Elementary Schools in South San Francisco, California: 6 schools. Average score 9.4 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.
South San Francisco, California has 6 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 29.5/100 — 9.4 points below the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Buri Buri Elementary at 54/100, where 37.5% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. South San Francisco schools average 14.3% exceeded standard (state: 21.4%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction shows how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Chronic absenteeism averages 17.0% (near the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
Start with your child’s school level
The overview describes elementary schools. The lists below separate elementary, middle and high schools, so each school’s standing stays within its own comparison group. Open a profile to see the underlying results, student support and questions to ask on a visit.
Every school in South San Francisco
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP · levels never mixed
Elementary Schools (6)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buri Buri Elementary South San Francisco Unified | 37.5% | 81st percentile · StrongScope Score 54/100 |
| 2 | Ponderosa Elementary South San Francisco Unified | 20.6% | 62nd percentile · SolidScope Score 41/100 |
| 3 | Sunshine Gardens Elementary South San Francisco Unified | 13.3% | 50th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 36/100 |
| 4 | Spruce Elementary South San Francisco Unified | 6.6% | 14th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 22/100 |
| 5 | Martin Elementary South San Francisco Unified | 3.9% | 2nd percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 13/100 |
| 6 | Los Cerritos Elementary South San Francisco Unified | 3.7% | 1st percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 11/100 |
Middle Schools (3)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westborough Middle South San Francisco Unified | 24.1% | 68th percentile · SolidScope Score 44/100 |
| 2 | Alta Loma Middle South San Francisco Unified | 21.2% | 59th percentile · SolidScope Score 40/100 |
| 3 | Parkway Heights Middle South San Francisco Unified | 8.7% | 13th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 21/100 |
High Schools (3)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Camino High South San Francisco Unified | 30.4% | 77th percentile · StrongScope Score 63/100 |
| 2 | South San Francisco High South San Francisco Unified | 20.0% | 41st percentile · DevelopingScope Score 50/100 |
| 3 | Baden High (Continuation) South San Francisco Unified continuation high school | 1.1% | 19th percentile · Needs SupportWithin its own school classScope Score 17/100 |
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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.
Elementary school archetypes in South San Francisco
Hidden gems: 1 school in South San Francisco is classified as On the Rise — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Private Schools in South San Francisco
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