Top Rankings
Palo Alto Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 5%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 20 public schools serving 10,187 students in Palo Alto Unified School District. This district's average testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 1% of public schools in California.
Public Schools in Palo Alto Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 79% (versus the California public school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 82% (versus the 47% statewide average).
The top-ranked public schools in Palo Alto Unified School District are Herbert Hoover Elementary School, Lucille M. Nixon Elementary School and Juana Briones Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Palo Alto Unified School District has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in California.
Minority enrollment is 73% of the student body (majority Asian), which is less than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
20 Schools
10,323 Schools
# Students
10,187 Students
5,788,587 Students
# Teachers
597 Teachers
267,491 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Palo Alto Unified School District, which is ranked #26 of all 1,903 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 98% has increased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#27 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Showing 2013–2023. View full 14-year historical data
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
78%
34%
Showing 2013–2023. View full 14-year historical data
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
82%
47%
Showing 2012–2022. View full 13-year historical data
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
72%
29%
Graduation Rate
98%
86.2%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 13-year historical data
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)13.2%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.71
0.63
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
43%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Hispanic
16%
56%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Black
2%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% White
27%
20%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
11%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 15-year historical data
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $37,775 is higher than the state median of $26,022. The school district revenue/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $38,318 is higher than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 21% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$385 MM
$150,628 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending
$390 MM
$130,845 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Revenue / Student
$37,775
$26,022
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending / Student
$38,318
$22,604
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Best Palo Alto Unified School District Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
445 East Charleston Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 320-8106
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 320-8106
Gr: K-5 | 389 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #22.
Lucille M. Nixon Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1711 Stanford Ave.
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1622
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1622
Gr: K-5 | 350 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #33.
Juana Briones Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4100 Orme St.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0877
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0877
Gr: K-5 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #44.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
655 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-9810
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-9810
Gr: 6-8 | 572 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #55.
Duveneck Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
705 Alester Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 322-5946
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 322-5946
Gr: K-5 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #66.
Ohlone Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
950 Amarillo Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1726
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1726
Gr: K-5 | 464 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #77.
Henry M. Gunn High School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
780 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 354-8200
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 354-8200
Gr: 9-12 | 1,643 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #88.
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
480 East Meadow Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-5188
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-5188
Gr: 6-8 | 1,002 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #99.
Palo Verde Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3450 Louis Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1672
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1672
Gr: K-5 | 334 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1010.
Palo Alto High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
50 Embarcadero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-3701
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-3701
Gr: 9-12 | 1,891 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1111.
Fairmeadow Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
500 East Meadow Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0845
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0845
Gr: K-5 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Addison Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
650 Addison Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5935
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5935
Gr: K-5 | 366 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
El Carmelo Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3024 Bryant St.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0960
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0960
Gr: K-5 | 282 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1414.
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
750 North California Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(408) 494-8120
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(408) 494-8120
Gr: 6-8 | 732 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1515.
Escondido Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
890 Escondido Rd.
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1337
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1337
Gr: K-5 | 432 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1616.
Walter Hays Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1525 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5956
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5956
Gr: K-5 | 305 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1717.
Greendell
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4120 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-0833
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-0833
Gr: K | 26 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1818.
Barron Park Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
800 Barron Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 858-0508
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 858-0508
Gr: K-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: n/an/a
725 Welch Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 497-8230
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 497-8230
Gr: K-12 | 15 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: n/an/a
12345 El Monte Rd.
Los Altos, CA 94022
(650) 949-7771
Los Altos, CA 94022
(650) 949-7771
Gr: 9-12 | 45 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Palo Alto Unified School District?
Palo Alto Unified School District manages 20 public schools serving 10,187 students.
What is the rank of Palo Alto Unified School District?
Palo Alto Unified School District is ranked #26 out of 1,903 school districts in California (top 5%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of California school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 5%), Highest math proficiency (Top 5%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%), Highest science proficiency (Top 5%), Highest graduation rate (Top 1%), Most diverse schools (Top 1%), Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%) and Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Palo Alto Unified School District?
43% of Palo Alto Unified School District students are Asian, 27% of students are White, 16% of students are Hispanic, 11% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Palo Alto Unified School District?
Palo Alto Unified School District has a student/teacher ratio of 17:1, which is lower than the California state average of 22:1.
What is Palo Alto Unified School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $38,318 is higher than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 21% over four school years.
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