Public school · Novato Unified

Novato High — Rating & test scores

625 Arthur Street, Novato · 1,287 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.

© OpenStreetMap

Scope Score 75

DevelopingScope Score · 49th percentile. Higher than 49 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, 93% of the class graduated in four years (328 of 351); 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: 351
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 Novato High a good high school?

Developing. Novato High is higher than most California high schools on math test results. Novato High is lower than most on English 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 Advanced4356%
Math, Proficient or Advanced6735%
English, Advanced4423%
Math, Advanced6313%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance4722 in 100
Novato High’s place among California high schools, out of 100Novato Unified’s other high schoolsBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

In grade 11, spring 2026, 69% scored Proficient or Advanced in English (reading and writing), against 57% across California.

Each bar is Novato High’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. California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 414,559 in English tested).

In its own words

What does Novato High say about itself?

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

Open nusd.org (opens in a new tab)

Nearby

How does it compare with schools nearby?

1 of the 2 high schools nearby have a higher Scope Score than Novato High. Each school is compared with every California high school.

Scope Score

3 high schools within 2.8 miles, highest score first. Under each name is how the school takes students.

  1. San MarinNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 8278th
  2. NovatoScope Score 7549th
  3. Nova Education CenterSchool of choice · by applicationScope Score 7442nd
Novato UnifiedMagnet or school of choice

A magnet or other school of choice takes applications through its district.

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.

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

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 Novato High compare with schools like it?

Novato High’s Scope Score is 75. 187 California high schools, counting Novato High, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 77. Novato High’s result is higher than 72 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 187

  1. Students from low-income families: 50%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 54%

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 54%

    Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 45%

    West Campus

    Sacramento

    Scope Score 95Strong · 98th percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 47%

    Scope Score 94Strong · 97th percentile

187 California public high schools where 42% to 54% 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 42% to 54% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of Novato High’s share. The count includes Novato High. 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?

English results were higher than in 2025; math results were similar. English went from 56% to 69% and math from 35% to 37%.

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%2017201820192022202320242025202670%77%69%Novato HighNovato High62%Novato UnifiedDistrict57%CaliforniaCalifornia

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202641%43%37%Novato UnifiedDistrict37%Novato HighNovato High32%CaliforniaCalifornia

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. Novato Unified’s line combines its 3 high schools we score (our calculation). Faint lines are its other schools. 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. Novato Unified’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringNovato HighNovato UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201777%70%60%290
201869%69%56%300
201966%63%57%208
202270%70%55%315
202360%64%55%347
202456%61%56%299
202556%61%57%305
202669%62%57%254
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringNovato HighNovato UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201743%41%32%288
201837%42%31%297
201936%40%32%190
202235%38%27%335
202329%34%27%346
202424%31%28%310
202535%35%30%302
202637%37%32%252

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Well above California in English; above it in math.

English

69%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

13183534
Novato Unified60%California57%

Math

37%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

39242314
Novato Unified36%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 69% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 37% 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).

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 32 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

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 school34%35%18%13%254
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · Novato Unified29%31%19%21%600
Math, grade 11 · This school14%23%24%39%252
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · Novato Unified16%20%23%41%571

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 254 tested in English, 252 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?

Hispanic or Latino students are the largest group here, at 50% of students. 293 of 1,193 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

25in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (293 of 1,193 students).

At the average Novato Unified high school: 17 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Suspensions: 3.3% of students were suspended at least once (40 of 1,205). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

1,287

students in grades 9–12.

Hispanic or Latino 50%White 36%Two or more races 6%Asian 4%Black or African American 2%

Family income

48%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 622 of 1,287. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

73

teachers, with 13 years of experience on average.

8% were in their first year.

89% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

40%

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 (44 of 111 students).

Novato Unified: 42%. 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
Hispanic or Latino50%
White36%
Two or more races6%
Asian4%
Black or African American2%
Filipino—
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: 56.8 of 64 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Students with disabilities here scored well above the same group across California in English.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • White97 tested87%California 68%
  • Low-income122 tested57%California 49%
  • Students with disabilities31 tested52%California 19%
  • Hispanic or Latino120 tested49%California 49%

52% of students with disabilities scored Proficient or Advanced in English (grade 11, spring 2026), against 19% for the same group across California. Every group’s math results are in the table below.

Share who scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 11 English, 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 Novato Unifiedvs California
Low-income · 122 tested in English, 120 in math
English57%+750%+849%
Math24%+222%+123%
Hispanic or Latino · 120 tested in English, 117 in math
English49%+544%049%
Math20%+317%−121%
White · 97 tested in English, 99 in math
English87%+1572%+1968%
Math51%+348%+744%
Students with disabilities · 31 tested in English, 32 in math
English52%+1735%+3319%
Math6%06%−28%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Novato 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.

