San Rafael City Elementary runs elementary and middle schools only. Its 7 public elementary schools run from the 8th to the 97th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). High school is run by another district; confirm the school for your address with the district.
K5Elementary
68Middle
912High
San Rafael City Elementary · grades K–8
Another district · grades 9–12
Elementary · 7 schools
from 8th to 97th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests
Sun Valley Elementary: 97th percentile, Strong
Glenwood Elementary: 75th percentile, Strong
Coleman Elementary: 72nd percentile, Solid
Laurel Dell Elementary: 60th percentile, Solid
Venetia Valley K-8: 37th percentile, Developing
Bahia Vista Elementary: 24th percentile, Needs Support
San Pedro Elementary: 8th percentile, Needs Support
2Needs Support
1Developing
2Solid
2Strong
Middle · 2 schools
from 36th to 56th · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests
James B. Davidson Middle: 56th percentile, Solid
Venetia Valley K-8: 36th percentile, Developing
0Needs Support
1Developing
1Solid
0Strong
← lower percentilehigher →
One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 1 of the 8 ranked schools teaches two levels, so it appears in more than one picture.
8 ranked schools
Schools around the San Rafael City Elementary district
The average elementary school in the San Rafael City Elementary district had 6 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.
Middle schools
Which middle schools in the San Rafael City Elementary district score highest?
James B. Davidson Middle is highest, at the 56th percentile.
That’s higher than 56 in 100 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Highest in the San Rafael City Elementary district
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.
Where does San Rafael City Elementary’s money go, and what does it plan?
The San Rafael City Elementary district spent $20,370 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 65 cents of every San Rafael City Elementary dollar went to classroom instruction.
Spending by function
Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.
Share by function, 2024–25
Instruction65%
Instruction support12%
Student services9%
Administration6%
Buildings & maintenance8%
Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.
What the district plans
$30.6 million
planned in its 2026–27 plan for 55 funded actions in 4 goals. That’s 29% of its $106.0 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the district reports what it spent in a later plan.
The plan in short
Source: the district’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 162 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.
Where the money goes
Three actions take 46% of the money. The plan itself puts 66% of it toward staff.
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs $6.7 million
Attract, Hire, and Retain Highly Qualified Staff $5.0 million
Transportation $2.4 million
52 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help
17 of the plan’s 55 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.
Actions whose titles name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners
Reading $0.4 million
Math $0.1 million
Catch-up help $2.0 million
English learners $7.4 million
An action naming two of these appears under both.
Largest of these
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs$6.7 million
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Intervention$1.8 million
(Multi Tiered Systems of Support) Language Arts Adoption$375,000
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students
It plans $12.5 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $12.5 million and estimates it spent $12.2 million, $0.3 million (3%) less than planned (our arithmetic).
$12.2 million spent (estimated)$12.5 million planned
What changed
The total is $36,987 lower than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Expand Transitional Kindergarten, which went from $1.7 million to $2.0 million.
Largest cuts
(Professional Development and Curriculum Support) Math Adoption and Implementation−$193,372
(Multi Tiered Systems of Support) Language Arts Adoption−$155,000
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) SEAL Professional Development−$124,000
Largest increases
Expand Transitional Kindergarten+$349,783
Seven period schedule+$346,000
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) AVID+$136,750
What its goals measure
Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.
What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure
2024–25
2025–26
Change
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1, 2 and 4
35%
36%
up 1 pt
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoals 1, 3 and 4
12 in 100
9 in 100
3 fewer in 100
Suspended at least onceGoals 3 and 4
4.3%
4.2%
down 0.1 pts
Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.
The plan’s own titles and amounts
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs · $6,705,000
Attract, Hire, and Retain Highly Qualified Staff · $4,975,322
Transportation · $2,400,000
The full plan4 goals, 38 measures and where the money goes
We calculate each action’s share of the plan by dividing its planned amount by the total of the plan’s funded actions ($30.6 million).
Where does the money go?
