Palo Alto Unified: Palo Alto Unified elementary schools add +3.4 points from grade 3 to 5 — a signal that schools are adding real value.
Palo Alto Unified has 18 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 79.3/100 — 34.4 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. The district spends $24,917 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 10.2%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Strong 78.5/100 | 12 | 60.3% | 10.3% |
| Middle | Strong 78.6/100 | 3 | 57.2% | 7.1% |
| High | Strong 82.9/100 | 3 | 57.0% | 14.3% |
Palo Alto Unified's high schools average 82.9/100 — 39.2 points above the state average.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Palo Alto Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Palo Alto Unified has 18 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 79.3/100 — 34.4 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Palo Alto Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 82.9.
District-wide elementary growth averages +3.4pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are adding meaningful value beyond what students arrive with.
Score range of 38.6 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 10.2%, 7.7pp below the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 1.5%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Ohlone Elementary leads the district at 93 with 66.4% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Palo Alto Unified
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Palo Alto Unified spends $24,917 per student in current expenditures — $10,102 above 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 Palo Alto Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (12)
Palo Alto Unified has 12 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 78.5 — 33.7 points above the state average of 44.8. 1 of 12 elementary schools have Scope Scores above 90.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +3.4pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Ohlone Elementary with a Scope Score of 93 and 66.4% exceeding standard.
| # | 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 | Escondido Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 54.8% | Strong 81/100 |
| 6 | Walter Hays Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 58.9% | Strong 80/100 |
| 7 | Duveneck Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 58.6% | Strong 77/100 |
| 8 | Lucille M. Nixon Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 69.1% | Strong 77/100 |
| 9 | Palo Verde Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 58.8% | Strong 76/100 |
| 10 | El Carmelo Elementary Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 51.6% | Strong 71/100 |
| 11 | Addison Elementary Palo Alto Unified Strong All-Around | 54.4% | Solid 67/100 |
| 12 | Barron Park Elementary Palo Alto Unified Building Momentum | 40.9% | Solid 55/100 |
Middle Schools (3)
Palo Alto Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 78.6 — 36.0 points above the state average of 42.6. 3 of 3 middle schools score above 70.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +1.4pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle with a Scope Score of 82 and 63.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 63.5% | Strong 82/100 |
| 2 | Ellen Fletcher Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 57.6% | Strong 78/100 |
| 3 | Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 50.5% | Strong 77/100 |
High Schools (3)
Palo Alto Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 82.9 — 39.2 points above the state average of 43.7. 3 of 3 high schools score above 70.
The highest-scoring high school is Palo Alto Middle College High with a Scope Score of 87 and 53.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto Middle College High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 53.1% | Strong 87/100 |
| 2 | Henry M. Gunn High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 62.9% | Strong 82/100 |
| 3 | Palo Alto High Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling | 55.0% | Strong 80/100 |
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