Photo: JaGa · CC BY-SA 3.0Santa Clara’s public schools outscore 84% of California districts
In Santa Clara, 53% of tested students are proficient in math, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Santa Clara, 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.
Santa Clara’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 200 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Santa Clara’s, its schools beat 60%, lower than their 84% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 66% and math 53% 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
Santa Clara Unified spends $29,282 per student and Fremont Union High $24,927, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
15 elementary schools, then three middle and two high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Stratford School - Santa Clara Pomeroy (private), Granada Islamic School (private), Monticello Academy (private), St. Justin Elementary School (private), St. Clare School (private), Santa Clara Christian School (private), Stratford School (private), St. Lawrence Elementary/Middle School (private), Children's World Bilingual Montessori (private) and Martinson Child Development Center (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 Santa Clara’s grade
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.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Santa Clara, with each school’s own grade.
6th grade in Santa Clara · depends on your address
Juan Cabrillo Middle
Grades 6–8 · 796 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Buchser Middle
Grades 6–8 · 711 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Don Callejon
Grades K–8 · 568 students · 15:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Santa Clara · depends on your address
Juan Cabrillo Middle
Grades 6–8 · 796 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Buchser Middle
Grades 6–8 · 711 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Don Callejon
Grades K–8 · 568 students · 15:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Santa Clara · depends on your address
Juan Cabrillo Middle
Grades 6–8 · 796 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Buchser Middle
Grades 6–8 · 711 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Don Callejon
Grades K–8 · 568 students · 15:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Santa Clara · depends on your address
Santa Clara High
Grades 9–12 · 1,663 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Adrian Wilcox High
Grades 9–12 · 1,614 students · 19:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Santa Clara · depends on your address
Santa Clara High
Grades 9–12 · 1,663 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Adrian Wilcox High
Grades 9–12 · 1,614 students · 19:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Santa Clara · depends on your address
Santa Clara High
Grades 9–12 · 1,663 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Adrian Wilcox High
Grades 9–12 · 1,614 students · 19:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Santa Clara · depends on your address
Santa Clara High
Grades 9–12 · 1,663 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Adrian Wilcox High
Grades 9–12 · 1,614 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Parts of Santa Clara (5% and 3% of its land) are served by Cupertino Union Elementary and Campbell Union Elementary instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Santa Clara
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
Santa Clara vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Santa Clara’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara | A− | Santa Clara Unified K–12 · Fremont Union High 9–12 · Campbell Union High 9–12 |
| San Jose | B+ | San Jose Unified K–12 · East Side Union High 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 |
2 of the 3 neighbors share Fremont Union High with Santa Clara for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Santa Clara
33 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 (Santa Clara Community Day).
Questions about Santa Clara’s schools
Are Santa Clara’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Santa Clara 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 60%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Santa Clara in?
Santa Clara Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 14,411 students in 30 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Santa Clara are served by Cupertino Union Elementary and Campbell Union Elementary.
Where do Santa Clara kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Santa Clara High and Adrian Wilcox High.
What is Santa Clara’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 Santa Clara spend per student?
$29,282 in Santa Clara Unified School District, $24,927 in Fremont Union High School District and $19,636 in Campbell Union High School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Santa Clara?
Yes: Stratford School - Santa Clara Pomeroy (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 713 students), Granada Islamic School (religious, grades PK–12, 483 students), Monticello Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 468 students), St. Justin Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 273 students), St. Clare School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 221 students), Santa Clara Christian School (religious, grades PK–5, 150 students), Stratford School (nonsectarian, grades K–2, 109 students), St. Lawrence Elementary/Middle School (Catholic, grades K–8, 95 students), Children's World Bilingual Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 50 students) and Martinson Child Development Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 46 students).
Parents talk
What Santa Clara families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Santa Clara → 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.