Harker School

The Harker School offers lower school students BEST after-school activities until 6 p.m. every day, along with dance, drama, vocal music, instrumental music, technical theater, and musical theater. Lower school students also take part in drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and hands-on STEM work with special science projects and friendly competitions. Grade 4 students and older in lower school may join developmental, intramural, or competitive sports teams, including baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, swimming, track & field, volleyball, and water polo.

Programs

• Lower School Programs & Extracurriculars — lower school; grade 4 students may join sports teams; kindergarten starts character development curriculum
• After-school program (BEST) — lower school students · until 6 p.m. every day · Comprehensive and unique academic, art and play-based after-school activities.
• Athletics — grade 4 students and older in lower school · Developmental, intramural or competitive sports teams. Sports offered: Baseball (boys), Basketball, Flag football (boys), Soccer, Softball (girls), Swimming, Track & field, Volleyball, Water polo.
• Performing arts — lower school students · Activities include dance, drama, vocal music, instrumental music, technical theater, and musical theater.
• Visual arts — lower school students · Fine arts curriculum includes drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics and more.
• STEM — lower school students · Hands-on learning in the classroom, with special science projects and friendly competitions and during BEST after-school program.

At a glance

• Ages: 4–18 years old

About the provider

The Harker School was founded in 1893 and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2018. Its mission states that the school celebrates its century-old history and tradition of developing lifelong learners, well-rounded global citizens, and kind, respectful individuals. It is a nonprofit K-12, coed, private school in Silicon Valley and is described as one of the nation’s top college prep schools, with international recognition for its top academics, quality teachers, and student achievements. Parents, faculty, staff, students, and alumni form a close-knit community through events, traditions, and a common mission.

The school is a nonprofit K-12, coed, private school in Silicon Valley. Tuition includes before- and after-school care, lunch and most school expenses, such as the intercampus shuttle, yearbooks, local field trips, and athletic uniforms. Non-tuition expenses include laptops for middle and upper school students and textbooks. Additional costs may apply for specific activity choices or elective travel trips.

What families say

“Harker remains the most significant professional and personal influence on me. Harker provided me with the study skills to succeed in school, and more important, the ethics and values to succeed in life.” — John Owen ’85, judge, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Last updated September 16, 2026.