Public school · Palo Alto Unified

Henry M. Gunn High — Rating & test scores

780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto · 1,643 students · Grades 9–12

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Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

Scope Score 96

StrongScope Score · 98th percentile. Higher than 98 in 100 of the 1,498 California public high schools we score.

75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How the score is built

In 2024–25, 97% of the class graduated in four years (421 of 433); across California, 89%.

Source for this line
Source
CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students
students who started 9th grade together: 433
Comparison
California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

Overview

Is Henry M. Gunn a good high school?

Strong. Henry M. Gunn is higher than most California high schools on test results and attendance.

From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”).

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced9384%
Math, Proficient or Advanced9880%
English, Advanced9763%
Math, Advanced9963%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance7714 in 100
Henry M. Gunn’s place among California high schools, out of 100Palo Alto Unified’s other high schoolBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

In grade 11, spring 2026, 82% scored Proficient or Advanced in English (reading and writing) and 81% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

Each bar is Henry M. Gunn’s place among 1,498 California public high schools we score. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, updated October 15, 2026.

How to read these bars, and their sources

A place counts the schools out of 100 with a lower figure. The dashed line is the middle. Test results are from spring 2025, grade 11, the latest year with a high school Scope Score. That year the state called these levels Met or exceeded and Exceeded. Attendance counts students who missed 10% or more of school days; fewer is better, so a higher place means fewer such students.

Source for the sentence
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026. All students tested in grade 11: 353 in English, 355 in math. California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 414,559 in English and 413,523 in math tested).

In its own words

What does Henry M. Gunn say about itself?

We haven’t read Henry M. Gunn’s website yet. Until we do, the school’s own site is the best place to hear it in its own words.

Open gunn.pausd.org (opens in a new tab)

Nearby

How does it compare with schools nearby?

0 of the 7 high schools nearby have a higher Scope Score than Henry M. Gunn. Each school is compared with every California high school.

Scope Score

8 high schools within 4.7 miles, highest score first. Under each name is how the school takes students.

  1. Henry M. GunnScope Score 9698th
  2. Palo AltoNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 9598th
  3. Mountain ViewMountain View-Los Altos Union High · by addressScope Score 9195th
  4. Los AltosMountain View-Los Altos Union High · by addressScope Score 9094th
  5. Menlo-AthertonSequoia Union High · by addressScope Score 8279th
  6. KIPP EsperanzaCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 7446th
  7. East Palo Alto AcademyCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 6610th
  8. Oxford Day AcademyCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 581st
Palo Alto UnifiedA neighborhood school in another districtCharter

A neighborhood school in another district takes students who live in its area. Ask that district about a transfer. A charter school takes applications from any family and holds a lottery when it has more applicants than seats.

Scope Score from California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Distance is a straight line from this campus and is not an attendance boundary. See these schools on the map

Scores and family income

Further right, more students are from low-income families. Higher up, more students met or exceeded the standard in English.

25%50%75%0%25%50%75%100%

7 of 8 schools are named on the chart. Point at a dot or tap it to read any school.

English results: California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Low-income is the share of students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals, 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes.

Schools like it

How does Henry M. Gunn compare with schools like it?

Henry M. Gunn’s Scope Score is 96. 72 California high schools, counting Henry M. Gunn, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 89. Henry M. Gunn’s result is higher than 69 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 72

  1. Students from low-income families: 11%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 7%

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 12%

    Henry M. Gunn High

    Palo Alto · This school

    Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 12%

    Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 18%

    Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

72 California public high schools where 6% to 18% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, spring 2025.

How the group is chosen

The group is every California public high school we score where 6% to 18% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of Henry M. Gunn’s share. The count includes Henry M. Gunn. Typical means the median: half are higher and half are lower. Schools differ in more than family income, and no score is changed for it. Our calculation from California Department of Education records: state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, and school meal eligibility, 2024–25.

Over time

Have results changed?

Results in both subjects were similar to 2025. English went from 84% to 82% and math from 80% to 81%.

Share at the state’s top two test levels, 2017 to 2026

Grade 11. Point at a year, tap it or use the arrow keys to read its figures.

