Castilleja is a school for girls in Palo Alto, where students enter as early as 6th grade and stay through high school. We tutor Castilleja students one-on-one, and our tutors are current and former Stanford students who studied these subjects not long ago.
Tell us about your student, and we’ll match them with a Stanford tutor who fits.
A math order that differs from most schools
Castilleja’s middle school math goes Math 6, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I. Upper school then places Algebra II & Trigonometry ahead of Euclidean & Analytic Geometry, followed by Introductory Calculus, with honors versions along the way. A girl who took geometry elsewhere, or who begins with Algebra I Integrated in 9th grade and still has a pathway to calculus as a senior, can feel briefly out of step with friends at other schools. A math tutor who knows the order can fill whichever piece is missing. Entry to Algebra II & Trigonometry draws on the Upper School Algebra Placement Test, and we review for that as well.
Advanced Topics courses in upper school math
Beyond Introductory Calculus, Castilleja teaches its own Advanced Topics courses, such as AT Calculus with Infinite Series, Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra. Students in that calculus course may opt to sit the AP Calculus AB or BC exam, and a tutor can line up the AP format with what the class covered.
Physics, then chemistry, then biology
Upper school science at Castilleja starts with Physics; Chemistry requires it, and Biology requires both. A 9th grader therefore meets physics while her algebra is still new. Our science tutoring often means untangling the math inside a physics problem.
Writing counts from the application on
Castilleja’s admission process does not use ISEE or SSAT scores. Middle and high school applicants complete a timed online writing sample and an interview. Later, juniors take Advanced Topics in English: American Voices, and seniors finish English with two one-semester courses. Our English and writing tutors help a student plan and draft under a clock, then revise the longer essays those courses assign.
Women tutors as role models
“It was great to find a couple of really smart young women who helped not only with the subject matter, but became great role models.”
Joel S. · Yelp review
What an English parent says
“My son received great marks on the SAT exam and also improved his grade in AP English from B to A.”
Janet Y., Menlo Park · Yelp review
We meet at your home in Palo Alto or close by, or online, one student and one tutor. Share your daughter’s grade and courses with us and we’ll recommend someone.
Tell us about your student, and we’ll match them with a Stanford tutor who fits.