Photo: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0Palo Alto’s public schools outscore 96% of California districts
76% of students in Palo Alto’s public schools are proficient in math, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Palo Alto, 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 90% 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.
Palo Alto’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 128 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Palo Alto’s, its schools beat 81%, lower than their 96% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 82% and math 76% 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
Palo Alto Unified spends $31,362 per student and Fremont Union High $24,927, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
12 elementary schools, then four middle and three high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Silicon Valley International School (private), The VR School (private), Castilleja School (private), Keys Family Day School (private), Keys Family Day School (private), Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School (private), St. Elizabeth Seton School (private), The Girls' Middle School (private), Kehillah Jewish High School (private), Headsup Child Development Center Palo Alto (private), Hope Technology School (private), Living Wisdom School of Palo Alto (private), Athena Academy (private), Achieve Inc. (private), Imagination Lab School (private), Tru School (private), Fusion Academy - Palo Alto (private), Living Widsom High School (private), Odyssey Montessori (private) and Meira 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 Palo Alto’s grade
A+: better than 96% of California school districts, #18 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 Palo Alto, with each school’s own grade.
9th grade in Palo Alto · depends on your address
Palo Alto High
Grades 9–12 · 1,891 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Henry M. Gunn High
Grades 9–12 · 1,643 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford
Grades K–12 · 15 students · 5:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Palo Alto · depends on your address
Palo Alto High
Grades 9–12 · 1,891 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Henry M. Gunn High
Grades 9–12 · 1,643 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford
Grades K–12 · 15 students · 5:1 students per teacher
Parts of Palo Alto (13%, 11%, 10% and 3% of its land) are served by Cupertino Union Elementary, Los Altos Elementary, Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union and Saratoga Union Elementary instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Palo Alto
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
Palo Alto vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Palo Alto’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto | A+ | Palo Alto Unified K–12 · Fremont Union High 9–12 · Mountain View-Los Altos Union 9–12 |
| Menlo Park | A− | Ravenswood City Elementary K–8 · Menlo Park City Elementary K–8 · Sequoia Union High 9–12 |
| Los Altos | A+ | Los Altos Elementary K–8 · Cupertino Union Elementary K–8 · Mountain View-Los Altos Union 9–12 |
| Mountain View | A | Mountain View Whisman Elementary K–8 · 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 |
| East Palo Alto | B | Ravenswood City Elementary K–8 · Sequoia Union High 9–12 |
| Portola Valley | A | Portola Valley Elementary K–8 · Sequoia Union High 9–12 |
3 of the 6 neighbors share Mountain View-Los Altos Union with Palo Alto for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Palo Alto
37 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 Palo Alto’s schools
Are Palo Alto’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Palo Alto children attend outscore 96% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A+ Schools grade, #18 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 81%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Palo Alto in?
Palo Alto Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 10,187 students in 20 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Palo Alto are served by Cupertino Union Elementary, Los Altos Elementary, Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union and Saratoga Union Elementary.
Where do Palo Alto kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Palo Alto High, Henry M. Gunn High and Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford.
What is Palo Alto’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 Palo Alto spend per student?
$31,362 in Palo Alto Unified School District, $24,927 in Fremont Union High School District and $33,926 in Mountain View-Los Altos Union School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Palo Alto?
Yes: Silicon Valley International School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 715 students), The VR School (nonsectarian, grades 1–12, 630 students), Castilleja School (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades 6–12, 424 students), Keys Family Day School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 323 students), Keys Family Day School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 321 students), Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School (religious, grades K–8, 277 students), St. Elizabeth Seton School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 209 students), The Girls' Middle School (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades 6–8, 198 students), Kehillah Jewish High School (religious, grades 9–12, 189 students), Headsup Child Development Center Palo Alto (nonsectarian, grades PK–7, 140 students), Hope Technology School (special education, grades PK–12, 97 students), Living Wisdom School of Palo Alto (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 71 students), Athena Academy (special education, grades 1–8, 61 students), Achieve Inc. (special education, grades 1–12, 58 students), Imagination Lab School (nonsectarian, grades K–7, 34 students), Tru School (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 31 students), Fusion Academy - Palo Alto (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 27 students), Living Widsom High School (religious, grades 9–12, 23 students), Odyssey Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 16 students) and Meira Academy (religious · all-girls, grades 11–12, 6 students).
Parents talk
What Palo Alto families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Palo Alto → 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.