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Wade Thomas Elementary · San Anselmo

Wade Thomas Elementary: More than half of kids exceed the standard. But the zoned next school scores lower.

Wade Thomas 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.

150 Ross Avenue, 94960 (opens in new tab)·Ross Valley Elementary·San Anselmo·Grades TK-5·292 students·7% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(415) 454-4603·Website
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope8045
% Exceeded58%21%
% Met+86%43%
Growth-8.2-2.9
Absence5.6%17.9%
Suspension0.2%1.6%
Scope Score
80
⭐ High Ceiling · Strong
ranked #151 statewide · #1 of 4 in Ross Valley Elementary

Wade Thomas Elementary scores 80 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 97th 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 “86% proficient” and call it done. Wade Thomas deserves a closer read. It sits at the 97th percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools — but the ranking is the least interesting thing on this page.

The headline number: 57.5% 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 97th-percentile line every tested year since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELABlue(Increased Significantly)MathGreen(Increased Significantly)

The pandemic drop is behind this school: 86% of students meet the standard today, above the 83% who did in 2019.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 378%83%83%79%92%
Grade 488%80%88%78%85%
Grade 584%81%87%80%90%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 387%83%88%81%92%
Grade 495%77%73%78%81%
Grade 568%66%70%73%78%

The story this school is actually telling

The ceiling · exceeded standard
57.5%

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
16pts

the zoned path continues to White Hill Middle, which scores 16 points lower — worth asking about on a tour.

↓ 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.

65%
27%
8%
Grade 3 · 92% proficient
52%
33%
15%
Grade 4 · 85% proficient
53%
37%
10%
Grade 5 · 90% proficient

The honest read: the share exceeding falls 12.3pp across grades; the floor slips 2.0pp. 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
57.5%
State 21.3%
36.2pp above state avg
Growth (G3→G5)
-8.2pp
State -2.9pp
Scores decline across grades
Met or exceeded
86.3%
State 42.7%
43.6pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
5.6%
State 17.9%
12.3pp 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 what changes between grade 3 and grade 5 here, and who teaches the older kids.
  • 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 Wade Thomas Elementary in San Anselmo, 92.4% of white students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 83.0% district-wide and 61.8% statewide. Wade Thomas Elementary outperforms its district average for white students by 9.4 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: White students (84.8% Math proficient). Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 105 students tested.

All students at this school: 86% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 86%, district —, state 43%86%
WhiteWhite: this school 89%, district 78%, state 56%89% · +2 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 86%, district 75%, state 44%86% · −1 vs school
MaleMale: this school 87%, district 72%, state 42%87% · +0 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 68%, district 43%, state 15%68% · −18 vs school

7 of 12 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 5.6%, district 8.9%, state 17.9%5.6% · −12.3pp 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 4–63.1%
TK/K3.2%

Where the path goes

The zoned path continues to White Hill Middle, which scores 16 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
Wade Thomas Elementary
80/100
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 22:1, district 20:122:1
Teaching staff19 teachers
Avg. experience18.4 years
Fully credentialed100%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$64,142 – $117,301
Principal salary$166,492 – $0
Superintendent salary$253,750

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $16,704, CA average $14,815$16,704 · spent at this school

These measure different things: this figure is spending attributed to this campus, while district-wide figures also include central administration, districtwide programs, and the state's pension contributions made on the district's behalf — costs that never get assigned to a single school. The district number runs higher at nearly every school, not just this one.

Federal share$270 per student

$270 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$19,999 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
Instruction65%
Instruction support9%
Student services8%
Administration8%
Buildings & maintenance10%

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$13,782 per pupil
2019$12,577 per pupil
2018$13,256 per pupil
2017$12,394 per pupil
2016$11,478 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

White74.0%
District 70.9% · CA 19.9%
Hispanic11.3%
District 13.8% · CA 56.1%
Other11.0%
District 12.3% · CA 9.0%
Asian3.1%
District 2.4% · CA 10.2%
Black0.7%
District 0.6% · CA 4.8%
GenderFemale 46.6%Male 52.7%Non-binary 0.7%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 7.2% (57pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$185K · CA $85K
Median home value$1.67M · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+72% · CA 35%
ZIP population16,232
Median age47 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), 69% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Wade Thomas Elementary a good elementary school?

Wade Thomas Elementary has a Scope Score of 80 out of 100, placing it in the 97th percentile of California elementary schools and ranked #151 statewide. 57.5% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 36.2 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 Wade Thomas Elementary's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 86.3% of students at Wade Thomas Elementary met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 57.5% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 28.8% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 57.5% 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. 292 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Wade Thomas Elementary rank in California?

Wade Thomas Elementary ranks #151 among California elementary schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 97th 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 Wade Thomas Elementary getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Wade Thomas Elementary decreases by 8.2 percentage points from Grade 3 to grade 5 growth. This downward pattern doesn't necessarily mean the school is failing — it can reflect cohort differences, demographic shifts, or curriculum changes. A campus visit and conversation with teachers can reveal what the numbers can't. 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 Wade Thomas Elementary?

5.6% of students at Wade Thomas Elementary 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 Wade Thomas Elementary compare to other schools in San Anselmo?

Wade Thomas Elementary scores 80/100 (97th 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 292 students. Use the schools in San Anselmo page or the map view to compare all elementary schools nearby.

How does Wade Thomas Elementary serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Wade Thomas Elementary in San Anselmo, 92.4% of white students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 83.0% district-wide and 61.8% statewide. Wade Thomas Elementary outperforms its district average for white students by 9.4 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: White students (84.8% Math proficient). Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 105 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%
57.5%
↑ vs CA 21.3% · 85th pctile
Growth (G3→G5) · 27%
-8.2pp
↓ vs CA -2.9pp · 59th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
86.3%
↑ vs CA 42.7% · 83th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
5.6%
↑ vs CA 17.9% · 70th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
0.2%
↑ vs CA 1.6% · 62th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 34965%27%8%0%92%+48
Grade 44852%33%6%8%85%+41
Grade 54953%37%8%2%90%+42
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 34965%27%6%2%92%+46
Grade 44854%27%15%4%81%+40
Grade 54955%22%12%10%78%+42
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/114840%29%29%2%

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
White10592.4%+9+31
03Peer comparison · nearest elementary schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Wade Thomas Elementary ←8057.5%86.3%−8.20.2%
Ross Elementary0.8 mi9167.7%91.0%−10.40.7%
Hidden Valley Elementary2.4 mi7750.5%77.6%−3.60.4%
Manor Elementary2.3 mi7550.1%78.7%−7.20.6%
California average4521.3%42.7%−2.91.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20197493#37752.9%83.2%3.7%1.3%-6.8pp
20226893#38651.4%78.3%11.7%0.0%-9.2pp
20236992#46747.1%81.4%18.5%0.1%-6.8pp
20247092#46650.4%78.2%8.9%0.2%-3.7pp
20258097#15157.5%86.3%5.6%0.2%-8.2pp
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
Female1.1%5.7%+4.6pp
Male5.9%3.2%-2.7pp
Asian0.0%
Hispanic/Latino7.5%5.9%-1.6pp
Two or More Races0.0%2.9%+2.9pp
Students with Disabilities3.4%1.9%-1.5pp
English Learners3.8%
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged13.3%7.1%-6.2pp
All Students3.5%4.3%+0.8pp
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