English

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202685%84%82%Palo Alto UnifiedDistrict82%Henry M. GunnThis school57%CaliforniaCalifornia

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%20172018201920222023202420252026Both 72%81%Henry M. GunnThis school79%Palo Alto UnifiedDistrict32%CaliforniaCalifornia

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. Palo Alto Unified’s line combines its 2 high schools we score (our calculation). Faint lines are its other school. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Each year’s results

The top two levels were called Met or Exceeded before 2026 and are called Proficient or Advanced now. Palo Alto Unified’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringHenry M. GunnPalo Alto UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201784%85%60%109
201890%88%56%299
201988%86%57%348
202287%88%55%411
202383%79%55%435
202484%78%56%396
202584%80%57%377
202682%82%57%353
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringHenry M. GunnPalo Alto UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201772%72%32%97
201886%86%31%273
201983%80%32%329
202282%83%27%407
202379%75%27%434
202478%74%28%398
202580%77%30%382
202681%79%32%355

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Well above California in both subjects.

English

82%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

7112260
Palo Alto Unified82%California57%

Math

81%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

1091863
Palo Alto Unified79%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 82% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 81% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

The state published these results on October 15, 2026. What changed across California. Spring 2026, grade 11 combined. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

All four test levels, with the number of students tested
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026. The state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal.
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school60%22%11%7%353
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · Palo Alto Unified57%25%10%8%746
Math, grade 11 · This school63%18%9%10%355
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · Palo Alto Unified60%19%10%11%751

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 353 tested in English, 355 tested in math. California combines the state’s results for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Who goes here

Who goes here?

Asian students are the largest group here, at 48% of students. 202 of 1,624 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

12in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (202 of 1,624 students).

At the average Palo Alto Unified high school: 14 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Suspensions: 0.8% of students were suspended at least once (13 of 1,634). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

1,643

students in grades 9–12.

Asian 48%White 26%Hispanic or Latino 13%Two or more races 11%Black or African American 1%Filipino <1%

Family income

12%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 192 of 1,643. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

121

teachers, with 16 years of experience on average.

1% were in their first year.

87% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

65%

of English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026 (39 of 60 students).

Palo Alto Unified: 63%. California: 47%.

It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Sources: California Department of Education and the California School Dashboard. Each tile names its year.

Full student mix, 2025–26
StudentsHere
Asian48%
White26%
Hispanic or Latino13%
Two or more races11%
Black or African American1%
Filipino<1%
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Not reported—
Where these figures come from

Attendance and suspensions: California Department of Education, 2025–26. Student mix: the students the state’s attendance file counts, 2025–26; a dash means our records hold no count. English learner progress: California School Dashboard, 2026 . Student count: California Department of Education enrollment, 2024–25. Teachers: California Department of Education staffing files, 2024–25.

Teaching credentials: California’s School Accountability Report Card, 2024–25, measured in 2021–22: 96.1 of 110.3 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Hispanic or Latino and low-income students here scored well above the same groups across California in math.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • Asian160 tested94%California 67%
  • Two or more races32 tested91%California 43%
  • White111 tested75%California 44%
  • Hispanic or Latino44 tested43%California 21%
  • Low-income35 tested40%California 23%

Both groups score below California’s rate for all students statewide. 43% of Hispanic or Latino students scored Proficient or Advanced in math (grade 11, spring 2026), against 21% for the same group across California. Low-income students: 40% in math, against 23% for the same group across California. Every group’s English results are in the table below.

Share who scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 11 math, spring 2026. Each group is compared with the same group in the same grades. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Every group’s results, with the district

Low-income is the state’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged” group.

Proficient or Advancedgrade 11 · spring 2026
Group and subjectHerevs Palo Alto Unifiedvs California
Low-income · 35 tested
English46%−1056%−349%
Math40%−545%+1723%
Asian · 160 tested
English85%−388%+679%
Math94%+292%+2767%
White · 109 tested in English, 111 in math
English83%083%+1568%
Math75%−176%+3144%
Hispanic or Latino · 44 tested
English61%061%+1249%
Math43%+439%+2221%
Two or more races · 32 tested
English97%+493%+3067%
Math91%+487%+4843%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Palo Alto Unified, and across California. ■ Green: a group that is behind across California does much better here, by 10 points or more and more than twice the margin of error.

English learners and students with disabilities: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Black or African American, Filipino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, homeless and military-family students and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.

