Palo Alto Swim School

Palo Alto Swim School offers swim lessons for children of all ages, with Water Babies classes for swimmers as young as 4 months old and parent or caretaker in the water. It offers Level 1 through Level 4 lessons, and all lessons are 30 minutes long. Private lessons for youth and adults are also available, and 30-minute private lessons take place in the Lap Pool.

Programs

• Palo Alto Swim School — Children of all ages; youngest swimmers start at 4 months old; youngest age group starts at 6 months old; parent or caretaker in the water for Water Babies; minimum age for lessons where the parent is not in the water is 3 years old. · Fall through Spring: once per week; Summer: 4-day sessions (Monday-Thursday). Fall 2026: Tuesday & Thursday 3:30pm-6:45pm; Saturday 9:00am-11:45am. · $464 · Water Babies classes focus on water acclimation with a parent or caretaker in the water. Level 1 through Level 4 are offered. ALL lessons are 30 minutes.
• Private Lessons — Youth and adult swim instruction; youngest age group starts at 6 months old. · September Saturdays 1:00pm-4:15pm; September Thursdays 2:45pm; future registration opens on the 20th of every month for the following month at 12:00pm. · $79 per class · Private adult and youth swim instruction. All lessons are 30 minutes in length. 30 minute lessons take place in the Lap Pool.
• Summer Camps
• Spring Break Camp

At a glance

• Ages: 0–16 years old
• Price range: $79–$464
• Current session: Daily Breakdown of Fall Schedule (Sep 8–Sep 30, 2026); Fall swim lessons (Sep 1–Dec 19, 2026); Swim School Holidays (No Lessons) - Thanksgiving Break (Nov 26–Nov 29, 2026); Swim School Holidays (No Lessons) - Winter Break (Dec 21–Jan 3, 2027)
• General schedule: Fall through Spring sessions meet once per week. Summer lessons are 4-day sessions (Monday-Thursday).
• Facility hours: Monday-Friday 6:00am-4:00pm; Saturday/Sunday 6:00am-5:00pm

About the provider

Tim Sheeper is the Founder/Owner, and Bri Cavanagh is the Head of Swim School. Palo Alto Swim and Sport says it has been doing what it loves for the past 11 years in Menlo Park and for many years before that in Redwood City, and it says it has taught 750,000 lessons in the past 10 years. It says it is the exclusive swim lesson and summer swim camp provider for the City of Palo Alto, and it is a proud affiliate of the Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation and Challenged Athlete Foundation. It also says it partners with the Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation to offer scholarships.

• Open Swim
• Aqua Fit
• Masters Swim
• PASA – Palo Alto Swim Club

Lesson placement is based on in-water progression during the first group lesson. Classes meet once per week on the same day and time for the season. Swimmers may sign up for more than one class. If the staff decides a level is too easy or too difficult, the caretaker must sign up for the appropriate class based on staff evaluation. Swim School holidays include Labor Day, Thanksgiving Break, and Winter Break. Lessons continue rain or shine.

Last updated September 20, 2026.