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Menlo Park Railroad StationMenlo Park Railroad Station · Photo: Ron Reiring from Inland Empire of Southern California, USA · CC BY 2.0
A−
Schools in Menlo Park · Sequoia Union High School District, Ravenswood City Elementary School District

Menlo Park’s public schools outscore 84% of California districts

Math proficiency in Menlo Park’s districts is 50%, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Menlo Park, 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.

#132of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% 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.

Reading proficiency
62%
▲ 15 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
50%
▲ 17 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 5 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$27.3K
▲ 29% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Sequoia Union High
Students per teacher
17.3
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
11
1,944 students on the public path
In brief

Menlo Park’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 166 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Menlo Park’s, its schools beat 42%, lower than their 84% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 62% and math 50% across its districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Sequoia Union High spends $27,344 per student and Ravenswood City Elementary $39,727, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Hillview Middle, then Tide Academy. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

KIPP Valiant Community Prep, Nativity Elementary School (private), St. Raymond Elementary School (private), Trinity School (private), Mid-Peninsula High School (private) and Chesterton Academy of St. James (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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Menlo Park’s grade

A Test scoresB− Graduation

A−: better than 84% of California school districts, #132 of 847 California towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 84%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (166)Better than 42%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,672 test results and a graduating class of 2,228 could put Menlo Park anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 93% of Menlo Park’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,702 in math, 4,644 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Menlo Park, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
6–8Hillview MiddleMenlo Park City Elementary School DistrictNo scores
9–12Tide AcademySequoia Union High School DistrictNo scores

Parts of Menlo Park (12% and 3% of its land) are served by Las Lomitas Elementary and Redwood City Elementary instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Menlo Park

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Sequoia Union High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 6 schools · 8,419 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 17.6 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$27,344CA $21,206 · FY2024
A−
Ravenswood City Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 4 schools · 1,445 students, down 16% since 2020–21 · 17.1 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$39,727CA $21,206 · FY2024
D
Menlo Park City Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 4 schools · 2,682 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 16.6 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$27,970CA $21,206 · FY2024
A+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Sequoia Union High School District70%
State average 46.7% · 1903 students tested
Math · 9–12, Sequoia Union High School District49%
State average 33.1% · 1934 students tested
Reading · K–8, Ravenswood City Elementary School District13%
State average 46.7% · 978 students tested
Math · K–8, Ravenswood City Elementary School District6%
State average 33.1% · 1014 students tested
Reading · K–8, Menlo Park City Elementary School District80%
State average 46.7% · 1763 students tested
Math · K–8, Menlo Park City Elementary School District76%
State average 33.1% · 1754 students tested

Menlo Park vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Menlo Park’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Menlo ParkA−Ravenswood City Elementary K–8 · Menlo Park City Elementary K–8 · Sequoia Union High 9–12
Palo AltoA+Palo Alto Unified K–12 · Fremont Union High 9–12 · Mountain View-Los Altos Union 9–12
East Palo AltoBRavenswood City Elementary K–8 · Sequoia Union High 9–12
Redwood CityARedwood City Elementary K–8 · Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary K–8 · Sequoia Union High 9–12
AthertonA+Menlo Park City Elementary K–8 · Las Lomitas Elementary K–8 · Sequoia Union High 9–12
FremontAFremont Unified
WoodsideAWoodside Elementary K–8 · Portola Valley Elementary K–8 · Sequoia Union High 9–12

4 of the 6 neighbors share Sequoia Union High with Menlo Park for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Menlo Park

11 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).

District schools in Menlo Parkby address
Oak Knoll Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
574 students19:1Rate it →
Belle Haven Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
312 students21:1Rate it →
Hillview Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
846 students16:1Rate it →
Tide Academy
High · Grades 9–12
212 students9:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
KIPP Valiant Community Prep
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
Charter
587 students19:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Menlo Parkrun by other districts or the state
La Entrada Middle
Middle · Grades 4–8
A+
612 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Nativity Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
268 students13:1Rate it →
St. Raymond Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Catholic
241 students11:1Rate it →
Trinity School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Religious
163 students10:1Rate it →
Mid-Peninsula High School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Nonsectarian
126 students10:1Rate it →
Chesterton Academy of St. James
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic
12 students2:1Rate it →

Questions about Menlo Park’s schools

Are Menlo Park’s schools good?

By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Menlo Park children attend outscore 84% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #132 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 42%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Menlo Park in?

Sequoia Union High School District, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 8,419 students in 6 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Menlo Park are served by Las Lomitas Elementary and Redwood City Elementary.

Where do Menlo Park kids go to high school?

Tide Academy, with 212 students.

What is Menlo Park’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Sequoia Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Menlo Park spend per student?

$27,344 in Sequoia Union High School District, $39,727 in Ravenswood City Elementary School District and $27,970 in Menlo Park City Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Menlo Park?

Yes: Nativity Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 268 students), St. Raymond Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 241 students), Trinity School (religious, grades PK–5, 163 students), Mid-Peninsula High School (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 126 students) and Chesterton Academy of St. James (Catholic, grades 9–12, 12 students). Menlo Park also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Menlo Park families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Menlo Park → 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.