After high school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

97% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 87% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 87% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

ready for college or career (state measure), 2024–25

87%

Across California: 52%.

of graduates finished the UC/CSU course list, 2024–25

91%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

97%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 421 of 433 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

87%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 379 of 434 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

91%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 385 of 421 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

87% enrolled in college within 12 months · 476 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓63 · 13%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓30 · 6%
  • California community college69 · 15%
  • In-state private39 · 8%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year212 · 45%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year1 · <1%
  • Not enrolled62 · 13%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

Where the class of 2023 went
87%enrolled in college within a year

476 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California63 (13%)
  • California State University30 (6%)
  • California community college69 (15%)
  • In-state private39 (8%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year212 (45%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year1 (0%)
  • Not enrolled62 (13%)

Source: CDE’s college-going rate for the class of 2023 (enrolled in college within 12 months). Shares are our arithmetic: count ÷ completers, rounded together so they total 100. A dash means we have no figure for that row; it isn’t zero.

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 421 of 433 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 379 of 434 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 385 of 421 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
325
Admitted
260
Enrolled
74

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC San DiegoApplied 291 · Admitted 46 · Enrolled 5
  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 284 · Admitted 99 · Enrolled 8
  • UCLAApplied 274 · Admitted 27 · Enrolled 7
  • UC DavisApplied 273 · Admitted 75 · Enrolled 10
  • UC IrvineApplied 267 · Admitted 54 · Enrolled 6
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 261 · Admitted 40 · Enrolled 18
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 221 · Admitted 162 · Enrolled 9
  • UC RiversideApplied 138 · Admitted 120 · Enrolled 6
  • UC MercedApplied 107 · Admitted 106 · Enrolled 5

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

  • Fall 2025Applied 325 · Admitted 260 · Enrolled 74
  • Fall 2024Applied 362 · Admitted 260 · Enrolled 96
  • Fall 2023Applied 348 · Admitted 254 · Enrolled 64
  • Fall 2022Applied 351 · Admitted 252 · Enrolled 99
  • Fall 2021Applied 344 · Admitted 219 · Enrolled 79
  • Fall 2020Applied 324 · Admitted 268 · Enrolled 76
  • Fall 2019Applied 330 · Admitted 218 · Enrolled 83
  • Fall 2018Applied 332 · Admitted 234 · Enrolled 82
  • Fall 2017Applied 324 · Admitted 236 · Enrolled 78
  • Fall 2016Applied 335 · Admitted 262 · Enrolled 89

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
228
Admitted
216
Enrolled
22

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 908 · Admitted 231 · Enrolled 40
  • San José StateApplied 624 · Admitted 522 · Enrolled 48
  • San Diego StateApplied 622 · Admitted 211 · Enrolled 12
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 351 · Admitted 162 · Enrolled 7
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 350 · Admitted 240 · Enrolled 6
  • San Francisco StateApplied 264 · Admitted 244 · Enrolled 11
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 138 · Admitted 111 · Enrolled under 6
  • Chico StateApplied 106 · Admitted 90 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 102 · Admitted 99 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 96 · Admitted 90 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State East BayApplied 92 · Admitted 81 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sonoma StateApplied 89 · Admitted 81 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State LAApplied 86 · Admitted 80 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 72 · Admitted 66 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sacramento StateApplied 69 · Admitted 66 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 47 · Admitted 43 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 39 · Admitted 38 · Enrolled —
  • Fresno StateApplied 39 · Admitted 38 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 29 · Admitted 27 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 27 · Admitted 26 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 19 · Admitted 16 · Enrolled —
  • Stanislaus StateApplied 16 · Admitted 16 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied 10 · Admitted 9 · Enrolled —

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

  • Fall 2025Applied 228 · Admitted 216 · Enrolled 22
  • Fall 2024Applied 260 · Admitted 250 · Enrolled 32
  • Fall 2023Applied 237 · Admitted 207 · Enrolled 29
  • Fall 2022Applied 237 · Admitted 216 · Enrolled 35
  • Fall 2021Applied 233 · Admitted 204 · Enrolled 32
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 28 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

  • Math & Computer Science5
  • Sciences6
  • English1
  • History & Social Science5
  • World Languages & Cultures6
  • Arts5
Every approved AP course28 courses in 6 subjects
Math & Computer Science 5
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Computer Science A
  • Computer Science Principles
  • Statistics
Sciences 6
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics 1
  • Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
  • Physics C: Mechanics
English 1
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 5
  • Human Geography
  • Macroeconomics
  • Microeconomics
  • Psychology
  • United States History
World Languages & Cultures 6
  • Chinese Language and Culture
  • French Language and Culture
  • German Language and Culture
  • Japanese Language and Culture
  • Spanish Language and Culture
  • Spanish Literature and Culture
Arts 5
  • 2-D Art and Design
  • 3-D Art and Design
  • Art History
  • Drawing
  • Music Theory

What other courses and pathways are on record?

College courses in high school (dual enrollment)
97 students took one

2023–24

Students taking a college course for credit while in high school, often through a community college. Federal Civil Rights Data Collection, school-reported.

Family and staff answers

What would families and staff tell you?

Families and staff can answer a short set of questions about Henry M. Gunn. These are not star ratings or reviews.

  1. Staff answers show once 5 people have answered.Until then this page shows no staff answers.
  2. Family answers show once 20 families have answered.Until then this page shows how many have answered.
  3. The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
  4. Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.
  5. Staff confirm a work email.Staff answers come only from people who confirmed an email address at Palo Alto Unified.

Families

No family answers yet

0 of 20 needed before answers show

  • Does the school tell you how your child is doing, in a way you understand, before report cards arrive?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • When you contact the school with a question, do you hear back within two school days?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely · Haven’t contacted them
  • Can you get school information in the language you read best?Yes · Mostly · No
  • And 4 more questions.

Answer the family questionsResponder en españolHow family answers work

Staff

No staff answers yet

5 answers needed before they show

  • Would you send your own child to this school?Yes · Maybe · No
  • Do you plan to work at this school next year?Yes · Not sure · No
  • Do you have the materials and supplies you need to teach?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • And 5 more questions.

Answer the staff questionsHow staff answers work

Money

Where does the money go?

$34,120 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student. Palo Alto Unified’s plan for 2026–27 covers $15 million.

$34,120

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$20,190
The school’s share of district office costs
$13,930
Of the total, from federal funds
$2,556
  • Henry M. Gunn$34,120
  • Palo Alto Unified high schools$33,804
  • California high schools$20,309

The district and California figures combine their high schools, weighted by enrollment (our calculation, 1,655 California schools). Spending does not show how well money is used. Source: California Department of Education, per-school spending report, 2024–25. Funding records ↓

Palo Alto Unified’s yearly plan

$15million

in the district’s plan for 2026–27

$6million

planned for services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth
  • High Quality Teaching and Learning$7 million
  • Equity and Excellence$6 million
  • Attendance and Wellness$2 million

This is the district’s plan. It is not this school’s own budget. Each part of the bar is one goal in the plan, with the money for its actions added up (our calculation). The plan covers $15 million of $369 million in total budgeted spending. Source: Palo Alto Unified Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), 2026–27. Read the district’s plan →

The neighborhood

What is the area around Henry M. Gunn like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 94306. They are not figures for the families at Henry M. Gunn.

Typical household income in a year

$210,000

Typical means half are higher and half are lower. The ZIP code is the school’s address, not its attendance area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024, ZIP code area 94306.

Typical home value
$2,000,001
People who live in this ZIP code
27,183
Typical age
42.3 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
81%

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 7 questions to Henry M. Gunn. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. What extra help do low-income students get, and how do you know it’s working?40% of low-income students scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (35 students tested); the same group across California: 23%
  2. How do you stretch students who are already ahead?63% scored Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (355 students tested); California: 16%
  3. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  4. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  5. What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?

At the office

  1. What time does the day start and end, and is any day shorter?
  2. Is there care before or after school, and what does it cost?

Getting in

Which schools feed into Henry M. Gunn, and how do I get in?

Ask Palo Alto Unified which school serves your address.

  1. Elementary
    Juana Briones Elementary
    Scope Score 94Strong · 98th percentile · 2026Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)
  2. Middle
    Ellen Fletcher Middle
    Scope Score 92Strong · 96th percentile · 2026Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)
  3. High · this school
    Henry M. Gunn High
    Grades 9–12Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

These links come from past records and from distance. Confirm your child’s school with the district. Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level. Explore schools on the map

All recorded links and nearby alternatives

Elementary links

  • Juana Briones Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 94 · Strong · 98th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Lucille M. Nixon Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 97 · Strong · 99th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Barron Park Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 84 · Strong · 82nd percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • El Carmelo Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 88 · Strong · 90th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Fairmeadow Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 96 · Strong · 99th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Palo Verde Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 88 · Strong · 91st percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Herbert Hoover Elementary

    Inferred through another school · underlying source period unavailable; not a direct feeder

    Scope Score 99 · Strong · 99th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Ohlone Elementary

    Inferred through another school · underlying source period unavailable; not a direct feeder

    Scope Score 97 · Strong · 99th percentile · elementary · 2026

Middle-school links

  • Ellen Fletcher Middle

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 92 · Strong · 96th percentile · middle · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle

    Its zone partly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 94 · Strong · 98th percentile · middle · 2026

    65% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

Links do not guarantee placement. Charter, magnet, transfer and other admission routes can differ. Each school’s percentile compares it with California schools at its own level (continuation and alternative schools only with their own kind); the stages are not one ranking. Older zone links come from the federal School Attendance Boundary Survey (NCES SABS).

