number of AP classes in which students may enroll is limited to five (5) for seniors, and four (4) for juniors. Regardless of grade level, Pinewood counsels students as to the appropriateness of taking advanced classes with respect to individual needs and abilities. AP World History and, on occasion, AP Statistics may be offered to qualified sophomores.

Honors Courses
British Literature
Precalculus
French 4
Spanish 4
Biology**
Chemistry

AP Courses
English Language*
English Literature
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Statistics
French Language
Music Theory
Spanish Language
Studio Art: Drawing
Studio Art: 2D Design
Art History
World History
United States History
United States Government
Biology**
Chemistry
Physics C

* All juniors take AP English Language.

** Biology Honors is the first half of a two-year sequence for AP Biology. All students who wish to take AP Biology must complete the full two-year curriculum. Pinewood does not offer a one-year stand-alone AP Biology course.

All students enrolled in AP classes are required to take the corresponding AP Exams with the exception of juniors who will be counseled on an individual basis as to the appropriateness of taking the AP English Language exam.

302 AP Exams were taken by 116 students in grades 10–12 (out of a 10–12 enrollment of 159).

Mean Score: 3.92

57 students were recognized as AP Scholars

• 35 AP Scholars with Distinctions (12 of whom were also named National AP Scholars)
• 12 AP Scholars with Honor
• 10 AP Scholars

• All AP and Honors courses receive an additional point when calculating GPA.

• All students enrolled in AP classes are required to take the corresponding AP exam.

• Enrollment in AP or Honors classes is determined by teacher recommendation. All students receive guidance as to the appropriateness of their individual curriculum paths.

• Pinewood students are allowed to take AP or Honors courses beginning in the tenth grade.

• AP course enrollment is capped at five classes per year for seniors and four classes per year for juniors.

These policies are designed to encourage qualified students to challenge themselves by attempting higher level work.

Pinewood School does not rank students. Decile or quintile placement may be given, but it should be evaluated within the context of the class size. For the Class of 2017, each quintile is comprised of approximately eleven students.

GPA is weighted and calculated for all courses taken at Pinewood (courses taken elsewhere are NOT calculated in GPA). College prep classes receive 1.5 units per semester; PE and non-college prep classes receive 0.5 units per semester. Honors and AP courses receive an additional grade point in GPA calculation. Two-hour final exams are required in every college prep class and the exam grade accounts for 20% of the semester course grade.

52 students in the Class of 2017
2 National Merit Semifinalists
12 National Merit Commended Students
12 AP Scholars with Distinction
8 AP Scholars with Honor
3 AP Scholars

The following are SAT and ACT test results for the Classes of 2017 and 2016 as ofJune of their respective junior and senior years. By the end of senior year, all students will have taken one test or the other, many will have taken both.

SAT: Class of 2017
(16 of 52 Juniors as of June 2016)

SAT: Class of 2016
(43 of 53 Seniors as of June 2016)

ACT: Class of 2017
(40 of 52 Juniors as of June 2016)

ACT: Class of 2016
(45 of 53 Seniors as of June 2016)

Pinewood students are encouraged to pursue individual talents and interests through extracurricular activities and athletic participation. The high school athletic program includes girls’ and boys’ basketball, soccer, tennis, cross-country, swimming, track and field, and golf; boys’ baseball; and girls’ softball and volleyball. School-sponsored activities include Interact, yearbook, journalism, drama, speech and debate, choir, robotics, service clubs and honor societies.

Pinewood students are required to complete twenty hours of volunteer time per year in service-oriented activities.