Khan Lab School
A nonprofit, mastery-based private school for TK–12 founded by Sal Khan in 2014, with campuses in Palo Alto (TK–5) and Mountain View (6–12), California, and a newer campus in Wichita, Kansas. Students move on when they show mastery. 2026–27 tuition is $34,750 for TK–5 and $38,850 for grades 6–12.
What is Khan Lab School?
Khan Lab School (KLS) is a nonprofit independent school that Khan Academy founder Sal Khan started in 2014 to test the ideas in his book, The One World Schoolhouse. It began with about 30 students in one mixed-age classroom in Mountain View, California, and now serves about 315 students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade on two campuses: Palo Alto for TK–5 and Mountain View for grades 6–12. A newer campus, Khan Lab School Wichita in Kansas, is enrolling grades 6–10 for 2026–27.
The word lab is literal. KLS sees itself as a working school and a testing ground for new teaching practices.
How it works
KLS is mastery-based. Students progress when they show they understand material rather than after a set number of weeks. That doesn't mean endless retakes: KLS says students can move on with reasonable proficiency and revisit topics, and papers usually get one or two revisions. Teachers publish deadlines in advance, and meeting them is treated as a skill.
Younger children learn in mixed-age groups with lots of hands-on and outdoor time, 2 to 3 hours a day in early childhood. Older students set goals with teacher-guides, move through courses at their own pace, and by high school take dual-enrollment college courses such as biology and chemistry.
What it covers
| Division | Grades | Campus | 2026–27 tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower School | TK–5 | Palo Alto | $34,750 |
| Middle School | 6–8 | Mountain View | $38,850 |
| Upper School | 9–12 | Mountain View | $38,850 |
| KLS Wichita | 6–10 | Wichita, Kansas | Not published |
KLS reports that its median students score between the 95th and 99th percentiles on MAP and PSAT/SAT tests and that 78% finish University of California math graduation requirements by the end of 9th grade. Those figures come from the school and are not independently audited.
Who it's best for
KLS fits curious, self-directed kids who want to go deep and move fast, and parents who want a small school that blends personal pacing with real teachers. It's less suited to children who need lots of external structure, or families looking for a lower-cost or online option. Parent feedback is mixed: Niche reviews praise the mastery model and programs like robotics and debate, while some reviewers on other sites report teacher turnover and say the school has become more conventional.
Khan Lab School tuition at a glance
For 2026–27, tuition is $34,750 for TK–5 and $38,850 for grades 6–12, up from $33,700 and $37,700 in 2025–26. Families also pay a $750 registration fee, a 10% deposit and $250 in Family Association dues. Lunch, after-school care and summer programs cost extra. Need-based aid applications are due January 15.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
California has no ESA, voucher or tax credit scholarship program for private schools, so the school's own financial assistance is the main help; see our California scholarships page. Kansas has a tax credit scholarship for eligible students, but KLS Wichita doesn't say whether it takes part, so ask admissions and check the Kansas scholarships page. You can save KLS to your wishlist while you compare.
Khan World School, the online option
If you like the model but don't live near a campus, Khan World School @ ASU Prep is a separate online honors program for grades 6–12 run with Arizona State University's ASU Prep, with daily Socratic seminars and mastery-based coursework. It is free for Arizona residents and lists $10,500 a year for other U.S. students and $13,700 for international students. Learn more on the Khan World School enrollment page.
How it compares
Alpha School pushes mastery further with about two hours a day of adaptive software, at higher tuition at most campuses. Acton Academy is learner-driven and lighter on teachers. For gifted teens who want an elite online program, compare Stanford Online High School and Davidson Academy. Fusion Academy offers one-to-one classes instead of a peer classroom.
