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Elementary Schools in San Francisco, California

Near Average2024–25 data102 schools · avg 45.4/100

San Francisco, California has 102 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 45.4/100 — 1.6 points near the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Chinese Immersion School at DeAvila at 85/100, where 59.2% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. San Francisco schools average 23.8% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 102 schools, 8 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 26.0% (above the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
45.4
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
72.8
12.6 – 85.4
Avg Exceeded %
23.8%
State avg: 21.6%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
26.0%
State avg: 18.1%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
102
With Scope Scores

How San Francisco schools compare

San Francisco's 102 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 45.4 — 1.6 points near the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 12.6 to 85.4, a 72.8-point spread.

The top-ranked school is Chinese Immersion School at DeAvila with a Scope Score of 85 and 59.2% of students exceeding standard.

High-ceiling schools: San Francisco schools average 23.8% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.6%. These schools aren't just getting students to proficiency, they're pushing them further.

Chronic absenteeism in San Francisco averages 26.0%, which is below the state average of 18.1%.

How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)

School archetypes in San Francisco

22 Strong All-Around8 High Ceiling3 Culture First1 Solid Base66 Building Momentum

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

Schools in San Francisco ranked by Scope Score

#SchoolExceededScore
1Chinese Immersion School at DeAvila
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
59.2%Strong
85/100
2Lowell High
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
50.4%Strong
85/100
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
80/100
5Sunset Elementary
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
53.9%Strong
78/100
6Lawton Alternative
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
53.4%Strong
78/100
7Stevenson (Robert Louis) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
44.3%Strong
75/100
8Peabody (George) Elementary
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
52.9%Strong
75/100
9Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
51.1%Strong
73/100
10New Traditions Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
47.9%Strong
73/100
11Clarendon Alternative Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
48.7%Strong
72/100
12Chin (John Yehall) Elementary
San Francisco Unified High Ceiling
55.1%Strong
72/100
13Alamo Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
43.1%Solid
70/100
14Grattan Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
42.4%Solid
70/100
15Washington (George) High
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
28.6%Solid
70/100
16Giannini (A.P.) Middle
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
39.2%Solid
68/100
17Roosevelt Middle
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
40.4%Solid
68/100
18Key (Francis Scott) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
43.1%Solid
67/100
19Lincoln (Abraham) High
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
29.8%Solid
67/100
20Ulloa Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
44.4%Solid
66/100
21Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
38.1%Solid
64/100
22Sutro Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
38.9%Solid
63/100
23Lafayette Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
44.8%Solid
63/100
24Presidio Middle
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
34.3%Solid
63/100
25Balboa High
San Francisco Unified Building Momentum
20.7%Solid
63/100
26The New School of San Francisco
SBE - The New School of San Francisco Strong All-Around
37.2%Solid
62/100
27King (Thomas Starr) Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
41.7%Solid
62/100
28Argonne Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
36.0%Solid
62/100
29Wallenberg (Raoul) Traditional High
San Francisco Unified Building Momentum
24.9%Solid
60/100
30Yick Wo Elementary
San Francisco Unified Strong All-Around
33.4%Solid
59/100

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

  • Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
  • Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
  • Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
  • Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
  • Parent and community engagement levels
  • Quality of special education and gifted programs
  • How school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in San Francisco good?
San Francisco's 102 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 45.4/100, which is 1.6 points near the California state average of 43.8. 23.8% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights six dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC 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 85/100 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 45.4 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (1.6 points near). The exceeded rate averages 23.8% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 26.0% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 12.6 to 85.4, a 72.8-point spread.
How many schools are in San Francisco?
San Francisco has 102 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 six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner 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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