Where it is

Where is Henry M. Gunn?

Address
780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto 94306Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Wendy StrattonAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated February 9, 2023.

A school’s place on the map is its address in the state directory. It does not show which homes the school serves. See nearby schools on the map

Short answers to 7 common questions

How do I get in?

Ask Palo Alto Unified which school serves your address. See the details ↓

Is Henry M. Gunn a good high school?

Henry M. Gunn High has a Scope Score of 96. It scored higher than 98 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Strong, 98th percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 12 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 14 in 100 at the average Palo Alto Unified high school. 0.8% of students (13 of 1,634) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. See the details ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 46% of low-income students in grade 11 at Henry M. Gunn High in Palo Alto scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 49% for the same group across California. See the details ↓

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 28 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

  • 97 students took a college course for credit in 2023–24, by the federal Civil Rights Data Collection

See the details ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

87% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. See the details ↓

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Questions to ask, ready to copy. See the details ↓

The full record

Source records

This page is built from 17 sets of records from public data sources. Every figure keeps its source, grades, year and count.

Data updated

October 15, 2026

Record sets on this page
17
Sources
California Department of EducationU.S. Census BureauUniversity of CaliforniaCollege BoardU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil RightsNational Student Clearinghouse
State test years
2017–2026

Results

Students

After high school

Money and staff

Place, downloads and method

Score factorssource values, index and weights · 2024–25 · ranked #19 of 1,498 California high schools we score
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate97%6125%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math63%10022%
Ready for college or career (state measure)87%7720%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math82%8418%
Chronically absent13 in 100635%
Suspension rate0.7% (12 of 1,676)635%
English learners: top level45%975%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests.

School patterns · 2024–25 · What patterns mean

High ceilingA high share of students here exceeded the standard, the state’s top level. The Exceeded standard row above gives the figure.
Broad baseMost students here met or exceeded the standard. The Met or exceeded row above gives the figure.
Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2024–259698#19California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspension
2018–194 in 1000.9% (19 of 2,052)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–249 in 1001.3% (23 of 1,747)
2024–2513 in 1000.7% (12 of 1,676)

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Results by gradeEnglish and math · grade 11 · spring 2026 · % of tested students

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
EnglishTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1135360%22%11%7%82%57%+25

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
MathTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1135563%18%9%10%81%32%+49

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English35360%82%
2026 · Math35563%81%
2025 · English37763%84%
2025 · Math38263%80%
2024 · English39658%84%
2024 · Math39864%78%
2023 · English43560%83%
2023 · Math43462%79%
2022 · English41166%87%
2022 · Math40765%82%
2019 · English34871%88%
2019 · Math32968%83%
2018 · English29971%90%
2018 · Math27369%86%
2017 · English10961%84%
2017 · Math9756%72%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 11 · English37784%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math38280%
2024 · Grade 11 · English39684%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math39878%
2023 · Grade 11 · English43583%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math43479%
2022 · Grade 11 · English41187%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math40782%
2019 · Grade 11 · English34888%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math32983%
2018 · Grade 11 · English29990%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math27386%
2017 · Grade 11 · English10984%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math9772%

Current 2025–26 grade results appear above. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide40244%34%19%3%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advancedvs districtvs California
Low-income3546%−10−3
Asian16085%−3+6
White10983%0+15
Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 13 in 100 → 2025–26 · 12 in 100 · −1 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 0.7% (12 of 1,676) → 2025–26 · 0.8% (13 of 1,634) · +0.1 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female4 in 10011 in 100+7 in 100
Male4 in 10014 in 100+10 in 100
Asian2 in 10010 in 100+8 in 100
Black or African American1 of 212 of 17—
Filipino2 of 201 of 12—
Hispanic or Latino8 in 10020 in 100+12 in 100
Pacific Islander1 of 14——
Two or more races2 in 10013 in 100+11 in 100
White4 in 10014 in 100+10 in 100
Students with disabilities11 in 10026 in 100+15 in 100
English learners5 of 6424 of 96—
Homeless2 of 97 of 14—
Low-income9 in 10026 in 100+17 in 100
All students4 in 10012 in 100+8 in 100

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Where fewer than 100 students were counted, the cell shows the count and no change is printed. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 87% · numerator 379 students classified Prepared · denominator 434 CCI students.
California · CCI overall PreparedCDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 87% · AP-pathway numerator 330 · denominator 379 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 379 of 434 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate
97%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
87%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
91%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
87%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes
YearAppliedAdmittedEnrolledMean GPA (applied)Mean GPA (admitted)Mean GPA (enrolled)
2025325260743.994.044.04
2024362260964.004.044.12
2023348254644.014.054.07
2022351252994.074.134.17
2021344219793.964.054.12
2020324268764.004.034.05
2019330218833.964.054.11
2018332234823.944.044.09
2017324236783.904.014.03
2016335262893.923.984.03

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately
CampusYearAppliedAdmittedEnrolled
Berkeley20252614018
Berkeley20242945733
Berkeley20232803518
Berkeley20222743921
Berkeley20212664826
Davis20252737510
Davis20242976810
Davis2023287695
Davis20222759816
Davis20212638213
Irvine2025267546
Irvine20242945411
Irvine2023257294
Irvine2022272367
Irvine202125635under 3
Los Angeles2025274277
Los Angeles20243092811
Los Angeles202329722under 3
Los Angeles2022297275
Los Angeles2021293307
Merced20251071065
Merced202476733
Merced202381795
Merced202270667
Merced202161553
Riverside20251381206
Riverside2024124955
Riverside2023120833
Riverside2022108838
Riverside202182614
San Diego2025291465
San Diego2024320407
San Diego202330124under 3
San Diego2022297467
San Diego2021297548
Santa Barbara2025284998
Santa Barbara2024308718
Santa Barbara20232946311
Santa Barbara20222908219
Santa Barbara20212906710
Santa Cruz20252211629
Santa Cruz20242521558
Santa Cruz202324715916
Santa Cruz2022234969
Santa Cruz2021207897
Universitywide202532526074
Universitywide202436226096
Universitywide202334825464
Universitywide202235125299
Universitywide202134421979

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations
SubjectAuthorization recorded for
2-D Art and Designthis school
3-D Art and Designthis school
Art Historythis school
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Chinese Language and Culturethis school
Computer Science Athis school
Computer Science Principlesthis school
Drawingthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
French Language and Culturethis school
German Language and Culturethis school
Human Geographythis school
Japanese Language and Culturethis school
Macroeconomicsthis school
Microeconomicsthis school
Music Theorythis school
Physics 1this school
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetismthis school
Physics C: Mechanicsthis school
Psychologythis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Spanish Literature and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
United States Historythis school

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offeredoffered
AP course count35
AP enrollment (male/female)546
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentoffered · 97 enrolled
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections11
Physics sections16
Chemistry sections20
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)1,706

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California6313%
California State University306%
California community college6915%
In-state private398%
Out-of-state, 4-year21245%
Out-of-state, 2-year10%
Not enrolled6213%

476 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 87% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$24,917 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 10,754 pupils

California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records

School-level federal expenditures$183 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,643

Central federal expenditures attributed here$2,373 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,643

District current expense · FY 2024–25$33,959 per ADA

CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

How the California mean was selected

SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 63%Instruction support 10%Student services 10%Administration 7%Buildings & maintenance 9%Other 1%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$208,876,54063.43%63%
Instruction support$33,628,70110.21%10%
Student services$31,091,5229.44%10%
Administration$23,177,7167.04%7%
Buildings & maintenance$29,957,6669.10%9%
Other$2,561,5940.78%1%
Total$329,293,739100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $329,293,739 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$24,917 per pupil
2020$22,497 per pupil
2019$23,038 per pupil
2018$20,962 per pupil
2017$19,648 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders0.7%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 94306 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 94306 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$210,000
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)81%
ZIP-area population27,183
Median age42.3 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 94306 →

Downloads, embed and methodologyCSV · embed code · sources · corrections

Embed this scorecard

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Free to embed with the credit link. Data updates automatically.

Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026

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