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The Kehillah School is a coeducational college preparatory high school for grades 9 to 12 on Fabian Way in south Palo Alto. It began as a Jewish day school, changed its name in 2024 and today describes itself as culturally Jewish by design. Its 2025 to 2026 school profile counts about 180 students, a small school by any measure. "Kehillah" is the Hebrew word for community.
This page covers the school's founding, campus, curriculum, admission steps and published 2026 to 2027 tuition. It adds detail to the short entry in our private schools guide. We do not rank schools, quote commercial rankings or report test results.
Founding and history
Kehillah was founded in 1999, according to its school profile. Wikipedia says it opened in fall 2002 with a first ninth grade class of about 30 students, meeting on the Blackford High School campus in San Jose. The school then grew one grade at a time.
In fall 2005 it moved to its own campus at 3900 Fabian Way in Palo Alto. Wikipedia describes the building as about 50,000 square feet, built in 1997 and extensively remodeled for the school in 2005. For several years it also hosted a Reconstructionist congregation.
The biggest recent change was the name. The school's profile says Kehillah Jewish High School became The Kehillah School in September 2024. The school says it was originally founded as a Jewish day school and is now culturally Jewish by design. It also says students do not need to be Jewish to belong fully. Its profile calls the school pluralistic and lists six values rooted in Jewish tradition: community, dialogue, agency, pursuit of knowledge, justice and loving kindness.
Location and campus
Fabian Way runs through the Charleston and San Antonio corridor of south Palo Alto, between East Charleston Road and San Antonio Road near US 101. Across the street is the Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life, home to the Oshman Family JCC, built on the site of Sun Microsystems' old headquarters. Our Sun Microsystems profile tells that story. Kehillah's Shadow Day for applicants includes an optional JCC tour.
The street is getting busier with schools. The Girls' Middle School plans to move to 3950 Fabian Way in spring 2027. Pinewood School, based in Los Altos, lists an activities center at 3750 Fabian Way.
Wikipedia describes the building as holding 27 classrooms, science and computer labs, music and art rooms, a photo studio, a makerspace, a library and assembly space. It also has a Beit Midrash, a room for prayer and study. The nearest Caltrain stop is San Antonio station in Mountain View, a bike ride or short drive away.
What students study
Kehillah runs a semester calendar with a nine-block schedule. Its profile says the average class has about 12 students. Some features stand out:
- Jewish studies. Every student completes six semesters. The courses are text-based and draw on biblical and rabbinic literature in Hebrew and Aramaic. The school says all of them are approved by the University of California.
- Languages. Hebrew runs from level 1 to level 6, with honors options and an honors course in Israeli law and society. Spanish, Latin and Mandarin are also offered.
- Kehillah Advanced Topics (KAT). In 2024 to 2025 the school replaced AP courses with its own advanced courses. Students may still take AP exams in May.
- Electives. Engineering and computer science, including robotics, plus music, theater, digital design and history and economics electives.
- Grading. Honors, AP and KAT courses carry an extra grade point and the school does not rank students.
The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS).
K-Term, travel and student support
Each January the school sets aside a week called K-Term for project-based learning, graded pass or fail. Students who are not in K-Term can join the school's educational travel program, which runs local and international trips focused on cultural immersion and global issues. Wikipedia mentions grade-level trips to destinations such as Los Angeles, Atlanta and Israel, lasting from five days to two weeks. Optional travel costs extra.
Clubs listed on Wikipedia include biology, debate, a Gender and Sexuality Alliance and a kindness club. For students with learning differences, the Center for Learning Success helps with study strategies, individual support plans and communication with teachers. Applicant visits are called Shadow a Ram Day, after the school's Ram mascot.
How admission works
Kehillah uses Ravenna, the online platform many Bay Area independent schools share. Its application process page lists these pieces for fall 2027:
- Fill out an inquiry form to unlock tours, events and the application.
- Book a personal tour or attend an event. Tours are encouraged but not required.
- Submit the parent or guardian application and the $100 fee. Need-based fee waivers are available.
- Complete the student application.
- Send transcripts for sixth and seventh grade plus the first-semester eighth grade report card.
- Request recommendations from the current English teacher, the math teacher and a counselor or principal.
- Schedule Shadow a Ram Day plus student and parent interviews, virtual or on campus.
The school says decisions are released in March. It did not post a fall 2027 application deadline on its public pages in late October 2026, so check with the admissions office. Events listed for this season include a neighborhood information session in Atherton on November 4, a parent open morning on November 11 that was already full and an open house on Sunday, December 13 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Shadow Days are listed for November 6 and 18, December 4 and 7, January 6 and February 1.
The admission pages do not mention ISEE or SSAT requirements. For a Jewish day school in the younger grades, Palo Alto's option is Gideon Hausner, which runs from preschool through eighth grade.
Tuition and aid for 2026 to 2027
Kehillah's tuition page lists $67,000 for the 2026 to 2027 school year. Tuition covers most school activities and retreats. Textbooks cost about $400 to $800 a year. Optional travel is extra. The board of trustees sets 2027 to 2028 tuition in February 2027, so families applying now should expect a higher figure.
Three payment plans are offered:
| Plan | Schedule | Service fee |
|---|---|---|
| A | Paid in full by July 20 | None |
| B | 60% by July 20, 40% by September 20 | 1% |
| C | Ten monthly payments, July to April | 4% |
Need-based tuition assistance goes through Clarity, with a $60 fee that can be waived for eligible families. For fall 2027 the priority deadline is January 5, 2027. Later applications are reviewed while funds last. The school says aid decisions are separate from admission decisions, reviewers do not see family names and awards last one year, so families reapply annually. Awards arrive with the admission offer in March.
Visiting for tours and Shadow Days
Shadow Days run a full school day, so families coming from out of town often stay overnight. Hotels along El Camino Real and near San Antonio Road are closest. You can compare hotels near south Palo Alto or read our guide to hotels along El Camino Real. For kosher meals during a visit, see our kosher food guide.
Good to know
- The aid priority deadline for fall 2027 is January 5, 2027.
- Shadow Day sign-ups open only after the parent application and fee are in.
- Six semesters of Jewish studies are required of every student.
- Search under both names. Older directories still list Kehillah Jewish High School.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to be Jewish to attend Kehillah?
No. The school was founded as a Jewish day school but now describes itself as culturally Jewish by design. Its school profile calls it pluralistic and says it welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds. Every student takes Jewish studies courses as part of the curriculum.
How much is tuition at The Kehillah School?
Kehillah lists tuition of $67,000 for the 2026 to 2027 school year. Textbooks add about $400 to $800 a year and optional travel costs extra. The board sets 2027 to 2028 tuition in February 2027. Need-based tuition assistance is available through Clarity.
When are Kehillah admission decisions released?
The school says admission decisions come out in March. Tuition assistance awards are emailed with the admission offer. The priority deadline for fall 2027 aid applications is January 5, 2027.
Was Kehillah Jewish High School renamed?
Yes. The school's 2025 to 2026 profile says Kehillah Jewish High School became The Kehillah School in September 2024. Kehillah is a Hebrew word meaning community.
Does Kehillah offer AP classes?
Not anymore. Starting in 2024 to 2025 the school replaced AP courses with its own Kehillah Advanced Topics (KAT) courses. Its profile says students may still sit AP exams in May.