Khan Lab School Admissions Consulting
Expert Guidance for Families Applying to This Mastery-Based Mountain View, CA School
Cardinal Education is an independent educational consulting company. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any private or public school, including Khan Lab School.
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About the School
About Khan Lab School
Khan Lab School (KLS) is a non-profit, independent, mastery-based day school in Mountain View, California, serving Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded in 2014 by Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, the school started with just 30 students in a single mixed-age classroom and has grown into a full TK-12 program across multiple campuses in Silicon Valley. KLS is a NAIS member school and holds an overall A+ grade on Niche, ranking #16 among Best Private K-12 Schools in California and #22 among Best High Schools for STEM in California; Private School Review places it in the top 20% of private schools statewide. Rather than traditional letter grades, KLS uses a mastery-based transcript, mixed-age classrooms, and project-based learning to let students progress at their own pace. By the school’s own account, the median KLS graduate matriculates at a college with roughly a 13% acceptance rate, and about 80% land at one of their top three choices, outcomes the school attributes to genuine fit and merit rather than legacy, celebrity, or athletic recruiting pipelines.
Fast Facts
Location
1200 Villa Street, Mountain View, CA 94041 (with an additional Silicon Valley campus)
Type
Non-profit, independent, mastery-based, coeducational day school
Grades Served
Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade
Accreditation
NAIS member
Primary Entry Points
Kindergarten and 1st grade (2nd–12th grade space-available and more competitive)
Application Deadline
January 15 (reviewed year-round if space allows after)
College Outcomes
Median graduate matriculates at a college with approximately a 13% acceptance rate
Top-Choice Matriculation
Approximately 80% of graduates matriculate at one of their top three college choices
Notable Programs & Recognition
Accreditation
NAIS member
Niche Rating
A+ overall; #16 Best Private K-12 Schools in California; #22 Best High Schools for STEM in California
Private School Review
Top 20% of private schools in California
Learning Model
Mastery-based transcript, mixed-age classrooms, project-based learning
Admissions Timeline & Events
Khan Lab School publishes current-cycle open house and information session dates on its own admissions pages; check khanlabschool.org for the current year’s exact schedule rather than relying on a prior cycle’s dates. The date that holds steady year to year is the application deadline below.
Application Deadline
January 15
Tuition Assistance Application Deadline
January 15
After the Deadline
Applications reviewed year-round if space allows
What Makes Khan Lab School’s Admissions Process Unique?
Khan Lab School’s admissions process is built to identify students who thrive with autonomy rather than structure. Beyond a standard application, KLS requires grade-specific components: short student questions for grades 4-5, a 2-3 minute self-recorded student video for grades 6-11, and a required Parent/Guardian Conversation for every applicant. The school is explicit that its model isn’t the right fit for every learner; families who can speak concretely to why their child seeks more ownership over their own learning, rather than more structure, tend to present the strongest applications.
Top Tips for Applying
- Create a Ravenna account early and follow the full checklist, since requirements vary meaningfully by grade.
- Treat the student video (grades 6-11) as a genuine self-introduction, not a scripted pitch.
- Prepare for the required Parent/Guardian Conversation as seriously as a formal interview.
Best Practices for Families
- Visit campus or attend an information session before applying to gauge genuine fit with the mastery-based model.
- Start gathering school reports and teacher evaluations well ahead of the January 15 deadline.
The Khan Lab School Application Requirements
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01Preliminary Application & Fee
Submitted through Ravenna along with a $100 application fee.
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02Student Questions & Video
Grades 4-5 applicants respond to short written questions; grades 6-11 applicants submit a 2-3 minute self-recorded video introduction, both through Ravenna.
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03School Reports & Teacher Evaluations
Requirements scale with grade: Kindergarten applicants submit progress reports from their current school, grade 1 submits report cards, and grades 2-11 submit report cards for the current and two prior years. Grades 7-11 require one Math/Science and one English/Humanities teacher evaluation, plus a Counselor/Principal evaluation for grades 6-11. See our interview preparation guidance for how to prepare students for the evaluation and conversation components.
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04Parent/Guardian Conversation & Student Visit
Every applicant’s family completes a required Parent/Guardian Conversation, and applicants who submit a Preliminary Application are invited to a Student Visit to experience the classroom model firsthand.
How Cardinal Education Helps Khan Lab School Applicants
Cardinal Education’s private school admissions consultants help Bay Area families navigate Khan Lab School’s distinct, grade-specific application requirements, from the student video through the Parent/Guardian Conversation. For families who want guidance tailored to supporting Asian American applicants specifically, see our companion guide for Asian American families applying to Khan Lab School.
“We couldn’t be happier with our decision to work with Cardinal Education. Thanks to their expertise, our child was accepted, and we’re thrilled to see him thrive in such an innovative learning environment!”— Parent from KLS
Frequently Asked Questions
How competitive is admission to Khan Lab School?
What is required for a Khan Lab School application?
Does Khan Lab School use letter grades?
What kind of college outcomes do Khan Lab School graduates have?
Is Khan Lab School need-blind?
Considering Khan Lab School?
Speak with a Cardinal Education consultant about your family’s admissions plan.