Who Khan Lab School is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Self-motivated students who want to work ahead in math and science
- Families who like mastery-based learning with teacher guidance
- Bay Area families looking for a small independent school from TK to 12
Look elsewhere if
- Families outside Silicon Valley or Wichita
- Families who need an online or low-cost option
- Kids who need lots of external structure and direct instruction
Khan Lab School pros and cons
Pros
- Mastery-based pacing; many students cover 1.5 to 2 grade levels a year, per the school
- Dual enrollment and college-level math in high school
- Cognia and WASC accredited, NAIS member
- Need-based financial aid
- Small school with extended-day care
Cons
- Tuition near $39,000 a year for grades 6–12
- Only in Palo Alto, Mountain View and Wichita
- Some parents report teacher turnover and a more conventional program than early on
- Annual contract makes mid-year withdrawal costly
- Smaller facilities than large private schools
What’s included
- Mastery-based learning: students advance by demonstrated understanding, not seat time
- Mixed-age learning and student goal-setting with teacher-guides
- Dual-enrollment college courses in high school
- Small school of about 315 students with 50 faculty
- Accredited by Cognia and WASC; NAIS member
- Need-based financial assistance
How much does Khan Lab School cost?
For 2026–27, Khan Lab School lists tuition of $34,750 for Lower School (TK–5) and $38,850 for both Middle School (6–8) and Upper School (9–12). At enrollment, families pay a non-refundable $750 registration fee per student and a deposit equal to 10% of tuition; returning families who sign within a week can have the registration fee waived. $250 Family Association dues per student are added to the first invoice. For 2025–26, tuition was $33,700 and $37,700. Khan Lab School Wichita does not publish tuition on its website.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower School, Palo Alto (TK–5), 2026–27 | $34,750/yr | Yearly | $2,895.83/mo |
| Middle School, Mountain View (6–8), 2026–27 | $38,850/yr | Yearly | $3,237.50/mo |
| Upper School, Mountain View (9–12), 2026–27 | $38,850/yr | Yearly | $3,237.50/mo |
Free trial: No trial. KLS runs tours, open houses and a formal application process.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-26. Always confirm on the official site.
Can a scholarship pay for Khan Lab School?
California has no private school choice program, so KLS families rely on the school's need-based financial assistance. Kansas runs a tax credit scholarship for eligible students, but KLS Wichita does not say on its site whether it participates; ask admissions. Each program decides eligibility.
No program on Edulist lists Khan Lab School yet. Save it to your wishlist and we’ll tell you when one does. Many state ESAs let families buy products like this directly; each program decides.
What parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Reviews are split. Many Niche reviews praise mastery learning, small classes and programs like robotics and debate, while a smaller set of reviews on SchoolDigger and real-estate school pages criticize teacher turnover, administration and a drift away from the original model.
Common praise
- Mastery-based learning and good teacher-student ratios
- Students can take charge of their own learning
- Strong robotics and debate programs
Common complaints
- Teacher turnover and administration problems
- Program has become more conventional over time
- Contract leaves families owing most of a year's tuition
Sources: niche.com · reviews · schooldigger.com · school.aspx · movoto.com · khan lab school 0632356
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Khan Lab School FAQs
How much is Khan Lab School tuition?
For 2026–27, tuition is $34,750 for Lower School (TK–5) and $38,850 for Middle and Upper School (6–12). Add a $750 non-refundable registration fee, a 10% deposit and $250 Family Association dues per student.
Where is Khan Lab School?
The Lower School campus (TK–5) is in Palo Alto, California, and the Middle and Upper School campus (6–12) is in Mountain View. Khan Lab School Wichita, in Kansas, is enrolling grades 6–10 for 2026–27.
Is Khan Lab School accredited?
Yes. The school lists accreditation from Cognia and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and membership in the National Association of Independent Schools.
Is Khan Lab School the same as Khan World School?
No. Khan Lab School is an in-person independent school in California and Kansas. Khan World School @ ASU Prep is a separate online program for grades 6–12 run with Arizona State University's ASU Prep, free for Arizona residents and $10,500 a year for other U.S. students.
Does Khan Lab School offer financial aid?
Yes. KLS offers need-based financial assistance through Ravenna Financial Aid. The application deadline is January 15, and families reapply each year.
What is mastery-based learning at Khan Lab School?
Students move on when they show they understand a concept, not when the calendar says so. KLS says students can still advance with reasonable proficiency and revisit topics later, and that many students cover 1.5 to 2 grade levels a year.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-26 against these sources: