Palo Alto Unified
Palo Alto Unified has 18 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 81.9/100 — 38.1 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Palo Alto Middle College High at 96/100, where 53.1% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $24,917 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 10.3%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Strong 79.9/100 | 12 | 60.3% | 10.4% |
| Middle | Strong 81.1/100 | 3 | 57.2% | 7.1% |
| High | Strong 90.8/100 | 3 | 57.0% | 14.4% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Palo Alto Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Palo Alto Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 90.8.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +3.4pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are adding meaningful value.
Consistency: Score range of 39.3 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 10.3%, 7.9pp above the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.5%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Palo Alto Middle College High leads the district at 96 with 53.1% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Palo Alto Unified
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Palo Alto Unified spends $24,917 per student in current expenditures — $10,102 above the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (12)
Palo Alto Unified has 12 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 79.9 — 36.1 points above the state average of 43.8. 2 of 12 elementary schools have Scope Scores above 90.
District-wide growth averages +3.4pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Herbert Hoover Elementary with a Scope Score of 92 and 79.2% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herbert Hoover Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 79.2% | Strong 92/100 |
| 2 | Ohlone Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 66.4% | Strong 91/100 |
| 3 | Juana Briones Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 65.5% | Strong 88/100 |
| 4 | Fairmeadow Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 65.9% | Strong 88/100 |
| 5 | Lucille M. Nixon Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 69.1% | Strong 84/100 |
| 6 | Escondido Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 54.8% | Strong 81/100 |
| 7 | Palo Verde Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 58.8% | Strong 79/100 |
| 8 | Walter Hays Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 58.9% | Strong 79/100 |
| 9 | Duveneck Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 58.6% | Strong 77/100 |
| 10 | El Carmelo Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 51.6% | Strong 72/100 |
| 11 | Addison Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 54.4% | Strong 72/100 |
| 12 | Barron Park Elementary Palo Alto Unified Building Momentum | 40.9% | Solid 56/100 |
Middle Schools (3)
Palo Alto Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 81.1 — 40.6 points above the state average of 40.5. 3 of 3 middle schools score above 70.
District-wide growth averages +1.4pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle with a Scope Score of 87 and 63.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 63.5% | Strong 87/100 |
| 2 | Ellen Fletcher Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 57.6% | Strong 81/100 |
| 3 | Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 50.5% | Strong 76/100 |
High Schools (3)
Palo Alto Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 90.8 — 43.4 points above the state average of 47.5. 1 of 3 high schools have Scope Scores above 90.
The highest-scoring high school is Palo Alto Middle College High with a Scope Score of 96 and 53.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto Middle College High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 53.1% | Strong 96/100 |
| 2 | Henry M. Gunn High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 62.9% | Strong 89/100 |
| 3 | Palo Alto High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 55.0% | Strong 88/100 |
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.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Palo Alto Unified
- 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 resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology