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 5%)
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 2025 school year, there are 20 public schools serving 10,254 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 78% (versus the California public school average of 33%), 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 Palo Alto High 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 71% 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
10,369 Schools
# Students
10,254 Students
5,826,838 Students
# Teachers
600 Teachers
268,018 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Palo Alto Unified School District, which is ranked #27 of all 1,925 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 96% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#28 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
78%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
82%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
72%
29%
Graduation Rate
96%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.72
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
41%
12%
% Hispanic
16%
56%
% Black
2%
5%
% White
29%
20%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
11%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $28,183 is higher than the state median of $19,974. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $30,120 is higher than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$289 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$309 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$28,183
$19,974
Spending / Student
$30,120
$18,396
Best Palo Alto Unified School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 386 students
Rank: #22.
Lucille M. Nixon Elementary School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1711 Stanford Ave.
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1622
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1622
Grades: K-5
| 354 students
Rank: #33.
Palo Alto High School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
50 Embarcadero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-3701
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-3701
Grades: 9-12
| 1,932 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Henry M. Gunn High School
(Math: 82% | 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
Grades: 9-12
| 1,713 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
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
Grades: K-5
| 260 students
Rank: #66.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School
(Math: 81% | 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
Grades: 6-8
| 549 students
Rank: #77.
Duveneck Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 349 students
Rank: #88.
Ohlone Elementary School
(Math: 79% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 448 students
Rank: #99.
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School
(Math: 78% | 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
Grades: 6-8
| 1,025 students
Rank: #1010.
Palo Verde Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 366 students
Rank: #1111.
Fairmeadow Elementary School
(Math: 73% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 441 students
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Addison Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
650 Addison Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5935
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5935
Grades: K-5
| 338 students
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
El Carmelo Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3024 Bryant St.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0960
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0960
Grades: K-5
| 314 students
Rank: #1414.
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School
(Math: 70% | 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
Grades: 6-8
| 760 students
Rank: #1515.
Escondido Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
890 Escondido Rd.
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1337
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 856-1337
Grades: K-5
| 460 students
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
Grades: K-5
| 295 students
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
Grades: K
| 15 students
Rank: #1818.
Barron Park Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
800 Barron Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 858-0508
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 858-0508
Grades: K-5
| 229 students
Rank: n/an/a
725 Welch Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 497-8230
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 497-8230
Grades: K-12
| 20 students
Rank: n/an/a
12345 El Monte Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 849-7955
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 849-7955
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Palo Alto Unified School District?
Palo Alto Unified School District manages 20 public schools serving 10,254 students.
What is the rank of Palo Alto Unified School District?
Palo Alto Unified School District is ranked #27 out of 1,925 school districts in California (top 5%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 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 5%), 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?
41% of Palo Alto Unified School District students are Asian, 29% 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 $30,120 is higher than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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