Asian and military-family students, students of two or more races and English learners: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Black or African American, Filipino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander and homeless 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?

93% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 61% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 76% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

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

61%

Across California: 52%.

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

56%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

93%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 328 of 351 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

61%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 216 of 352 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

56%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 182 of 328 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

76% enrolled in college within 12 months · 336 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓36 · 11%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓59 · 18%
  • California community college95 · 28%
  • In-state private15 · 4%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year48 · 14%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year3 · 1%
  • Not enrolled80 · 24%

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
76%enrolled in college within a year

336 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California36 (11%)
  • California State University59 (18%)
  • California community college95 (28%)
  • In-state private15 (4%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year48 (14%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year3 (1%)
  • Not enrolled80 (24%)

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 · 328 of 351 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 · 216 of 352 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 · 182 of 328 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
103
Admitted
75
Enrolled
32

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 74 · Admitted 22 · Enrolled 7
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 67 · Admitted 48 · Enrolled 6
  • UC DavisApplied 66 · Admitted 23 · Enrolled 4
  • UCLAApplied 66 · Admitted 9 · Enrolled 7
  • UC San DiegoApplied 61 · Admitted 17 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 54 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled 5
  • UC IrvineApplied 47 · Admitted 7 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC RiversideApplied 26 · Admitted 25 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC MercedApplied 12 · Admitted 11 · Enrolled under 3

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 103 · Admitted 75 · Enrolled 32
  • Fall 2024Applied 113 · Admitted 77 · Enrolled 39
  • Fall 2023Applied 121 · Admitted 87 · Enrolled 39
  • Fall 2022Applied 108 · Admitted 64 · Enrolled 30
  • Fall 2021Applied 124 · Admitted 75 · Enrolled 40
  • Fall 2020Applied 107 · Admitted 70 · Enrolled 36
  • Fall 2019Applied 87 · Admitted 44 · Enrolled 20
  • Fall 2018Applied 93 · Admitted 48 · Enrolled 22
  • Fall 2017Applied 91 · Admitted 48 · Enrolled 22
  • Fall 2016Applied 93 · Admitted 62 · Enrolled 34

CSU’s own records

California State University

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

Applied
159
Admitted
153
Enrolled
55

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.

  • San Diego StateApplied 399 · Admitted 147 · Enrolled 31
  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 349 · Admitted 61 · Enrolled 28
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 295 · Admitted 110 · Enrolled 10
  • Sonoma StateApplied 272 · Admitted 261 · Enrolled 53
  • San Francisco StateApplied 262 · Admitted 231 · Enrolled 28
  • Chico StateApplied 194 · Admitted 188 · Enrolled 19
  • Sacramento StateApplied 194 · Admitted 182 · Enrolled 20
  • San José StateApplied 150 · Admitted 135 · Enrolled 21
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 108 · Admitted 100 · Enrolled 6
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 103 · Admitted 79 · Enrolled 10
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 89 · Admitted 68 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 72 · Admitted 67 · Enrolled 9
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 70 · Admitted 64 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State East BayApplied 43 · Admitted 39 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State LAApplied 42 · Admitted 38 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 41 · Admitted 40 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 36 · Admitted 35 · Enrolled under 6
  • Fresno StateApplied 26 · Admitted 25 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 18 · Admitted 18 · Enrolled —
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 16 · Admitted 14 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 13 · Admitted 12 · Enrolled —
  • Stanislaus StateApplied 9 · Admitted 9 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · 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 159 · Admitted 153 · Enrolled 55
  • Fall 2024Applied 169 · Admitted 162 · Enrolled 59
  • Fall 2023Applied 163 · Admitted 156 · Enrolled 63
  • Fall 2022Applied 124 · Admitted 117 · Enrolled 32
  • Fall 2021Applied 155 · Admitted 145 · Enrolled 39
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 16 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 Science3
  • Sciences3
  • English2
  • History & Social Science4
  • World Languages & Cultures1
  • Arts3
Every approved AP course16 courses in 6 subjects
Math & Computer Science 3
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Statistics
Sciences 3
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
English 2
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 4
  • European History
  • Human Geography
  • U.S. Government and Politics
  • United States History
World Languages & Cultures 1
  • Spanish Language and Culture
Arts 3
  • 2-D Art and Design
  • 3-D Art and Design
  • Drawing

Family and staff answers

What would families and staff tell you?

