New Upper School Students

Welcome to the Upper School:
2026-2027

We know you have a lot of questions about getting ready for high school.

Rest assured: we’ll make sure your entrance into the Menlo Upper School community goes as smoothly as possible and that you’ll get all the information you need. Here are some things you’ll need to do before school starts in the fall, and if you need more help, you can always type a phrase in the search box at the top of the webpage to find what you need.

We’re thrilled to welcome our newest Knights to Menlo! Check back on April 7 for everything you need to begin your Menlo journey.

Content from previous site pages, can be copied into new design as needed

Last Updated: April 7, 2026

Things to Do

Review information about Incoming Upper School Placement Testing and Sign Up by April 14
Please read this important message from our World Language and Math Department Chairs regarding the placement process for Math and World Languages. Once you’ve reviewed the letter, please sign up here for placement testing by April 14. Placement testing runs from April 23-May 2.
Submit Your New Student Survey:
Complete this form by Tuesday, April 14.
Mark your Calendars: Ninth Grade Welcome Event
Tuesday, May 12, from 4:30-6:00 pm*. This is your first opportunity to meet new classmates and families, have your photo taken for the Knightbook student directory, hear from our Upper School Director, John Schafer, and play games to get to know your class with student leaders. *Photos for the Knightbook will be taken before the event, beginning at 4:00 pm, as well as after the event. Please sign up for a photo time slot here.
Setting Up Your Tuition Management Account Email
Families brand new to Menlo should have received an email regarding how to set up your account. If you already have a child at Menlo, you’ve already done this. Contact Esther Cheung in the business office with questions.
Complete Enrolled Family Survey
We also invite you to complete our enrolled family survey to share what drew you to Menlo and your experience with the admissions process. Your feedback is incredibly valuable. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your perspective.

Who Can Help?

These people can help with any questions you might have about Menlo’s Upper School.

Use for Round 2, May 1, 2026

Welcome to the Upper School:
2025-2026

We know you have a lot of questions about getting ready for high school.

Rest assured: we’ll make sure your entrance into the Menlo Upper School community goes as smoothly as possible and that you’ll get all the information you need. Here are some things you’ll need to do before school starts in the fall, and if you need more help, you can always type a phrase in the search box at the top of the webpage to find what you need.

Last Updated: May 13, 2025

Sign up for courses and get your class schedule.
- All students will be placed in English, Math, History, Language, Physics, and the Ninth Grade Seminar program. Students are invited to select an optional elective class for their seventh block by completing this form by June 1. See our course offerings here, and watch this video from Mr. Schafer with more things to think about before submitting your electives form. Each year, approximately 75% of ninth graders take a seventh block while the other 25% choose a free period.
- Ninth graders have been assigned an Academic Advisor (details here) who can answer your questions about course selection. You’re welcome to join one of the following Zoom calls to learn more about course selection and ask questions of Academic Advisors: May 21, 3:30-4:15 pm (Zoom link) or May 22, 3:30-4:15 pm (Zoom link).
- We’ll send you your Math and World Language placement tests by email on May 16. Contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@menloschool.org if you don’t receive it. Questions about placement? View these FAQs for Math and World Language.
- Optional: If your child has a diagnosed or suspected learning difference or if you’d like to learn more about learning support at Menlo, we invite you to attend an informational Zoom meeting with our Learning Support team on Wednesday, May 14, 6:00-7:00 pm.
- Watch your email the week of August 4 for details on accessing your class schedule.
Get ready for Menlo Athletics.
- Interested in playing a sport next year? Sign up here by May 20, and then review the “Diving into Menlo Athletics” webpage for all you need to do to get ready for Upper School Athletics. It includes everything from info about getting your health exam—which you need to get after June 1—to summer training opportunities and the start dates for fall sports.
- Menlo Athletics is also pleased to offer summer sports camps in 2025. Baseball, water polo, girls’ flag football, co-ed tennis, and girls’ volleyball are hosting programs for rising ninth graders. Register here.
Complete your summer reading assignments.
- Here are the freshman summer reading assignments and instructions for English and History.
  Tip: When purchasing books for Upper School English classes, keep in mind that teachers require print books (no ebooks). Please purchase the specific edition indicated by the ISBN, as assignments may refer to the page numbers in that edition.
Learn about your technology needs, how to order books, and what supplies you’ll need for the start of school.
- Upper School students need to bring a Mac laptop with them to school each day, charged and ready to use. Get some tech advice and learn about technology at Menlo.
- For fall courses, you will receive your schedule and a link to the Menlo Booklist in early August. At that time, we’ll include a link to the Menlo Booklist Generator, where you can see the books you’ll need for your classes along with their International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs). You can purchase books from any vendor you prefer as long as you purchase the correct ISBN edition.
- And, in case you’re wondering what Upper School students will need for the first day, in addition to their fully-charged laptop, a notebook and pen or pencil is all that is needed on day one.
- Beyond that, while students can select the supplies that best fit their learning approach, the ninth grade teaching team recommends one 2” binder with four dividers for history and one 2” binders with six dividers for all other classes; a TI-84 graphing calculator (TI-83 is also fine, but TI-Nspire isn’t recommended); binder and graph paper; index cards; and highlighters as well as pens and pencils. A notebook for physics is optional, and it’s also recommended to have a hole puncher and a hanging file folder or a large binder at home to store old papers.
Make sure you submit your immunization record and your health information.
- Around June 1, you’ll receive an email from August Schools, our partner in collecting and managing student health information, sometime in late May or early June. Complete the online form with your medical information, including immunizations (do not send records to Menlo) by August 1—you can’t come to school without it! If you have not received a welcome link from August Schools by June 10, please contact the school nurse.
- Students who are planning on participating in Athletics need to get a pre-participation annual physical, dated after June 1. The blank form for an athletic physical will be available in your students’ August Schools Health packet.
Keeping Connected and Getting Involved
- Please read this welcome letter and invitation to get involved with the Menlo School Parent Association (MSPA).
- Join a Menlo Parent Group! Menlo Parent Groups (MPGs) are small groups facilitated by experienced Menlo parents that meet 3 to 4 times throughout the school year, beginning in late September. Joining an MPG will help you create connections, meet new parents, and navigate Menlo‘s many resources. These groups meet in person on campus during the evening to help build community and make connections among 9th grade parents. Sign up here!
- From Advocacy to Tutorial—and everything in between—you may want to check out these Menlo Terms to Know to help familiarize yourself with the many facets of Menlo.
- In June, you’ll get your first issue of our email newsletter (which we call “eNotes”) that includes any other information you’ll need for the summer.
- In early August, you’ll get an email with all the information you’ll need for the start of school. Be sure to read this email!
- To make sure Menlo emails don’t end up in your spam folder, add donotreply@menloschool.org to your list of contacts and/or approved senders.
- Get your Menlo spirit gear! Swing by the kiosk in the Athletic Center between 1:00-3:30 pm on Monday through Thursday or by appointment. For questions or to schedule an appointment, contact Donna Okino. The Campus Store will be closed for the summer starting June 9, 2025.
Mark your Calendars

