FPO

Welcome to
Admissions

Welcome to The Nueva School! We are excited for you to learn more about all that Nueva has to offer.

Nueva is a dynamic community committed to educating gifted learners from pre-kindergarten through Upper School. Our mission is to inspire passion for lifelong learning, foster social and emotional acuity, and develop the imaginative mind. 

As a community that values curiosity, compassion, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and authentic learning experiences, Nueva students embrace intellectual, social, and academic challenges. With the support of our exceptional faculty, they also find comfort in knowing they have a safe space to ask questions, make mistakes, and enjoy the journey of learning. 

We are eager to help you understand the limitless possibilities of a Nueva education and encourage you to continue exploring our website to learn more about our community and the admissions process. Better yet, come visit us in person! Throughout the admissions season we will offer opportunities to spend time on our beautiful Hillsborough and San Mateo campuses where you will meet members of our community, from faculty to students to current parents to the admissions team. 

We look forward to partnering with you as you search for the right school community for your family. 

Warmly,
The Nueva Admissions Team

Important Admissions Dates

  • Lower and Middle School applicants: We highly recommend that students take an IQ assessment with a licensed psychologist as soon as they are eligible. 
     
  • Early September 2025
    Applications open through Ravenna. Check for registration deadlines for optional events.
     
  • January 8, 2026*
    Deadline for Ravenna application and all required documents.
     
  • February 3, 2026
    For those applying for financial assistance, deadline to submit application and all supplemental documents.
     
  • March 20, 2026
    Admissions decision notification for all grades.
     
  • March 24–25, 2026
    Campus visits for Middle and Upper School admitted families.
    Campus visits for parents/guardians of Lower School admitted students.
     
  • March 27, 2026
    Deadline to submit admissions decision reply for all grades.

*Visit our PreK: Visit and Apply page for details on the Pre-kindergarten Round II application process and deadlines. 

Get in touch! 

Click here to email us

Si necesita ayuda en español, comuníquese con Melanie León, directora de admisiones: 
mleon@nuevaschool.org o 650-235-7111.

 

Student Voices

At Nueva, student voices are valued and respected. We regularly document the reflections of our students and alumni on their learning, their school projects, and their feelings about our community. Hear some first-person testimonials about Nueva’s culture and our students’ opinions and experiences.

Illustrations by Thalia R. '22

A Place of Belonging

Above all, Nueva is a sanctuary for gifted learners. Our shared curiosity and love of learning bonds our community across every grade and division.

Student-teacher Relationships

Ask any of our students what they love most about Nueva and the most common answer you’ll hear is “The teachers!” 

Learning Culture with No Ceilings

Our flexible, responsive learning culture rises to meet the interests and ambitions of our students. We’re here to help them go as far and as wide as they want to go.

Connect with Nueva Social Media!

Nueva News

Living Our Missions
Living Our Missions

One of the top reasons I wanted to work at Nueva is Mission I and its lived commitment to “inspire passion for lifelong learning.” In my earliest visits I heard from faculty and staff that they love learning from each other and crave the opportunities to do so.

Girls x Math at Nueva
Girls x Math at Nueva

The Girls x Math chapter at Nueva connects high school mentors with second- and third-grade students through hands-on, project-based math experiences.

Cultivating Educators, Cultivating Community
Cultivating Educators, Cultivating Community

At Nueva, meaningful learning happens not only in classrooms, but also through the care, preparation, and growth of the educators who guide our students each day. I see Nueva at its best through my work with the Lower School Innovative Teacher Program (ITP).

The ITP is a two-year teacher training pathway designed to support early career educators, where associate teachers partner closely with classroom mentors and learn by doing. Associates develop essential teaching skills, receive ongoing coaching and feedback, and immerse themselves in approaches and traditions shaped by the Nueva community. 

A Week of Wonder
A Week of Wonder

There are only a few weeks sandwiched between the spirit of gratitude associated with Thanksgiving and the season of light characterized by several holidays this month. Yet, during this short period...

The Nueva School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Nueva does not discriminate on the basis of these factors in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial assistance program, or athletic and other school-administered programs.

In accordance with the requirements set forth in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Nueva School provides this notice of nondiscrimination and states that Nueva School does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities. Questions concerning Title IX may be referred to the School’s Title IX Coordinator whose contact information is below or to the Office for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education. 

Title IX Coordinator:
Sheba McCoy, Director of Human Resources 
131 E. 28th Street, San Mateo, CA 94403 
(650) 235-7172, smccoy@nuevaschool.org