60% to Goal 1, Student Success. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars and coloured by its change since last year’s plan. Tap a box to open its goal.
not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals
Every goal, in the plan’s order
Goal 1Student Success$18.3 million60% of action budgets
“San Rafael City Schools ensures that every student graduates with a profound love for learning, experiences a learning environment that is nurturing and engaging, and develops the necessary skills to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world” p. 18 ↗
26 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $17.9 million (+$406,228)
Largest funded actions
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs$6.7 millionaction 1.8 · p. 108 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Transportation$2.4 millionaction 1.27 · p. 110 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.1 million is state funding counted toward those services
Expand Transitional Kindergarten$2.0 millionaction 1.28 · p. 110 ↗
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Intervention$1.8 millionaction 1.13 · p. 109 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Counseling$1.5 millionaction 1.19 · p. 110 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
21 more funded actions in this goal
Seven period schedule · action 1.29 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.9 million
Campus Supervision · action 1.26 · p. 110 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $162,048 is state funding counted toward those services$0.5 million
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) Administrative Dean at Middle Schools · action 1.22 · p. 110 ↗$0.4 million
Assistant Principals · action 1.25 · p. 110 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
(Multi Tiered Systems of Support) Language Arts Adoption · action 1.31 · p. 111 ↗$0.4 million
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) AVID · action 1.12 · p. 109 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
(Support ELs and Newcomers) Revised ELD 6-8 Course Sequence and Course Offerings · action 1.4 · p. 108 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
(Supporting ELs and newcomers) ELPAC Assessors · action 1.9 · p. 109 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) Wellness Coordinators · action 1.17 · p. 109 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
Substitutes for Assessment · action 1.24 · p. 110 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) iReady Personalized Learning · action 1.16 · p. 109 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
Bilingual Health Liaison · action 1.30 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) Youth Transforming Justice · action 1.18 · p. 109 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Reading Screener · action 1.23 · p. 110 ↗under $0.1 million
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Community Volunteers · action 1.15 · p. 109 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) Summit K12 Connect to Literacy ELPAC Readiness Platform · action 1.5 · p. 108 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(Student Voice) Student Surveys · action 1.1 · p. 108 ↗under $0.1 million
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) CareSolace · action 1.20 · p. 110 ↗under $0.1 million
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Social Emotional Curriculum · action 1.21 · p. 110 ↗under $0.1 million
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Math Adoption · action 1.14 · p. 109 ↗under $0.1 million
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) Supplemental ELD Curriculum · action 1.11 · p. 109 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Expand Transitional Kindergarten+$0.3 million$1.7 million → $2.0 million · p. 110 ↗
Seven period schedule+$346,000$554,000 → $900,000 · p. 111 ↗
(Multi Tiered Systems of Support) Language Arts Adoption−$155,000$530,000 → $375,000 · p. 111 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs · $6.7 million → $6.7 million · p. 108 ↗unchanged
Transportation · $2.4 million → $2.4 million · p. 110 ↗unchanged
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Intervention · $1.8 million → $1.8 million · p. 109 ↗unchanged
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Counseling · $1.5 million → $1.5 million · p. 110 ↗unchanged
Campus Supervision · $526,663 → $526,663 · p. 110 ↗unchanged
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) Administrative Dean at Middle Schools · $409,029 → $409,029 · p. 110 ↗unchanged
Assistant Principals · $521,113 → $400,000 · p. 110 ↗−$121,113
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) AVID · $120,250 → $257,000 · p. 109 ↗+$136,750
(Support ELs and Newcomers) Revised ELD 6-8 Course Sequence and Course Offerings · $304,000 → $225,000 · p. 108 ↗−$79,000
(Supporting ELs and newcomers) ELPAC Assessors · $165,000 → $165,000 · p. 109 ↗unchanged
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) Wellness Coordinators · $136,843 → $136,843 · p. 109 ↗unchanged
Substitutes for Assessment · $100,000 → $100,000 · p. 110 ↗unchanged
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) iReady Personalized Learning · $106,554 → $77,362 · p. 109 ↗−$29,192
Bilingual Health Liaison · $67,865 → $67,865 · p. 111 ↗unchanged
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) Youth Transforming Justice · $48,000 → $48,000 · p. 109 ↗unchanged
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Reading Screener · $30,000 → $40,000 · p. 110 ↗+$10,000
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Community Volunteers · $35,500 → $35,500 · p. 109 ↗unchanged
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) Summit K12 Connect to Literacy ELPAC Readiness Platform · $25,000 → $25,000 · p. 108 ↗unchanged
(Multi-tiered Systems of Support) CareSolace · $12,821 → $12,821 · p. 110 ↗unchanged
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Social Emotional Curriculum · $10,579 → $10,579 · p. 110 ↗unchanged
(Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Math Adoption · $20,000 → $8,000 · p. 109 ↗−$12,000
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) Supplemental ELD Curriculum · $40,000 → $5,000 · p. 109 ↗−$35,000
How the plan measures it · 11 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 18 ↗.
