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Elementary Schools in San Francisco, California: San Francisco schools average near the state. The 66.6-point spread is where the choice actually lives.

Near Average2024–25 data75 schools · avg 40.4/100

San Francisco, California has 75 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 40.4/100 — within 1.6 points of the state average of 38.8. The highest-scoring school is Chinese Immersion School at DeAvila at 82/100, where 59.2% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. San Francisco schools average 25.2% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 75 schools, 5 Growth Engines and 5 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 24.2% (above the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
40.4
State avg: 38.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
66.6
15.5 – 82.2
Avg Exceeded %
25.2%
State avg: 21.3%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
24.2%
State avg: 17.9%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
75
With Scope Scores
LevelSchoolsAvg ScoreExceededvs State
Elementary75Developing
40.4/100
25.2%+1.6
High22Developing
45.0/100
15.4%-1.6
Middle16Developing
39.5/100
18.8%+1.5

How San Francisco schools compare

San Francisco has 75 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 40.4/100 — within 1.6 points of the state average of 38.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Chinese Immersion School at DeAvila with a Scope Score of 82 and 59.2% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in San Francisco averages 24.2% — above the state average of 17.9%.

How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page

Hidden Gem

Despite a 58% free-or-reduced-lunch rate, Lawton Alternative posts a Scope Score of 73 — 96th percentile statewide.

School archetypes in San Francisco

7 Solid Base7 On the Rise6 Strong All-Around5 High Ceiling32 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 12 schools in San Francisco are classified as On the Rise (7) or Growth Engine (5) \u2014 showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

Every school in San Francisco

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#SchoolExceededScore
1Lowell High
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
50.4%Strong
87/100
2Chinese Immersion School at DeAvila
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
59.2%Strong
82/100
3Asawa (Ruth) SF Sch of the Arts, A Public School
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
43.7%Strong
81/100
4Yu (Alice Fong) Elementary
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
55.5%Strong
76/100
5Lawton Alternative
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
53.4%Strong
73/100
6Peabody (George) Elementary
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
52.9%Strong
71/100
7Stevenson (Robert Louis) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Growth Engine
44.3%Strong
71/100
8Sunset Elementary
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
53.9%Strong
71/100
9Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
51.1%Solid
69/100
10Washington (George) High
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
28.6%Solid
68/100
11Clarendon Alternative Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
48.7%Solid
67/100
12Alamo Elementary
San Francisco Unified Growth Engine
43.1%Solid
66/100
13Lincoln (Abraham) High
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
29.8%Solid
66/100
14New Traditions Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
47.9%Solid
65/100
15Roosevelt Middle
San Francisco Unified Solid Base
40.4%Solid
65/100
16Presidio Middle
San Francisco Unified Growth Engine
34.3%Solid
65/100
17Grattan Elementary
San Francisco Unified Growth Engine
42.4%Solid
64/100
18Gateway High
San Francisco Unified Building Momentum
18.1%Solid
63/100
19Giannini (A.P.) Middle
San Francisco Unified Solid Base
39.2%Solid
63/100
20Key (Francis Scott) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
43.1%Solid
63/100
21Chin (John Yehall) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Solid Base
55.1%Solid
63/100
22Balboa High
San Francisco Unified Building Momentum
20.7%Solid
60/100
23The New School of San Francisco
SBE - The New School of San Francisco Growth Engine
37.2%Solid
59/100
24Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
38.1%Solid
59/100
25Wallenberg (Raoul) Traditional High
San Francisco Unified Building Momentum
24.9%Solid
59/100
26Argonne Elementary
San Francisco Unified Growth Engine
36.0%Solid
59/100
27King (Thomas Starr) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
41.7%Solid
59/100
28Galileo High
San Francisco Unified Building Momentum
24.5%Solid
58/100
29Ulloa Elementary
San Francisco Unified Solid Base
44.4%Solid
57/100
30Aptos Middle
San Francisco Unified Growth Engine
28.4%Solid
57/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 113 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools · Download this data (CSV)

Free to download, CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

Private Schools in San Francisco

Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.

St. Ignatius College Preparatory
Roman Catholic · Grades 6-12 · 1589 students
12:1Private
Convent & Stuart Hall Schools of the Sacred Heart
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-12 · 1169 students
5:1Private
Archbishop Riordan High School
Roman Catholic · Grades 9-12 · 976 students
15:1Private
St. Cecilia School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 531 students
21:1Private
Children's Day School
Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-8 · 471 students
17:1Private
What Scope Scores can't tell you about San Francisco

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in San Francisco good?
San Francisco's 75 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 40.4/100, which is within 1.6 points of the state average. 25.2% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.3%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (42%), met or exceeded (proficient) (23%), grade 3-to-5 growth (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in San Francisco?
The highest-scoring elementary school in San Francisco is Chinese Immersion School at DeAvila with a Scope Score of 82/100 and 59.2% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do San Francisco schools compare to the state average?
San Francisco elementary schools average a Scope Score of 40.4/100 — within 1.6 points of the state average of 38.8. The exceeded rate averages 25.2% vs. 21.3% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 24.2% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in San Francisco?
San Francisco has 75 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.

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