Willard Griffin House and Carriage House · Photo: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0Los Altos Hills’s public schools outscore 97% of California districts
In Los Altos Hills, 79% of tested students are proficient in math, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Los Altos Hills, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.
From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Los Altos Hills’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 102 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Los Altos Hills’s, its schools beat 90%, lower than their 97% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 83% and math 79% across its districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Mountain View-Los Altos Union spends $33,926 per student and Los Altos Elementary $23,589, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
One elementary school, then six middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
St. Nicholas Catholic School (private) is in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Los Altos Hills’s grade
A+: better than 97% of California school districts, #10 of 847 California towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Los Altos Hills, with each school’s own grade.
Kindergarten in Los Altos Hills
Gardner Bullis Elementary
Grades K–6 · 313 students · 19:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Los Altos Hills
Gardner Bullis Elementary
Grades K–6 · 313 students · 19:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Los Altos Hills
Gardner Bullis Elementary
Grades K–6 · 313 students · 19:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Los Altos Hills
Gardner Bullis Elementary
Grades K–6 · 313 students · 19:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Los Altos Hills
Gardner Bullis Elementary
Grades K–6 · 313 students · 19:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Los Altos Hills
Gardner Bullis Elementary
Grades K–6 · 313 students · 19:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Los Altos Hills
Gardner Bullis Elementary
Grades K–6 · 313 students · 19:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Los Altos Hills
Palo Alto Middle College High
Grades 9–12 · 45 students · 11:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Los Altos Hills
Palo Alto Middle College High
Grades 9–12 · 45 students · 11:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Los Altos Hills
Palo Alto Middle College High
Grades 9–12 · 45 students · 11:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Los Altos Hills
Palo Alto Middle College High
Grades 9–12 · 45 students · 11:1 students per teacher
To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Los Altos Hills
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Los Altos Hills vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Los Altos Hills’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Los Altos Hills | A+ | Los Altos Elementary K–8 · Palo Alto Unified K–12 · Mountain View-Los Altos Union 9–12 |
| Los Altos | A+ | Los Altos Elementary K–8 · Cupertino Union Elementary K–8 · Mountain View-Los Altos Union 9–12 |
| Palo Alto | A+ | Palo Alto Unified K–12 · Fremont Union High 9–12 · Mountain View-Los Altos Union 9–12 |
All 2 neighbors share Mountain View-Los Altos Union with Los Altos Hills for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Los Altos Hills
9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Los Altos Hills’s schools
Are Los Altos Hills’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Los Altos Hills children attend outscore 97% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A+ Schools grade, #10 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 90%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Los Altos Hills in?
Mountain View-Los Altos Union School District, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 4,435 students in 3 schools (2024–25).
Where do Los Altos Hills kids go to high school?
Palo Alto Middle College High, with 45 students.
What is Los Altos Hills’s graduation rate?
94% of the class of 2023 in Mountain View-Los Altos Union School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Los Altos Hills spend per student?
$33,926 in Mountain View-Los Altos Union School District, $23,589 in Los Altos Elementary School District and $31,362 in Palo Alto Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Los Altos Hills?
Yes: St. Nicholas Catholic School (Catholic, grades K–8, 270 students).
Parents talk
What Los Altos Hills families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Los Altos Hills → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.