Menlo: Always Becoming

A Look at How Menlo Has Evolved

FEATURE

Great institutions never arrive—they are ever-evolving, always in a state of becoming. While the values that have grounded this place for decades largely remain the same, as the world has changed, so has Menlo.

If you haven’t been on campus in the past two decades, you might not recognize it. We’ve grown from a school enrolling 13 boys to a vibrant coeducational institution serving over 800 students from across the Bay Area. Our campus has been transformed through the completion of our master plan with thoughtfully designed spaces that foster collaboration and deep exploration across academic, artistic, and athletic endeavors. And, we’re always thinking about how we can deeply engage our students in their learning, which has led to innovations in how and what we teach to best prepare students for their futures.

While Menlo has changed and grown over the years, these shifts have largely been in service to our guiding mission: to prepare kind, ethical students to make a positive impact in ever-wider communities through a transformative education—something we hope never changes.

Head of School Than Healy shares remarks with Upper School students gathered in the Athletic Center

Realizing Our Campus Master Plan

Over the past 25 years, the School’s physical campus has undergone a remarkable transformation as we’ve built out our campus master plan with top-notch facilities that elevate our program and reflect our commitment to innovation, creativity, and collaboration.

The Johnson Family Athletic Center now serves as a hub for student-athletes
The Creative Arts and Design Center inspires creativity and self-expression
The Arthur Allen Whitaker Lab, our engineering makerspace, puts students in charge of their learning as they innovate, design, and iterate while tackling real-world challenges
The Dostart Dining Commons and Stevens Family Student Center, which were part of a Stent Hall expansion project, serve as welcoming spaces for gathering, dining, and connecting
The Spieker Center for the Performing Arts provides a stage for excellence, celebrating and showcasing Menlo’s talented artists

We’ve built out our campus master plan with top-notch facilities that elevate our program and reflect our commitment to innovation, creativity, and collaboration.”

1998

Construction of the Arrillaga Family Middle School Campus

2021

The Spieker Center for the Arts completes the main campus master plan (photo courtesy of Hacker Architects)

Educating in a Global Context

Today’s students are more globally aware than ever, driven by aspirations that reach beyond their communities. They thrive when learning is relevant, purposeful, and connected to real-world challenges. As education evolves, so does our approach, shifting from a focus purely on content acquisition to fostering critical thinking, problem solving, and meaning making.

We teach students how, not what, to think—empowering them to find their voices, advocate for others, and engage across differences. To prepare students to be global citizens in an interconnected world, our curriculum increasingly emphasizes interdisciplinary study, exploration of diverse perspectives, and development of essential noncognitive skills—character, kindness, creativity, resilience, and empathy.

As education evolves, so does our approach—shifting from a focus purely on content acquisition to fostering critical thinking, problem solving, and meaning making.”

Students traveled to Cambodia for Menlo Abroad

Students in the Applied Science Research class launch balloons into near space and analyze data from their payloads

Empowering Students in a Digital World

Technology has impacted Menlo in both positive and challenging ways. It’s now woven into daily life as well as our classrooms, shaping how students learn, create, and connect. Teachers have thoughtfully integrated diverse technologies across the curriculum—not as an end in itself, but as a powerful tool to enhance learning and discovery.

AI aids exploration, design thinking in Whitaker Lab fosters creative problem-solving, VR headsets bring 3D art to life, students experiment with gene splicing in Biotechnology, and Middle Schoolers turn bananas into keyboards through creative coding. Beyond academics, social media, instant information, AI, and digital collaboration influence how our students interact and perceive the world. Now more than ever, Menlo must provide a relevant education that equips them to navigate this landscape—thinking critically, engaging responsibly, and using technology to build meaningful connections.

Now more than ever, Menlo must provide a relevant education that equips them to navigate this landscape—thinking critically, engaging responsibly, and using technology to build meaningful connections.”

1987

Students embrace technology in the Macintosh SE Lab

2024

Students in Upper School Spanish engage with virtual reality devices

Serving and Supporting a Broader Student Population

As Menlo has evolved from a military school enrolling just 13 boys into a vibrant, coeducational school for over 800 students, the School has come to better reflect the diverse communities we serve. Now more than ever, nurturing a culture of kindness, trust, and belonging where all feel welcomed, included, and valued is essential in fulfilling our mission.

We strive to cultivate a community where every student can flourish as a full participant in the life of the School and leave a lasting legacy as their best and authentic self. When students feel connected and supported, they gain the confidence to take risks, explore new ideas, and navigate challenges, empowering them to make a meaningful impact—both at Menlo and beyond.

We strive to cultivate a community where every student can flourish as a full participant in the life of the School and leave a lasting legacy as their best and authentic self.”