Palo Alto is a green school community. To help reduce vehicle congestion, smog and Co2 emissions and to support student safety, please consider bicycling, walking or riding the bus when possible.
Palo Alto Link
If you must drive and transit options are unavailable consider scheduling a ride using the Palo Alto LINK (ridesharing service).
Carpooling helps to reduce congestion. New student drivers can carpool siblings if they have a note from their parents. RIDES for Bay Area Commuters has created an online School Pool Request to match PAUSD families who would like to form a carpool, walkpool, or bike pool.
Student Drop-Offs-Main Entrance
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Drop-off areas are for active loading and unloading only. Please do NOT double park or park alongside any of the red curbs when picking up students.
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If your student is not ready to go, then please park in the lot and turn off your engine while you wait.
Student Drop-Offs-Miranda Entrance
There is no student, parent, or visitor parking at the Miranda driveway location. If your student is not immediately ready to be picked up, park in the main Arastradero lot to wait. For everyone's safety and to reduce driver delays, please adhere to these rules:
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Drop off passengers only from the lane closest to the sidewalk.
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Passengers must exit from the right (sidewalk side) of vehicles.
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When exiting this driveway, all drivers must turn right on Miranda Avenue. Left turns are not permitted from the driveway exit, and they can be ticketed.
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U-turns are illegal on Miranda Avenue and are subject to ticketing.
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No student drop-offs on Miranda Avenue.
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Respect the marked crosswalks where pedestrians and bikes access campus.
Student Drop-Offs- Georgia Entrance
Dropping off students near the pedestrian cut-through on Georgia Avenue is not recommended due to the heavy bicycle and foot traffic. Instead, please use the Main or Miranda entrances as noted above for student drop-off as they are designed for vehicle loading and unloading.
If you must drive near the Georgia Avenue cut-through:
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Watch for bicyclists coming out of the path on their way to Fletcher Middle School. The “teeth” markings on the street are indicators of the path’s location.
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Observe the law that no vehicle may make u-turns closer than 200 feet of approaching vehicles or intersections. Avoid U-turning by looping through the streets at a safe speed.
Visitor Parking and Permits
Parents and other visitors who park at the school during the day must stop in the front office to get a temporary parking permit for parking in visitor parking spaces. Without this permit, you may be ticketed.
Student Parking and Permits
Students using the Gunn parking lot during the regular school day must buy a parking permit. Carpools with a carpool parking sticker receive preferred parking. Parking at Gunn High School is enforced randomly by the Palo Alto Police Department. Anyone parking in the wrong lot or without a visible permit will be ticketed. Purchase parking permits in the Student Activities Center. Permits are available for purchase by 12th graders. Carpoolers have priority during the first week of school, followed by single drivers who live on the other side of El Camino. After that, remaining permits are sold. Upon payment and completion of parking registration, a student will receive a parking sticker which must be hung from the mirror of their car with the number facing out. A permit allows students to park in the regular lot and costs $125. If you forget to bring your permit to school, ask at the Main Office for a temporary day permit (limited to twice per school year).