Families can answer a short set of questions about Novato High. These are not star ratings or reviews.

  1. Family answers show once 20 families have answered.Until then this page shows how many have answered.
  2. The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
  3. Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.

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

Staff can’t answer for this school yet

We don’t check staff emails for Novato Unified yet. Tell us your district’s email domain and we’ll work on adding it.

Ask us to add your district

Money

Where does the money go?

$18,562 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student. Novato Unified’s plan for 2026–27 covers $134 million.

$18,562

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$11,124
The school’s share of district office costs
$7,438
Of the total, from federal funds
$962
  • Novato High$18,562
  • Novato Unified high schools$18,748
  • 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 ↓

Novato Unified’s yearly plan

$134million

in the district’s plan for 2026–27

$8million

planned for services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth

This is the district’s plan. It is not this school’s own budget. The plan has 4 goals. The district’s page lists each one. Source: Novato Unified Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), 2026–27. Read the district’s plan →

The neighborhood

What is the area around Novato High like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 94947. They are not figures for the families at Novato High.

Typical household income in a year

$128,766

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 94947.

Typical home value
$1,017,600
People who live in this ZIP code
24,100
Typical age
47.6 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
47%

What you can do

Who can act on Novato High’s results?

Novato Unified’s board decides Novato High’s plan.

How to take part

  1. Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
  2. Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
  3. Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
  4. Read the midyear report, due by February 28.

State support

The state hasn’t placed Novato High in a support program. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source 

Extra state help for the district

The state is giving Novato Unified extra help in 2026. It qualified on the 2025 and 2026 California School Dashboards. The 2026 Dashboard flagged results for students with disabilities on two measures: English, and math. The county office must help the district for at least three years, including a review of its yearly plan.

Extra help for Novato Unified: CDE’s assistance status files for the 2025 and 2026 California School Dashboards. Source 

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 8 questions to Novato High. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. When a child starts missing school, who calls the family, and how soon?25 in 100 chronically absent, 2025–26 (293 of 1,193 students); average Novato Unified high school: 17 in 100
  2. What happens before a suspension, and who talks with the family?3.3% suspended at least once, 2025–26 (40 of 1,205 students); average Novato Unified high school: 1.5%
  3. What extra help do Hispanic students get, and how do you know it’s working?20% of Hispanic students scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (117 students tested); the same group across California: 21%
  4. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  5. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  6. 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 Novato High, and how do I get in?

Ask Novato Unified which school serves your address.

  1. Elementary
    Scope Score 78Solid · 62nd percentile · 2026Inferred through another school · underlying source period unavailable; not a direct feeder
  2. Middle
    Scope Score 74Developing · 44th percentile · 2026Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder
  3. High · this school
    Novato High
    Grades 9–12Scope Score 75Developing · 49th 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

  • Loma Verde Elementary

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

    Scope Score 78 · Solid · 62nd percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Lynwood Elementary

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

    Scope Score 78 · Solid · 65th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Rancho Elementary

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

    Scope Score 79 · Solid · 67th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Hamilton TK-8

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

    Scope Score 70 · Needs Support · 18th percentile · elementary · 2026

Middle-school links

  • Hamilton TK-8

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

  • San Jose Middle

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

    Scope Score 74 · Developing · 44th percentile · middle · 2026

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.

Where it is

Where is Novato High?

Address
625 Arthur Street, Novato 94947Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Liz SeaburyAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated June 28, 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 8 common questions

How do I get in?

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

Is Novato High a good high school?

Novato High has a Scope Score of 75. It scored higher than 49 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Developing, 49th percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 25 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 17 in 100 at the average Novato Unified high school. 3.3% of students (40 of 1,205) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. See the details ↓

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 32 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. See the details ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 57% of low-income students in grade 11 at Novato High 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 16 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26. See the details ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

76% 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 #755 of 1,498 California high schools we score · #2 of 3 in Novato Unified
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate93%5725%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math18%5222%
Ready for college or career (state measure)61%6120%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math46%5718%
Chronically absent21 in 100575%
Suspension rate3.5% (47 of 1,343)515%
English learners: top level4%305%

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.

