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A

Walter Hays Elementary

PublicElementaryGrades K–5

1525 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94301 · (650) 322-5956 · Part of Palo Alto Unified School District

Palo Alto’s School Grade A+ better than 96% of California school districts

Directions
Students
305
Students per teacher
20:1
Free or reduced lunch
17%
Setting
City
Grades
K–5
The gist

What stands out about Walter Hays Elementary

  • Its own letter, A: reading and math results near the top of California’s public schools
  • Math proficiency 38 pts above the state
  • Reading / language arts 23 pts above the state
  • Larger classes: 20 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 17.8% since 2020–21
  • Next stop for Palo Alto kids: 4 middle schools

On the path

Where Palo Alto kids come from and go next. The whole path →

K–5Walter Hays ElementaryYou are here
6–84 middle schoolsDepends on your address

Test scores

2020–21
Math proficiency72%
State average 33.6%
Reading / language arts72%
State average 48.6%

Its own letter, A, places these results among California’s 3,615 public schools with results. Source: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Location

Directions ↗

1525 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto

Students

Enrollment by grade
Kindergarten83
Grade 144
Grade 245
Grade 346
Grade 446
Grade 541
Enrollment over time
259’20
269’21
294’22
295’23
305’24

Up 17.8% since 2020–21.

Who goes here
Asian 43%White 23%Hispanic 20%Two or more races 10%Black 2%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 2%

As reported to NCES, share of students with a reported race or ethnicity.

Parents talk

Questions and answers about Walter Hays Elementary from Palo Alto families.

Other schools in Palo Alto Unified School District

The district →
Ohlone Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Palo Alto
A+
464 students22:1
Escondido Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Stanford
A
432 students18:1
Fairmeadow Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Palo Alto
A+
425 students20:1
Herbert Hoover Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Palo Alto
A+
389 students19:1
Duveneck Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Palo Alto
A+
376 students21:1
Addison Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Palo Alto
A
366 students20:1

School facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), 2024–2025 school year. Test scores: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21). A school’s letter is our own summary of its reading and math results against California’s other public schools; Palo Alto’s School Grade is built from its districts’ results. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.