Elementary Schools in Palo Alto, California

Above Average2024–25 data15 schools · avg 80.9/100

Palo Alto, California has 15 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 80.9/100 — 37.2 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Herbert Hoover Elementary at 92/100, where 79.2% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Palo Alto schools average 59.3% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 15 schools, 14 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 10.3% (below the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score

80.9

State avg: 43.8

SchoolScope composite

Score Range

35.7

56.3 – 92.0

Avg Exceeded %

59.3%

State avg: 21.6%

CDE CAASPP 2025

Chronic Absenteeism

10.3%

State avg: 18.1%

CDE Attendance 2025

Schools Ranked

With Scope Scores

How Palo Alto schools compare

Palo Alto's 15 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 80.9 — 37.2 points above the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 56.3 to 92.0, a 35.7-point spread.

The top-ranked school is Herbert Hoover Elementary with a Scope Score of 92 and 79.2% of students exceeding standard.

High-ceiling schools: Palo Alto schools average 59.3% 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 Palo Alto averages 10.3%, which is above 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 Palo Alto

14 High Ceiling1 Building Momentum

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

Schools in Palo Alto ranked by Scope Score

#	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	Henry M. Gunn High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	62.9%	Strong 89/100
4	Juana Briones Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	65.5%	Strong 88/100
5	Palo Alto High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	55.0%	Strong 88/100
6	Fairmeadow Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	65.9%	Strong 88/100
7	Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	63.5%	Strong 87/100
8	Ellen Fletcher Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	57.6%	Strong 81/100
9	Palo Verde Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	58.8%	Strong 79/100
10	Walter Hays Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	58.9%	Strong 79/100
11	Duveneck Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	58.6%	Strong 77/100
12	Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	50.5%	Strong 76/100
13	El Carmelo Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	51.6%	Strong 72/100
14	Addison Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling	54.4%	Strong 72/100
15	Barron Park Elementary Palo Alto Unified Building Momentum	40.9%	Solid 56/100

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 Palo Alto

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.

Silicon Valley International School

Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-12 · 585 students

6:1Private

Castilleja School

Nonsectarian · Grades 6-12 · 422 students

7:1Private

Synapse School

Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-8 · 321 students

5:1Private

Keys Family Day School

Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-8 · 317 students

9:1Private

Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School

Episcopal · Grades Pre-K-8 · 315 students

5:1Private

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Palo Alto

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 Palo Alto good?

Palo Alto's 15 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 80.9/100, which is 37.2 points above the California state average of 43.8. 59.3% 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 Palo Alto?

The highest-scoring elementary school in Palo Alto is Herbert Hoover Elementary with a Scope Score of 92/100 and 79.2% 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 Palo Alto schools compare to the state average?

Palo Alto elementary schools average a Scope Score of 80.9 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (37.2 points above). The exceeded rate averages 59.3% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 10.3% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 56.3 to 92.0, a 35.7-point spread.

How many schools are in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto has 15 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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