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
2024–257549#755California 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
2018–1913 in 1004.2% (62 of 1,480)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2419 in 1004.4% (63 of 1,443)
2024–2521 in 1003.5% (47 of 1,343)

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 1125434%35%18%13%69%57%+12

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 1125214%23%24%39%37%32%+5

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 · English25434%69%
2026 · Math25214%37%
2025 · English30523%56%
2025 · Math30213%35%
2024 · English29922%56%
2024 · Math3109%24%
2023 · English34731%60%
2023 · Math3469%29%
2022 · English31535%70%
2022 · Math33512%35%
2019 · English20832%66%
2019 · Math19016%36%
2018 · English30038%69%
2018 · Math29715%37%
2017 · English29035%77%
2017 · Math28818%43%

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 · English30556%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math30235%
2024 · Grade 11 · English29956%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math31024%
2023 · Grade 11 · English34760%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math34629%
2022 · Grade 11 · English31570%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math33535%
2019 · Grade 11 · English20866%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math19036%
2018 · Grade 11 · English30069%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math29737%
2017 · Grade 11 · English29077%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math28843%

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
Schoolwide2979%25%54%12%

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-income12257%+7+8
Hispanic or Latino12049%+50
White9787%+15+19
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 · 21 in 100 → 2025–26 · 25 in 100 · +4 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 3.5% (47 of 1,343) → 2025–26 · 3.3% (40 of 1,205) · −0.2 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female14 in 10024 in 100+10 in 100
Male12 in 10025 in 100+13 in 100
Asian7 of 747 of 51—
Black or African American10 of 438 of 22—
Filipino1 of 13——
Hispanic or Latino14 in 10026 in 100+12 in 100
American Indian or Alaska Native1 of 15——
Two or more races10 of 6715 of 69—
White12 in 10024 in 100+12 in 100
Students with disabilities20 in 10029 in 100+9 in 100
English learners22 in 10028 in 100+6 in 100
Low-income15 in 10027 in 100+12 in 100
All students13 in 10025 in 100+12 in 100
Homeless—20 of 60—

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 61% · numerator 216 students classified Prepared · denominator 352 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 72% · AP-pathway numerator 156 · denominator 216 (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 216 of 352 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
93%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
72%
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)
56%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
76%

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)
202510375323.863.964.10
202411377393.873.934.06
202312187393.964.044.11
202210864303.903.974.10
202112475403.894.004.10
202010770363.864.044.08
20198744203.793.994.10
20189348223.814.054.18
20179148223.753.954.04
20169362343.733.913.99

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
Berkeley202554105
Berkeley202454115
Berkeley202365115
Berkeley20225773
Berkeley20215595
Davis202566234
Davis202474225
Davis202370279
Davis202263124
Davis2021712710
Irvine2025477under 3
Irvine2024609under 3
Irvine20236013under 3
Irvine202260103
Irvine2021608under 3
Los Angeles20256697
Los Angeles20246876
Los Angeles20237576
Los Angeles2022693under 3
Los Angeles20218755
Merced20251211under 3
Merced20242018under 3
Merced20231716under 3
Merced20222120under 3
Merced20212118under 3
Riverside20252625under 3
Riverside20242316under 3
Riverside20231714under 3
Riverside20221710under 3
Riverside20212416under 3
San Diego20256117under 3
San Diego202459145
San Diego202354143
San Diego202265164
San Diego20217315under 3
Santa Barbara202574227
Santa Barbara202471143
Santa Barbara202393237
Santa Barbara202261147
Santa Barbara202187115
Santa Cruz202567486
Santa Cruz2024715012
Santa Cruz202370448
Santa Cruz202272246
Santa Cruz2021704310
Universitywide20251037532
Universitywide20241137739
Universitywide20231218739
Universitywide20221086430
Universitywide20211247540

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
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Drawingthis school
English Language and Compositionthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
European Historythis school
Human Geographythis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
U.S. Government and Politicsthis 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 count18
AP enrollment (male/female)542
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentnot offered
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections3
Physics sections11
Chemistry sections11
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)1,368

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 California3611%
California State University5918%
California community college9528%
In-state private154%
Out-of-state, 4-year4814%
Out-of-state, 2-year31%
Not enrolled8024%

336 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 76% · % 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$12,709 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 7,206 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$237 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,287

Central federal expenditures attributed here$725 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,287

District current expense · FY 2024–25$18,474 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 11%Student services 9%Administration 7%Buildings & maintenance 9%Other 1%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$79,529,64362.72%63%
Instruction support$14,405,45511.36%11%
Student services$11,926,6359.41%9%
Administration$8,270,3126.52%7%
Buildings & maintenance$11,381,6668.98%9%
Other$1,295,2501.02%1%
Total$126,808,962100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $126,808,962 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$12,709 per pupil
2020$12,337 per pupil
2019$13,101 per pupil
2018$11,526 per pupil
2017$11,161 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 holders1.7%

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 94947 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 94947 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$128,766
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)47%
ZIP-area population24,100
Median age47.6 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 94947 →

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

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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