(Dates are tentative and subject to change)
- Early August - See the “Diving into Menlo Athletics” webpage for fall sport start dates.
- Wednesday, August 20, 9:00 am-3:00 pm - Freshman Orientation for students
- Wednesday, August 20, 9:00-11:00 am - Ninth Grade Parent Coffee
- Thursday, August 21, 8:45 am - First Day of School
- Monday, August 25, 8:45 am-5:00 pm, and Tuesday, August 26, 8:45 am-3:00 pm - Ninth Grade Retreat Days (this is not an overnight retreat)
- Thursday, August 28, 6:00-7:30 pm - 9th Grade Parent Information Night
- Thursday, September 4, 6:00-8:00 pm - US Back-to-School Night
- Friday, September 19, 8:00-10:00 pm - Homecoming Dance
How will you GO MENLO? Check out transportation options.

How you Go Menlo matters! Menlo has an agreement with the Town of Atherton to limit traffic coming to campus during peak drop-off and pick-up times. Help us meet this goal and reduce our environmental impact by walking, biking, carpooling, or riding the train or bus. Learn more about Menlo’s bus transportation program and start thinking about how you’ll get to school.
- Please sign up here if your child plans to ride a bus anytime during the 2025-2026 school year.
Need help?
- When navigating the website, if you are asked to log in, you can use the new family credentials that were on the bottom of the “Get Ready” handout in your packet from the welcome event. If you lost that handout, please email techticket@menloschool.org.
- You can always type a phrase in the search box at the top of the webpage to find what you need.
- You can also call these people (but keep in mind that most offices on campus close during the month of July for summer vacation).

Academics

Fall in love with learning.

Arts

Unleash your creativity.

Athletics

Team first

Student Life

Support, trust, and friendship.

New Upper School Students

Welcome to the Upper School:
2026-2027

We know you have a lot of questions about getting ready for high school.

Content from previous site pages, can be copied into new design as needed

Things to Do

Who Can Help?

Use for Round 2, May 1, 2026

Welcome to the Upper School:
2025-2026

We know you have a lot of questions about getting ready for high school.

Sign up for courses and get your class schedule.

Get ready for Menlo Athletics.

Complete your summer reading assignments.

Learn about your technology needs, how to order books, and what supplies you’ll need for the start of school.

Make sure you submit your immunization record and your health information.

Keeping Connected and Getting Involved

Mark your Calendars

How will you GO MENLO? Check out transportation options.

Need help?

Academics

Fall in love with learning.

Arts

Unleash your creativity.

Athletics

Team first

Student Life

Support, trust, and friendship.

New Upper School Students

Welcome to the Upper School:2026-2027

We know you have a lot of questions about getting ready for high school.

Content from previous site pages, can be copied into new design as needed

Things to Do

Who Can Help?

Use for Round 2, May 1, 2026

Welcome to the Upper School:2025-2026

We know you have a lot of questions about getting ready for high school.

Sign up for courses and get your class schedule.

Get ready for Menlo Athletics.

Complete your summer reading assignments.

Learn about your technology needs, how to order books, and what supplies you’ll need for the start of school.

Make sure you submit your immunization record and your health information.

Keeping Connected and Getting Involved

Mark your Calendars

How will you GO MENLO? Check out transportation options.

Need help?

Welcome to the Upper School:
2026-2027

Welcome to the Upper School:
2025-2026