Schools
8
listed public schools. We score seven high.
School district · San Mateo County
San Mateo Union High schools
San Mateo Union High’s 7 public high schools have Scope Scores from 74 to 92.
75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state.
Students
9,342
in the October 2024–25 enrollment count.
Spending
$28,924
per student in 2024–25. The typical California district spent $20,491.
The path
What is the path through the district?
San Mateo Union High has seven high schools that we score.
Elementary and middle school
San Mateo-Foster City
Dated records link San Mateo Union High’s schools to schools in these districts; the record may not cover every address. Boundaries come from the district’s published 2026 attendance boundaries; districts redraw them, and they are approximate at the edges.
High
7schools
Scope Scores from 74 to 92.
See the high schools ↓Each score compares a school with California schools at its own level. The levels are not one ranking.
High schools
Which high schools in the San Mateo Union High district score highest?
Burlingame High is highest, with a Scope Score of 92. That is higher than 95 in 100 California high schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Burlingame High
Burlingame · Grades 9–12 · 1,583 students
492526% below the standard
Scope Score 92Strong · 95th percentile
Rank 2
Aragon High
San Mateo · Grades 9–12 · 1,658 students
452629% below the standard
Scope Score 90Strong · 94th percentile
Rank 3
Mills High
Millbrae · Grades 9–12 · 1,115 students
452827% below the standard
Scope Score 89Strong · 92nd percentile
Rank 4
Design Tech HighCharter
Redwood City · Grades 9–12 · 567 students · Check how it admits students.
492823% below the standard
Scope Score 89Strong · 92nd percentile
Rank 5
Hillsdale High
San Mateo · Grades 9–12 · 1,585 students
332443% below the standard
Scope Score 81Strong · 75th percentile
Rank 6
San Mateo High
San Mateo · Grades 9–12 · 1,557 students
332146% below the standard
Scope Score 79Solid · 67th percentile
Rank 7
Capuchino High
San Bruno · Grades 9–12 · 1,061 students
192457% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 44th percentile
The average high school in the San Mateo Union High district had 13 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California high school we score had 22 in 100.
1 high school not ranked statewide
It is compared only with other continuation schools, so it is listed apart.
- Peninsula High (Continuation)Continuation high school
Each score compares a school with the 1,498 California high schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025. The state called the top two levels Exceeded and Met in spring 2025. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.
Against California
How does the district compare with California?
13 in 100 students at the average high school here were chronically absent. The California figure is 22 in 100.
Students who miss a lot of school
Average high school, students in 100
San Mateo Union High13 in 100
California22 in 100
Students from low-income families
Qualify for free or reduced-price meals
San Mateo Union High24%
California63%
Spending per student
Day-to-day spending, 2024–25
San Mateo Union High$28,924
Typical district$20,491
English learners who moved up a level
On the state’s English test (ELPAC)
San Mateo Union High44%
California47%
Absence: averages of school rates, each high school counted once, 2025–26. Meals: 2,219 of 9,303 students, 2024–25, summed from the state’s meal counts for every school listed under the district, charters included. Spending: day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, 2024–25. The typical district is the middle one when California districts are put in order. English learners: From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 44% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (344 of 786 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Source: California Department of Education, English learner progress files.
The district
Where does San Mateo Union High’s money go?
About 52 cents of every San Mateo Union High dollar went to classroom instruction.
$28,924
spent per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491.
Every dollar, by what it paid for
52¢14¢12¢11¢6¢5¢
- Instruction52%
- Student services14%
- Instruction support12%
- Buildings & maintenance11%
- Administration6%
- Other5%
The district’s 2025–26 spending plan puts $18.7 million into 40 funded actions in 3 goals. That is 8% of its $244.5 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts. The district reports what it spent in a later plan.
Spending is day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education, 2024–25. It covers the whole district, including central administration. Shares are rounded so they add up to 100. Planned amounts are from the yearly spending plan (LCAP) as posted to the California School Dashboard.
State records
Who attends, and is the state giving extra help?
9,342 students were enrolled in the October 2024–25 count. San Mateo Union High isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.
Who goes to the district’s schools
- Hispanic or Latino 34%
- White 25%
- Asian 24%
- Two or more races 10%
- Filipino 5%
- Other or not reported 2%
Is the state giving the district extra help?
San Mateo Union High isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.
State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard. Source: District help (CDE).2 schools getting state support, 2025–26
- Aragon HighTargeted support: students with disabilities
- Peninsula High (Continuation)Most intensive support, graduation rate
Common questions
What do parents ask about this district?
Are the public schools in the San Mateo Union High district good?
San Mateo Union High’s 7 public high schools have Scope Scores from 74 to 92. Of those, 5 are Strong, 1 is Solid and 1 is Developing. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.
Which public schools in the San Mateo Union High district rank highest?
Burlingame High is the highest high school, with a Scope Score of 92. It is Strong, at the 95th percentile. Each score compares a school with the California high schools we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in the San Mateo Union High district compare with California?
The average high school in the San Mateo Union High district had 13 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California high school we score had 22 in 100. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.
How much does the San Mateo Union High district spend per student?
The San Mateo Union High district spent $28,924 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 52 cents of every San Mateo Union High dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.
What is in the San Mateo Union High district’s 2025–26 spending plan?
The district’s 2025–26 spending plan puts $18.7 million into 40 funded actions in 3 goals. That is 8% of its $244.5 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $9.6 million, 51% of the action budgets. The 2025–26 plan, goal by goal.
Does living in the San Mateo Union High district decide which school my child attends?
Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
Where do these results come from?
The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025. Chronic-absence rates are for 2025–26. The California Department of Education publishes both. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Next
Which places nearby can you look at next?
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by the San Mateo Union High district, with the district’s spending and state records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024–25
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.
State tests are the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), spring 2025.
Download these schools (CSV) Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.