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North Hillsborough · Hillsborough

North Hillsborough: Three in four kids exceed the standard. But the zoned next school scores lower.

North Hillsborough holds its own. Scores drop at the schools it feeds into. Ask where its graduates actually enrol, and whether families stay on the zoned path.

2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope9745
% Exceeded76%21%
% Met+93%43%
Growth+6.2-2.9
Absence3.7%17.9%
Suspension0.2%1.6%
Scope Score
97
⭐ High Ceiling · Strong
ranked #1 statewide · #1 of 3 in Hillsborough City Elementary

North Hillsborough scores 97 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 99th percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →

⭐ High Ceiling — Ask what happens for a kid who shows up behind — a high ceiling for the top can sit right next to thin support at the bottom, and the score alone won't show you which.

Most rating sites would stop at “93% proficient” and call it done. North Hillsborough deserves a closer read. It sits at the 99th percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools — but the ranking is the least interesting thing on this page.

The headline number: 75.7% of students scored in the top band on the state test. The California average is 21.3%.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 5,744 elementary schools statewide

Has held the 99th-percentile line every tested year since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELAGreen(Increased Significantly)MathGreen(Increased Significantly)

The pandemic drop is behind this school: 93% of students meet the standard today, above the 88% who did in 2019.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 389%80%93%88%92%
Grade 480%90%93%91%92%
Grade 590%85%88%91%98%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 391%86%93%85%92%
Grade 486%88%95%96%89%
Grade 592%79%91%89%98%

The story this school is actually telling

The ceiling · exceeded standard
75.7%

of students scored in the top band on the state test. The California average is 21.3%.

↑ what most “best schools” lists are measuring
The next step · the zoned path
18pts

the zoned path continues to Crocker Middle, which scores 18 points lower — a school visit will tell you more than this number.

↓ the part no ranking site shows you

The school, grade by grade

ELA · CAASPP 2024–25

Different students, same year — each bar is one grade's proficiency mix.

85%
9%
Grade 3 · 91% proficient
61%
32%
Grade 4 · 93% proficient
81%
17%
Grade 5 · 98% proficient

The honest read: the share exceeding falls 4.6pp across grades; the floor rises 6.2pp. The state average rises 4.5pp over the same span. A school visit and conversation with teachers will tell you more than this number.

The 5 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
75.7%
State 21.3%
54.3pp above state avg
Growth (G3→G5)
+6.2pp
State -2.9pp
Scores improve across grades
Met or exceeded
93.4%
State 42.7%
50.8pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
3.7%
State 17.9%
14.2pp below state avg
Suspension rate
0.2%
State 1.6%
1.5pp below state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask which schools families here actually choose next — the zoned path is only the default.

  • Ask how teachers track each child's growth over the year, not just where the class lands on test day.
  • Ask which schools families here actually choose next — the zoned path is only the default.
  • Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
  • Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
  • Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.
  • Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.

How every group of students does here

At North Hillsborough in Hillsborough, 90.6% of white students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 80.5% district-wide and 61.8% statewide. North Hillsborough outperforms its district average for white students by 10.1 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: White students (89.1% Math proficient); Asian students (100.0% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 3.5 percentage points for white students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 64 students tested.

All students at this school: 94% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 94%, district —, state 43%94%
MaleMale: this school 97%, district 86%, state 42%97% · +4 vs school
WhiteWhite: this school 90%, district 81%, state 56%90% · −4 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 89%, district 84%, state 44%89% · −5 vs school
AsianAsian: this school 100%, district 92%, state 72%100% · +6 vs school

6 of 11 student groups here are too small to report — a privacy protection, not a gap.

this school district, same group California, same group
Subgroup growth by grade

Change in proficiency from the lowest tested grade — which groups gain ground the longer they stay. Groups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 3.7%, district 4.4%, state 17.9%3.7% · −14.2pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 0.2%, district —, state 1.6%0.2% · −1.5pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 4–61.1%
TK/K3.8%

Where the path goes

The zoned path continues to Crocker Middle, which scores 18 points lower than this school — worth weighing alongside everything above. Families here often look at charter or magnet options for middle school.

K-12 Feeder Path
Elementary
North Hillsborough
97/100
This school
High School
No feeder data available for this level

Feeder patterns derived from NCES attendance boundary data. Boundaries are approximate and may have changed — verify with your school district for current assignments.

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 14:1, district 15:114:1
Teaching staff23 teachers
Avg. experience18.0 years
Fully credentialed80%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$77,220 – $167,849
Principal salary$222,011 – $0
Superintendent salary$276,075

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $31,222, CA average $14,815$31,222 · spent at this school
Federal share$673 per student

$673 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$32,531 per student

The district's current expense of education per student, from CDE's annual SACS filing — the freshest district spending figure the state publishes.

Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction70%
Instruction support10%
Student services4%
Administration7%
Buildings & maintenance9%

District-level, from the district's own SACS general-ledger filing — school-by-school breakdowns aren't published by the state.

district detail, 2016–2020 — the newest published
2020$25,397 per pupil
2019$24,023 per pupil
2018$22,821 per pupil
2017$20,362 per pupil
2016$19,237 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

White51.1%
District 40.5% · CA 19.9%
Asian30.3%
District 35.9% · CA 10.2%
Other10.9%
District 15.9% · CA 9.0%
Hispanic7.7%
District 7.3% · CA 56.1%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 2.5% (61pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$197K · CA $85K
Median home value$2.00M · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+69% · CA 35%
ZIP population43,025
Median age43 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level

Worth Knowing

Transitional kindergarten is offered here — confirmed by actual Census Day enrollment, not just the listed grade span.

On the state's science test (CAST), 87% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is North Hillsborough a good elementary school?

North Hillsborough has a Scope Score of 97 out of 100, placing it in the 99th percentile of California elementary schools and ranked #1 statewide. 75.7% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 54.3 percentage points above the California average of 21.3%. The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 3-to-5 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are North Hillsborough's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 93.4% of students at North Hillsborough met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 75.7% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 17.8% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 75.7% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 266 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does North Hillsborough rank in California?

North Hillsborough ranks #1 among California elementary schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 99th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 3 to grade 5 growth), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.

Is North Hillsborough getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at North Hillsborough increases by 6.2 percentage points from Grade 3 to grade 5 growth. This upward trajectory suggests the school is adding measurable value — students leave with higher proficiency rates than they entered with. Growth trajectory is weighted at 15% in the elementary Scope Score because it measures what the school does, not just who walks in the door.

What is the attendance and school culture like at North Hillsborough?

3.7% of students at North Hillsborough are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 17.9%. The suspension rate is 0.2%, indicating a low-discipline-incident environment. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.

How does North Hillsborough compare to other schools in Hillsborough?

North Hillsborough scores 97/100 (99th percentile) among California elementary schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 274 students. Use the schools in Hillsborough page or the map view to compare all elementary schools nearby.

How does North Hillsborough serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At North Hillsborough in Hillsborough, 90.6% of white students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 80.5% district-wide and 61.8% statewide. North Hillsborough outperforms its district average for white students by 10.1 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: White students (89.1% Math proficient); Asian students (100.0% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 3.5 percentage points for white students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 64 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.

Your other options

Private alternatives nearby

Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.


For the data nerds

Every number on this page

Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.

01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Exceeded standard · 38%
75.7%
↑ vs CA 21.3% · 100th pctile
Growth (G3→G5) · 27%
+6.2pp
↑ vs CA -2.9pp · 78th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
93.4%
↑ vs CA 42.7% · 89th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
3.7%
↑ vs CA 17.9% · 73th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
0.2%
↑ vs CA 1.6% · 62th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 34885%6%8%0%92%+48
Grade 43861%32%3%5%92%+47
Grade 54781%17%2%0%98%+50
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 34867%25%8%0%92%+46
Grade 43871%18%8%3%89%+48
Grade 54789%9%2%0%98%+63
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/114747%40%13%0%

CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.

Subgroup · ELATestedMET+vs districtvs CA
White6490.6%+10+29
Asian48100.0%+10+26
03Peer comparison · nearest elementary schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
North Hillsborough ←9775.7%93.4%+6.20.2%
South Hillsborough1.4 mi8674.0%90.4%−12.51.2%
Franklin Elementary2.1 mi8359.7%82.1%+0.10.1%
West Hillsborough1.4 mi8065.2%85.0%−2.70.8%
California average4521.3%42.7%−2.91.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20198398#11564.0%88.0%5.4%0.3%+1.1pp
20227898#13557.2%84.8%10.4%0.0%-0.7pp
20238699#5268.8%92.4%10.9%0.4%-4.1pp
20249199#1267.8%90.1%4.0%0.2%+3.4pp
20259799#175.7%93.4%3.7%0.2%+6.2pp
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female6.0%2.5%-3.5pp
Male4.4%1.9%-2.5pp
Asian2.4%2.4%+0.0pp
Hispanic/Latino4.3%9.1%+4.8pp
Two or More Races6.1%0.0%-6.1pp
Students with Disabilities4.4%11.6%+7.2pp
English Learners14.3%
All Students5.2%2.1%-3.1pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=5,744 elementary schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction