Pinewood Middle Campus Admissions Consulting
Guidance for families applying to Pinewood School’s Middle Campus, Grades 3–6
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As Seen On
About the School
About the Pinewood Middle Campus
Pinewood School’s Middle Campus, at 327 Fremont Avenue in Los Altos, serves Grades 3–6 as the second stage of Pinewood’s K–12 program. Students here move from the departmentalized specialist model of the Lower Campus into a curriculum that layers in text-based programming, a Middle Campus band, and the school’s first individual iPads, which stay at school as a learning tool rather than going home.
Fast Facts
Location
Middle Campus, 327 Fremont Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94024
Type
Private, co-ed, day school, nondenominational, college preparatory
Grades Served
3–6
Parent School Enrollment
~600 students (K–12, across three campuses)
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1 school-wide
Application Window
Opens September 1, 2026; closes January 5, 2027
What Makes Middle Campus Admissions Unique?
The middle school campus admissions draw a genuine mix of continuing lower campus families and new applicants. Rather than a standardized test, Grades 3–6 applicants attend a Student Experience Visit appropriate to their age, while Grade 6 specifically undergoes a dedicated assessment day. Pinewood also requires that at least one parent live in the Los Altos area throughout enrollment, since the school does not offer boarding.
Admissions Calendar
Application Windows Open
September 1, 2026
Application Windows Close
January 5, 2027
Open House
November 14, 2026 (1:00-3:00 pm)
Admissions Decisions
March 12, 2027
Enrollment Response Deadline
March 18, 2027
Video
What the Middle Campus Application Requires
- 01Transcripts
Applicants must provide transcripts from both the current semester and last year. This is where tutoring and academic coaching help strengthen key skills, allowing students to demonstrate meaningful, sustained growth. Video:
- 02Recommendation Letter
Pinewood School requires confidential recommendations from the student’s current math and English teachers, as well as a report from their school principal or counselor, all of which are submitted via Ravenna.
- 03Assessment by Grade
Grade 6 applicants attend a dedicated assessment day. Applicants to Grades 3–5 instead complete an age-appropriate Student Experience Visit; standardized tests are not required at any Middle Campus grade.
Academic & Admissions Snapshot
Average / Maximum Class Size
11 students / 18 students (school-wide)
Team Sports Start
Grade 4
Athletic League
Youth & Intramural (WBAL interscholastic begins in Grade 7 at Upper Campus)
Technology
Individual iPad issued starting Grade 3 (stays at school)
Estimated Acceptance Rate
~30% school-wide (third-party estimate)
Want a Full Picture?
For the full Pinewood admissions picture across all three campuses, see our How to Get Into Pinewood School: A Complete Admissions Guide for Parents. Families applying to Grades 7–12 should also see our Pinewood Upper Campus Admissions Consulting
How Cardinal Education Helps
Because middle school draws a mix of continuing and new families, Middle Campus admissions rewards applicants who can speak concretely to why Pinewood’s specialist-taught, project-based model fits them specifically, not just families already familiar with the Lower Campus.
“Pinewood School has changed me into the person I am today. This community has helped me open up more and be successful. Thank you, Cardinal Education, for helping me get into Pinewood!”— Pinewood Alumnus
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Middle Campus require standardized testing?
What technology do Middle Campus students use?
Does Middle Campus compete in athletics?
How big is the Asian American population at Pinewood?
Considering Pinewood (Middle) School?
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