Los Altos

Once an agricultural town covered in apricot orchards, Los Altos has evolved into an affluent community, centrally located in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

This Silicon Valley city sits 40 miles south of San Francisco, next to Palo Alto and a short drive from Sand Hill Road, the home base of venture capital. Quiet and primarily residential, Los Altos serves as an ideal home base for high tech workers and is a welcoming community to raise a family. 

History

This charming town owes its roots to the railway. In 1906, the Altos Land Company purchased 140 acres of land and planned a town that would serve the new Southern Pacific Railroad line. After WWII, the community experienced a population spike and in 1952 it officially became the eleventh city in Santa Clara County. 

Culture

Commercial businesses are reserved for the 7 shopping districts spread across the city. At its heart is tree-lined Downtown Los Altos. Designed to evoke a quaint, small-town feel, this six-block triangle hosts more than 150 shops that include boutiques, salons, dentists, grocers and dining establishments that range from cozy cafes to fine dining restaurants.

From May to September, residents flock to downtown on Thursday nights for the Farmers’ Market. The rest of the year they enjoy a full calendar of community events that includes  a Wine Stroll, Arts & Wine Festival and Easter Egg Hunt.

Parks

Mature trees line neighborhood streets and the city has strived to maintain some of its rural feel with limited sidewalks and larger lot sizes. The city is home to an abundance of parks, outdoor spaces and recreational facilities. Redwood Grove Nature Preserve is a highlight with 6.12 acres that include picnic tables, observation deck, rose garden and a boardwalk along Adobe Creek.

Neighborhood Schools

Los Altos is part of Santa Clara County and has a population of 30,743, according to a 2017 U.S. Census estimate. It’s home to a top-rated public school district and several highly regarded private schools. The city is divided into 8 neighborhoods:

  1. Central Los Altos
  2. Country Club
  3. Loyola Corners
  4. North Los Altos
  5. Old Los Altos
  6. Rancho
  7. South Los Altos
  8. Woodland Acres / The Highlands

 

Public Schools:

 

Almond Elementary School K-6
Covington Elementary School K-6
Gardner Bullis School K-6
Loyola Elementary School K-6
Montclaire Elementary School Cupertino District K-5
Oak Avenue Elementary School K-6
Santa Rita Elementary School K-6
Springer Elementary School K-6
Bullis Charter School K-8
Georgina P. Blach Intermediate School 7-8
Egan Junior High School 7-8
Los Altos High School 9-12

 

Private Schools:

 

Ventana School PK-5
Waldorf School of the Peninsula K-5
St. Nicholas Catholic School PK-8
Los Altos Christian Schools PK-8
Miramonte Christian School K-8
St. Simon Parish School K-8
Pinewood School K-12

 

Community Links:

City of Los Altos

Los Altos School District

Los Altos Chamber of Commerce

Downtown Los Altos