School Profile · Novato
Novato Charter: Most kids here clear the bar, year after year. The question is what happens after that.
Novato Charter posts 57% meeting the standard; 22.4% push past it. Steady is worth something — and the gap between those two numbers is the thing to ask about.
940 C Street, 94949 (opens in new tab)·Novato Unified·Novato·Grades K-8·269 students·16% low-income·Charter·2024–25 CAASPP·(415) 883-4254·Website
Charter school — publicly funded, independently operated, open enrollment via lottery. Learn more
Scope Score
51
🚀 Growth Engine · Solid
ranked #1,602 statewide · #4 of 9 in Novato Unified
Novato Charter scores 51 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 72nd 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 →
Most rating sites would stop at “57% proficient” and call it done. Novato Charter deserves a closer read. It sits at the 72nd percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools — but the ranking is the least interesting thing on this page.
As a charter, Novato Charter enrolls by application, not address — the score reads the same, the enrollment path doesn't.
The story this school is actually telling
The school, grade by grade
ELA · CAASPP 2024–25Different students, same year — each bar is one grade's proficiency mix.
12%
35%
53%
Grade 3 · 47% proficient
25%
43%
32%
Grade 4 · 68% proficient
50%
32%
18%
Grade 5 · 82% proficient
The honest read: the share exceeding rises 38.5pp across grades; the floor rises 36.0pp. The state average rises 4.5pp over the same span. Kids here gain ground the longer they stay — the pattern you want to see. A school visit and conversation with teachers will tell you more than this number.
The 5 things our score weighs
Exceeded standard
22.4%
State 21.3%
1.1pp above state avg
Met or exceeded
57.1%
State 42.7%
14.5pp above state avg
Growth (G3→G5)
+14.3pp
State -2.9pp
Scores improve across grades
Chronic absenteeism
12.3%
State 17.9%
5.6pp below state avg
Suspension rate
0.6%
State 1.6%
1.0pp below state avg
Worth a school visit
Ask how the school challenges kids who clear the standard early. The gap between meeting and exceeding is where pacing shows.
Where the path goes
The path below follows attendance boundaries — scores shown for each next step.
Planning ahead? 8 licensed preschools near this school →
Your other options
Nearby Elementary Schools
3 within ~3 mi · avg 47
Mary E. Silveira Elementary
Miller Creek Elementary · 1.4 mi
Solid
50/100
Loma Verde Elementary
Novato Unified · 1.3 mi
Developing
47/100
Lynwood Elementary
Novato Unified · 2.9 mi
Developing
43/100
Private alternatives nearby
Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.
The community around it
Community Profile
Context — not part of the Scope ScoreStudent demographics
Hispanic14.5%
White65.4%
Asian5.6%
Black0.7%
Other13.8%
GenderFemale 51.7%Male 48.3%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 16.0% (48pp below CA avg)
Resources & Access
Enrollment
269
351 below CA avg (~620)
Transitional Kindergarten
TK status unconfirmed
No TK enrollment is on file with the state for this school — that isn't the same as “no TK.” Confirm directly with the district.
Student-Teacher Ratio
21:1
0 fewer students per teacher than CA avg
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,709
CA avg: $14,815 · District avg · NCES F-33
Teacher Salary Range
$60,953 – $133,072
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
At Novato Charter in Novato, 70.3% of white students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 71.1% district-wide and 61.8% statewide. Novato Charter trails its district average for white students by 0.8 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: White students (55.0% Math proficient). Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 111 students tested.
Subgroup Proficiency
White111 tested
ELA 70.3%·Math 55.0%· -0.8pp vs district
Weighted average across tested grades. Subgroups with fewer than 15 students excluded. Data: CDE CAASPP 2024-25.
Subgroup Growth by Grade
Change in proficiency from lowest tested grade. Shows which groups are gaining ground.
Subgroups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.
Funding Breakdown
Neighborhood Context
Median Income
$121K
$36K above CA median
Median Home Value
$1.15M
$492K above CA median
Bachelor's+
51%
16pp above CA avg
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level
Whole Child
Teacher experience, college/career readiness, and more. Context only — never part of the Scope Score.
