Elementary Schools in Palo Alto, California: Palo Alto schools aren't just reaching proficiency — they're pushing students beyond it.
Palo Alto, California has 10 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 78.4/100 — 33.5 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Ohlone Elementary at 93/100, where 66.4% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Palo Alto schools average 60.0% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 10 schools, 8 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 10.5% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Schools | Avg Score | Exceeded | vs State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 10 | Strong 78.4/100 | 60.0% | +33.5 |
| High | 2 | Strong 80.9/100 | 59.0% | +37.2 |
| Middle | 3 | Strong 78.6/100 | 57.2% | +36.0 |
How Palo Alto schools compare
Palo Alto has 10 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 78.4/100 — 33.5 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
The top-ranked school is Ohlone Elementary with a Scope Score of 93 and 66.4% of students exceeding standard.
These schools are pushing students past the bar, not just to it. Palo Alto schools average 60.0% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.3%.
Chronic absenteeism in Palo Alto averages 10.5% — below the state average of 17.9%.
How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page
School archetypes in Palo Alto
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Every school in Palo Alto
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohlone Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 66.4% | Strong 93/100 |
| 2 | Herbert Hoover Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 79.2% | Strong 90/100 |
| 3 | Juana Briones Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 65.5% | Strong 88/100 |
| 4 | Fairmeadow Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 65.9% | Strong 85/100 |
| 5 | Henry M. Gunn High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 62.9% | Strong 82/100 |
| 6 | Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 63.5% | Strong 82/100 |
| 7 | Walter Hays Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 58.9% | Strong 80/100 |
| 8 | Palo Alto High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 55.0% | Strong 80/100 |
| 9 | Ellen Fletcher Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 57.6% | Strong 78/100 |
| 10 | Duveneck Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 58.6% | Strong 77/100 |
| 11 | Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 50.5% | Strong 77/100 |
| 12 | Palo Verde Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 58.8% | Strong 76/100 |
| 13 | El Carmelo Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 51.6% | Strong 71/100 |
| 14 | Addison Elementary Palo Alto Unified Strong All-Around | 54.4% | Solid 67/100 |
| 15 | Barron Park Elementary Palo Alto Unified Building Momentum | 40.9% | Solid 55/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
Private Schools in Palo Alto
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology
Frequently asked questions
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