Photo: Coolcaesar at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Los Altos’s public schools outscore almost every California district
Math proficiency in Los Altos’s districts is 82%, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the four public school districts serving Los Altos, 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 95% 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’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 84% and math 82% across its districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 96% 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 ↓
Six elementary schools, then two middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Bullis Charter, Pinewood Private of Los Altos (private), St. Simon Parish School (private), School for Independent Learners (private), Los Altos Christian School (private), Miramonte Christian School (private) and Heritage Academy (private) are 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’s grade
A+: better than 99% of California school districts, #2 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, with each school’s own grade.
7th grade in Los Altos · depends on your address
Ardis G. Egan Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 517 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Georgina P. Blach Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 388 students · 18:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Los Altos · depends on your address
Ardis G. Egan Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 517 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Georgina P. Blach Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 388 students · 18:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Los Altos
Los Altos High
Grades 9–12 · 2,170 students · 18:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Los Altos
Los Altos High
Grades 9–12 · 2,170 students · 18:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Los Altos
Los Altos High
Grades 9–12 · 2,170 students · 18:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Los Altos
Los Altos High
Grades 9–12 · 2,170 students · 18:1 students per teacher
To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Four districts serve Los Altos
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 vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Los Altos’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Los Altos Hills | A+ | Los Altos Elementary K–8 · Palo Alto Unified K–12 · Mountain View-Los Altos Union 9–12 |
| Mountain View | A | Mountain View Whisman Elementary K–8 · Mountain View-Los Altos Union 9–12 |
| Sunnyvale | A | Sunnyvale Elementary K–8 · Fremont Union High 9–12 |
| Cupertino | A+ | Cupertino Union Elementary K–8 · Fremont Union High 9–12 |
3 of the 5 neighbors share Fremont Union High with Los Altos for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Los Altos
16 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).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (LASD Preschool).
Questions about Los Altos’s schools
Are Los Altos’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Los Altos children attend outscore 99% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A+ Schools grade, #2 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 97%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Los Altos 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 kids go to high school?
Los Altos High, with 2,170 students; its own test results earn an A+.
What is Los Altos’s graduation rate?
96% of the class of 2023 in Fremont Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Los Altos spend per student?
$33,926 in Mountain View-Los Altos Union School District, $23,589 in Los Altos Elementary School District, $18,329 in Cupertino Union Elementary School District and $24,927 in Fremont Union High School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Los Altos?
Yes: Pinewood Private of Los Altos (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 598 students), St. Simon Parish School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 530 students), School for Independent Learners (nonsectarian, grades 8–12, 225 students), Los Altos Christian School (religious, grades K–12, 162 students), Miramonte Christian School (religious, grades 1–8, 84 students) and Heritage Academy (religious, grades K–5, 50 students). Los Altos also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Los Altos families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Los Altos → 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.