Teacher Experience
8.4 years avg experience
14 teachers · 36% first-year · 7% second-year
Teacher Credentials
82% fully credentialed
9.1% on intern/emergency permit
Source: CDE SARC, 2024-25
Community Profile provides context about who attends this school and the resources available. These factors are never part of the Scope Score. Learn why →
For the data nerdsEvery number on this page
Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.
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 · 43%
22.4%
↑ vs CA 21.3% · 51th pctile
Met or exceeded · 22%
57.1%
↑ vs CA 42.7% · 61th pctile
Growth (G3→G5) · 15%
+14.3pp
↑ vs CA -2.9pp · 59th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 10%
12.3%
↑ vs CA 17.9% · 59th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
0.6%
↑ vs CA 1.6% · 59th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
| ELA | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 26 | 12% | 35% | 27% | 27% | 46% | +3 |
| Grade 4 | 28 | 25% | 43% | 18% | 14% | 68% | +23 |
| Grade 5 | 28 | 50% | 32% | 14% | 4% | 82% | +34 |
| Grade 6 | 27 | 26% | 33% | 33% | 7% | 59% | +13 |
| Grade 7 | 27 | 37% | 37% | 26% | 0% | 74% | +26 |
| Grade 8 | 23 | 26% | 48% | 13% | 13% | 74% | +28 |
| Math | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 26 | 19% | 35% | 38% | 8% | 54% | +8 |
| Grade 4 | 28 | 11% | 36% | 32% | 21% | 46% | +5 |
| Grade 5 | 28 | 18% | 29% | 36% | 18% | 46% | +11 |
| Grade 6 | 27 | 26% | 26% | 33% | 15% | 52% | +17 |
| Grade 7 | 27 | 37% | 33% | 15% | 15% | 70% | +36 |
| Grade 8 | 23 | 22% | 43% | 17% | 17% | 65% | +33 |
| Science (CAST) | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5/8/11 | 51 | 12% | 41% | 43% | 4% |
CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.
| Subgroup · ELA | Tested | MET+ | vs district | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 111 | 70.3% | −1 | +8 |
03Peer comparison · nearest elementary schoolssorted by Scope Score
| School | Dist | Scope | EXC | MET+ | Growth | Susp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novato Charter ← | — | 51 | 22.4% | 57.1% | +14.3 | 0.6% |
| Mary E. Silveira Elementary | 1.4 mi | 50 | 27.1% | 54.5% | −7.5 | 0.6% |
| Loma Verde Elementary | 1.3 mi | 47 | 22.5% | 45.5% | +2.1 | 0.3% |
| Lynwood Elementary | 2.9 mi | 43 | 16.6% | 37.4% | +12.9 | 1.5% |
| California average | — | 43 | 21.3% | 42.7% | −2.9 | 1.6% |
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
Scope Score history
2019 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · no testing 2020–21 (COVID) · rank #1780 → #903 → #1396 → #2006 → #1602
What we can't show
- — Scored here as an elementary school — other grade spans appear in the data appendix.
Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=5,744 elementary schools · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue
Frequently asked questions
Is Novato Charter a good elementary school?
Novato Charter has a Scope Score of 51 out of 100, placing it in the 72nd percentile of California elementary schools and ranked #1,602 statewide. 22.4% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is near the California average of 21.3%. The Scope Score weights six dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (43%), met or exceeded (22%), grade 3-to-5 growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%), and suspension rate (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What are Novato Charter's CAASPP test scores?
On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 57.1% of students at Novato Charter met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 22.4% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 34.8% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 22.4% 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. 164 student-subject combinations were assessed.
How does Novato Charter rank in California?
Novato Charter ranks #1,602 among California elementary schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 72nd 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 Novato Charter getting better or worse?
Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Novato Charter increases by 14.3 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 Novato Charter?
12.3% of students at Novato Charter are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 17.9%. The suspension rate is 0.6%, 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 Novato Charter compare to other schools in Novato?
Novato Charter scores 51/100 (72nd 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 269 students. Use the schools in Novato page or the map view to compare all elementary schools nearby.
How does Novato Charter serve low-income and underrepresented students?
At Novato Charter in Novato, 70.3% of white students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 71.1% district-wide and 61.8% statewide. Novato Charter trails its district average for white students by 0.8 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: White students (55.0% Math proficient). Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 111 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.