Novato Unified: Novato Unified elementary schools lead at 48.8. A 42.1-point spread across all schools shows this is a district of contrasts.
Novato Unified has 15 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 47.9/100 — 3.0 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Pleasant Valley Elementary at 66/100, where 38.1% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,709 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 3 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 14.0%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 48.8/100 | 10 | 22.9% | 9.8% |
| Middle | Developing 45.5/100 | 2 | 23.1% | 15.0% |
| High | Developing 46.4/100 | 3 | 15.6% | 27.3% |
Novato Unified's elementary schools average 48.8/100 — 4.0 points above the state average.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Novato Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Novato Unified has 15 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 47.9/100 — 3.0 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Novato Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 48.8.
District-wide elementary growth averages -0.1pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — growth is essentially flat.
Score range of 42.1 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 14.0%, 4.0pp below the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 1.7%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Pleasant Valley Elementary leads the district at 66 with 38.1% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Novato Unified
Hidden gems: 3 schools in Novato Unified are classified as Growth Engine (3) — 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
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Novato Unified spends $12,709 per student in current expenditures — $2,106 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Every school in Novato Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (10)
Novato Unified has 10 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.8 — 4.0 points above the state average of 44.8.
Growth is essentially flat at -0.1pp.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Pleasant Valley Elementary with a Scope Score of 66 and 38.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pleasant Valley Elementary Novato Unified Strong All-Around | 38.1% | Solid 66/100 |
| 2 | San Ramon Elementary Novato Unified Building Momentum | 33.7% | Solid 59/100 |
| 3 | Rancho Elementary Novato Unified Culture First | 36.2% | Solid 58/100 |
| 4 | Olive Elementary Novato Unified Growth Engine | 23.4% | Solid 54/100 |
| 5 | Novato Charter Novato Unified Growth Engine | 22.4% | Solid 53/100 |
| 6 | Loma Verde Elementary Novato Unified Culture First | 22.5% | Developing 48/100 |
| 7 | Lynwood Elementary Novato Unified Growth Engine | 16.6% | Developing 46/100 |
| 8 | Nova Education Center Novato Unified Building Momentum | 10.9% | Developing 44/100 |
| 9 | Lu Sutton Elementary Novato Unified Culture First | 15.7% | Developing 36/100 |
| 10 | Hamilton Meadow Park Novato Unified Building Momentum | 9.1% | Needs Support 24/100 |
Middle Schools (2)
Novato Unified has 2 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.5 — 2.8 points above the state average of 42.6.
Growth averages -6.2pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Sinaloa Middle with a Scope Score of 52 and 25.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinaloa Middle Novato Unified Building Momentum | 25.6% | Solid 52/100 |
| 2 | San Jose Intermediate Novato Unified Building Momentum | 20.5% | Developing 39/100 |
High Schools (3)
Novato Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 46.4 — 2.6 points above the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is San Marin High with a Scope Score of 62 and 28.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Marin High Novato Unified Strong All-Around | 28.8% | Solid 62/100 |
| 2 | Novato High Novato Unified Building Momentum | 17.9% | Solid 53/100 |
| 3 | Marin Oaks High Novato Unified Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 24/100 |
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.
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 resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology