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 4 public high schools serving 3,594 students in Palo Alto Unified School District.
Public High Schools in Palo Alto Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 74% (versus the California public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 87% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Palo Alto Unified School District have a Graduation Rate of 98%, which is more than the California average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Palo Alto High School, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in California or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Asian), which is less than the California public high school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
20 Schools
2,790 Schools
# Students
10,187 Students
2,122,151 Students
# Teachers
597 Teachers
101,015 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. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
78%
34%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
82%
47%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
72%
29%
Graduation Rate
98%
86.2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)13.2%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.71
0.63
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
43%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
16%
56%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
2%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
27%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
11%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓
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. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$390 MM
$130,845 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$37,775
$26,022
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$38,318
$22,604
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Palo Alto Unified School District Public High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: 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%
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