Top Rankings
Palo Alto Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 5%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2024-25 school year, there are 19 public schools serving 10,285 students in Palo Alto Unified School District. This district's average testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 1% of public schools in California.
Public Schools in Palo Alto Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 78% (versus the California public school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 82% (versus the 47% statewide average).
The top ranked public schools in Palo Alto Unified School District are Herbert Hoover Elementary School, Lucille M. Nixon Elementary School and Palo Alto High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Palo Alto Unified School District has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in California.
Minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Asian), which is less than the California public school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
19 Schools
10,356 Schools
# Students
10,285 Students
5,417,014 Students
# Teachers
604 Teachers
267,522 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
District Rank
Palo Alto Unified School District, which is ranked #27 of all 1,931 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 96% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#28 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
78%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
82%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
72%
29%
Graduation Rate
96%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.72
0.64
# American Indian Students
8 Students
26,121 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
4,149 Students
674,073 Students
% Asian Students
40%
12%
# Hispanic Students
1,577 Students
2,961,553 Students
% Hispanic Students
15%
55%
# Black Students
184 Students
259,506 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%
# White Students
3,094 Students
1,154,454 Students
% White Students
30%
21%
# Hawaiian Students
89 Students
23,322 Students
% Hawaiian Students
1%
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,175 Students
308,275 Students
% of Two or more races Students
12%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
731
453,108
# Students in 1st Grade:
661
377,045
# Students in 2nd Grade:
705
379,902
# Students in 3rd Grade:
673
389,364
# Students in 4th Grade:
708
393,571
# Students in 5th Grade:
757
398,624
# Students in 6th Grade:
715
408,040
# Students in 7th Grade:
778
409,922
# Students in 8th Grade:
776
405,290
# Students in 9th Grade:
877
448,034
# Students in 10th Grade:
900
448,656
# Students in 11th Grade:
942
451,880
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,062
453,495
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $28,098 is higher than the state median of $21,485. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $30,030 is higher than the state median of $19,787. The school district spending/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$289 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$309 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$28,098
$21,485
Spending / Student
$30,030
$19,787
Best Palo Alto Unified School District Public Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
445 E. Charleston Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 320-8106
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 320-8106
Grades: K-5
| 386 students
Rank: #22.
Lucille M. Nixon Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1711 Stanford Ave.
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1622
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1622
Grades: K-5
| 358 students
Rank: #33.
Palo Alto High School
Magnet School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
50 Embarcadero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-3701
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-3701
Grades: 9-12
| 1,992 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Henry M. Gunn High School
Magnet School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
780 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 354-8200
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 354-8200
Grades: 9-12
| 1,787 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Juana Briones Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4100 Orme St.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0877
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0877
Grades: K-5
| 258 students
Rank: #66.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
655 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-9810
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-9810
Grades: 6-8
| 515 students
Rank: #77.
Duveneck Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
705 Alester Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 322-5946
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 322-5946
Grades: K-5
| 346 students
Rank: #88.
Ohlone Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
950 Amarillo Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1726
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1726
Grades: K-5
| 463 students
Rank: #99.
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
480 E. Meadow Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-5188
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-5188
Grades: 6-8
| 996 students
Rank: #1010.
Palo Verde Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3450 Louis Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1672
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1672
Grades: K-5
| 382 students
Rank: #1111.
Fairmeadow Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
500 E. Meadow Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0845
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0845
Grades: K-5
| 403 students
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Addison Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
650 Addison Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5935
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5935
Grades: K-5
| 331 students
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
El Carmelo Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3024 Bryant St.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0960
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0960
Grades: K-5
| 317 students
Rank: #1414.
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
750 N. Ca Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(408) 494-8120
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(408) 494-8120
Grades: 6-8
| 755 students
Rank: #1515.
Escondido Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
890 Escondido Rd.
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1337
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1337
Grades: K-5
| 447 students
Rank: #1616.
Walter Hays Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1525 Midfield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5956
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5956
Grades: K-5
| 294 students
Rank: #1717.
Greendell
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4120 Midfield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-0833
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-0833
Grades: K-12
| 34 students
Rank: #1818.
Barron Park Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
800 Barron Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 858-0508
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 858-0508
Grades: K-5
| 211 students
Rank: n/an/a
Packard Children's Hospital/stanford
Magnet School
725 Welch Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 497-8230
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 497-8230
Grades: K-12
| 10 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Palo Alto Unified School District?
Palo Alto Unified School District manages 19 public schools serving 10,285 students.
What is the rank of Palo Alto Unified School District?
Palo Alto Unified School District is ranked #27 out of 1,931 school districts in California (top 5%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of California school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 5%), Highest math proficiency (Top 5%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%), Highest science proficiency (Top 5%), Highest graduation rate (Top 5%), Most diverse schools (Top 1%), Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%) and Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Palo Alto Unified School District?
40% of Palo Alto Unified School District students are Asian, 30% of students are White, 15% of students are Hispanic, 12% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Palo Alto Unified School District?
Palo Alto Unified School District has a student/teacher ratio of 17:1, which is lower than the California state average of 22:1.
What is Palo Alto Unified School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $30,030 is higher than the state median of $19,787. The school district spending/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
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