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Sunnyvale

Above Average2024–25 data10 schools · avg 54.2/100

Sunnyvale has 10 ranked schools across elementary and middle levels with an average Scope Score of 54.2/100 — 10.4 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Cherry Chase Elementary at 88/100, where 68.8% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $17,765 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 9.7%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
54.2
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
54.6
33.3 – 87.8
Avg Exceeded %
31.6%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
9.7%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
10
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementarySolid
54.7/100
832.4%9.9%
MiddleSolid
52.0/100
228.4%9.1%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Sunnyvale, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
54.7
avg score · 8 schools
+5 more elementary schools
Middle
52.0
avg score · 2 schools
Sunnyvale Middle
Solid
64/100
Columbia Middle
Developing
40/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: Sunnyvale's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 54.7.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +0.4pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.

Consistency: Score range of 54.6 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 9.7%, 8.4pp above the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.7%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Cherry Chase Elementary leads the district at 88 with 68.8% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Sunnyvale

2 High Ceiling1 Growth Engine1 On the Rise1 Culture First5 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 2 schools in Sunnyvale are classified as Growth Engine or On the Rise — 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

Student demographics

Hispanic
42.3%
White
17.5%
Asian
23.8%
Black
1.4%
Other
15.0%
Free/Reduced Lunch
29%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Sunnyvale spends $17,765 per student in current expenditures — $2,950 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$17,765
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
5,950
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 30.9%
$13,572 → $17,765
Spending Efficiency
3.05
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 62%Support 36%Other 2%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$80,296–$150,834
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
380
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (8)

Sunnyvale has 8 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 54.7 — 10.9 points above the state average of 43.8. 2 of 8 elementary schools score above 70.

District-wide growth averages +0.4pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Cherry Chase Elementary with a Scope Score of 88 and 68.8% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Cherry Chase Elementary
Sunnyvale High Ceiling
68.8%Strong
88/100
2Cumberland Elementary
Sunnyvale High Ceiling
57.5%Strong
79/100
3Fairwood Elementary
Sunnyvale Growth Engine
35.0%Solid
58/100
4Ellis Elementary
Sunnyvale Building Momentum
32.1%Solid
51/100
5Bishop Elementary
Sunnyvale Building Momentum
17.8%Developing
44/100
6San Miguel Elementary
Sunnyvale Building Momentum
19.0%Developing
43/100
7Lakewood Elementary
Sunnyvale On the Rise
17.6%Developing
40/100
8Vargas Elementary
Sunnyvale Culture First
11.7%Developing
33/100

Middle Schools (2)

Sunnyvale has 2 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 52.0 — 11.5 points above the state average of 40.5.

Growth is essentially flat at -0.3pp.

The highest-scoring middle school is Sunnyvale Middle with a Scope Score of 64 and 42.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Sunnyvale Middle
Sunnyvale Building Momentum
42.9%Solid
64/100
2Columbia Middle
Sunnyvale Building Momentum
13.8%Developing
40/100

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 Sunnyvale

  • 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

Frequently asked questions

Is Sunnyvale a good school district?
Sunnyvale has 10 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 54.2/100, which is 10.4 points above the California state average of 43.8. 31.6% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Sunnyvale?
The highest-scoring school in Sunnyvale is Cherry Chase Elementary with a Scope Score of 88/100 and 68.8% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Sunnyvale spend per student?
Sunnyvale spends $17,765 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Sunnyvale?
Teacher salaries in Sunnyvale range from $80,296–$150,834 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
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-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.