Photo: Payton Chung · CC BY 2.0San Jose’s public schools outscore 72% of California districts
Reading proficiency in San Jose’s districts is 54%, above the California average (47%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving San Jose, 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 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.
San Jose’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 330 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of San Jose’s, its schools beat 54%, lower than their 72% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 54% and math 38% across both districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Charters enroll nearly as many students as the district
Charter schools located in San Jose enroll 21,624 students, against the district’s 24,322. Each is graded on its own results; none is part of the district grade. Every school ↓
Spending and class size
East Side Union High spends $18,147 per student and San Jose Unified $19,727, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
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 San Jose’s grade
B+: better than 72% of California school districts, #225 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 San Jose, with each school’s own grade.
San Jose runs its own schools through grade 12 (San Jose Unified School District). From grade 9, students attend the East Side Union High School District, shared with Milpitas. Parts of San Jose (18%, 15%, 12%, 10%, 10%, 6%, 6%, 5%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 3% and 2% of its land) are served by Campbell Union High, Morgan Hill Unified, Santa Clara Unified, Evergreen Elementary, Oak Grove Elementary, Berryessa Union Elementary, Franklin-McKinley Elementary, Alum Rock Union Elementary, Fremont Union High, Orchard Elementary, Campbell Union Elementary, Union Elementary and Moreland instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve San Jose
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
San Jose vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share San Jose’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | B+ | San Jose Unified K–12 · East Side Union High 9–12 |
| Campbell | A | Campbell Union Elementary K–8 · Cambrian Elementary K–8 · Campbell Union High 9–12 |
| Milpitas | A− | Milpitas Unified K–12 · East Side Union High 9–12 |
| Santa Clara | A− | Santa Clara Unified K–12 · Fremont Union High 9–12 · Campbell Union High 9–12 |
| Fremont | A | Fremont Unified |
| Los Gatos | A | Los Gatos Union Elementary K–8 · Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union 9–12 · Campbell Union High 9–12 |
| Cupertino | A+ | Cupertino Union Elementary K–8 · Fremont Union High 9–12 |
| Saratoga | A+ | Saratoga Union Elementary K–8 · Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union 9–12 |
| Sunnyvale | A | Sunnyvale Elementary K–8 · Fremont Union High 9–12 |
| Morgan Hill | B+ | Morgan Hill Unified |
Every school in San Jose
287 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: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Silicon Valley Career Technical Education and Berryessa Union Elementary). 1 duplicate private-school records merged.
Questions about San Jose’s schools
Are San Jose’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools San Jose children attend outscore 72% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #225 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 54%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is San Jose in?
Two districts: San Jose Unified School District runs grades K–12, and East Side Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Milpitas.
Where do San Jose kids go to high school?
One of 17 high schools, depending on your address: Evergreen Valley High, Independence High, Silver Creek High, Santa Teresa High, Piedmont Hills High, Yerba Buena High, Abraham Lincoln High, Andrew P. Hill High, Willow Glen High, Leland High, Pioneer High, Oak Grove High, William C. Overfelt High, Mt. Pleasant High, San Jose High, James Lick High and Gunderson High.
What is San Jose’s graduation rate?
87% of the class of 2023 in East Side Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does San Jose spend per student?
$18,147 in East Side Union High School District and $19,727 in San Jose Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in San Jose?
Yes: Harker (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 1,983 students), Archbishop Mitty High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 1,770 students), Bellarmine College Preparatory (catholic · all-boys, grades 9–12, 1,664 students), Presentation High School (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 547 students), Holy Spirit School (Catholic, grades K–8, 487 students), St. Christopher School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 474 students), Almaden Country Day School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 430 students), Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 425 students), St. John Vianney Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 370 students), Saniku Gakuin Santa Clara Japanese School (religious, grades K–9, 359 students), Stratford School - San Jose (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 355 students), Stratford Middle School (nonsectarian, grades 5–8, 331 students), Action Day Elementary School (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 320 students), Legacy Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 294 students), Rise Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 266 students), St. Thomas More School (Catholic, grades K–12, 265 students), Holy Family School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 250 students), Queen of Apostles School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 240 students), Apostles Lutheran School (religious, grades K–12, 219 students), St. Leo the Great School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 215 students), St. Victor Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 207 students), Most Holy Trinity School (Catholic, grades K–8, 198 students), Learning Pathways Kindergarten (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 198 students), St. Patrick School (Catholic, grades K–8, 190 students), Merryhill School (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 181 students), East Valley Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 169 students), One World Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 146 students), Action Day Primary Plus Allen School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 144 students), Milpitas Christian School (religious, grades K–5, 140 students), Orion Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 140 students), Apple Seed Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 96 students), Trust Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–1, 92 students), Liberty Baptist School (religious, grades PK–12, 88 students), Sacred Heart Nativty Schools (Catholic, grades 6–8, 84 students), Second Start-Pine Hill School (special education, grades 1–12, 71 students), Piedmont Hills Montessori Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 68 students), One World Montessori School Inc. Leigh (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 52 students), As-Safa Institute/As-Safa Academy (religious, grades K–9, 40 students), Achievekids (special education, grades , 38 students), Over the Rainbow Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 38 students), San Jose Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 38 students), One World Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades 1–6, 35 students), Evergreen Montessori School - Ar (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 34 students), Scholars Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–1, 23 students), Kinship Society LLC (special education, grades 2–12, 16 students), Kinship Academy (special education, grades 2–12, 16 students), Sundrops Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 15 students), Tej Acton Academy South Bay (nonsectarian, grades K–7, 14 students), Willow Glen Academy (religious, grades PK–K, 13 students), The Learning Company & Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 8 students), Learning Springs Academy (special education, grades K–4, 8 students), Renaissance Learner Academy (special education, grades 9–11, 8 students) and Sofos Preparatory Academy (nonsectarian, grades 9–11, 6 students). San Jose also has 51 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What San Jose families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near San Jose → 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.