Goal 2Staff Success$8.4 million27% of action budgets
“San Rafael City Schools is dedicated to attracting, developing and retaining culturally responsive teachers and staff that purposefully serve every student” p. 41 ↗
12 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $8.8 million (−$427,716)
Largest funded actions
Attract, Hire, and Retain Highly Qualified Staff$5.0 millionaction 2.1 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
(Professional Development and Curriculum Support) Instructional Coaches$1.7 millionaction 2.2 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.3 million is state funding counted toward those services
Education Services Positions$0.7 millionaction 2.15 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Elementary Teacher Library$0.6 millionaction 2.16 · p. 112 ↗
(Attract, Hire, and Retain Highly Qualified Staff) Teacher Residency Program$0.2 millionaction 2.4 · p. 111 ↗
7 more funded actions in this goal
(Professional Development and Curriculum Support) Math Adoption and Implementation · action 2.5 · p. 111 ↗under $0.1 million
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Equitable Grading Practices · action 2.17 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Inclusionary Practices PD · action 2.7 · p. 112 ↗under $0.1 million
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Priority and essential standards · action 2.8 · p. 112 ↗under $0.1 million
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) SEAL Professional Development · action 2.12 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(EL and Newcomer Support) Middle School ELD PD · action 2.13 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Inclusive Practices Work · action 2.11 · p. 112 ↗under $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
(Professional Development and Curriculum Support) Math Adoption and Implementation−$193,372$239,372 → $46,000 · p. 111 ↗
(Supporting ELs and Newcomers) SEAL Professional Development−$124,000$134,000 → $10,000 · p. 112 ↗
Attract, Hire, and Retain Highly Qualified Staff+$0.1 million$4.9 million → $5.0 million · p. 111 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
(Professional Development and Curriculum Support) Instructional Coaches · $1.7 million → $1.7 million · p. 111 ↗unchanged
(Attract, Hire, and Retain Highly Qualified Staff) Teacher Residency Program · $232,500 → $232,500 · p. 111 ↗unchanged
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Equitable Grading Practices · $21,342 → $38,550 · p. 112 ↗+$17,208
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Inclusionary Practices PD · $22,200 → $30,800 · p. 112 ↗+$8,600
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Priority and essential standards · $87,410 → $27,500 · p. 112 ↗−$59,910
(EL and Newcomer Support) Middle School ELD PD · $7,760 → $7,760 · p. 112 ↗unchanged
(Multi-Tiered System of Support) Inclusive Practices Work · $2,000 → $2,000 · p. 112 ↗unchanged
How the plan measures it · 9 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 41 ↗.
Goal 3Community Engagement$2.0 million7% of action budgets
“San Rafael City Schools values every member of our community and is committed to actively engaging our parents, community organizations and the broader community to ensure the success of every student” p. 57 ↗
9 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $2.0 million (unchanged)
Largest funded actions
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) Community Liaisons and Community Schools Staff$1.4 millionaction 3.1 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
(Community Partnerships) Community Schools Grant$0.2 millionaction 3.8 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) Bilingual Secretaries$0.1 millionaction 3.5 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Communications Director$0.1 millionaction 3.14 · p. 114 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
(Community Partnerships) Mental Health Partnerships$0.1 millionaction 3.10 · p. 114 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
4 more funded actions in this goal
(Community Partnerships) National Community Schools Conference · action 3.11 · p. 114 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) Data Confirmation Process · action 3.6 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) CABE Regional for Parents/Paras · action 3.2 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) Parent Education through Family Centers · action 3.3 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) Community Liaisons and Community Schools Staff · $1.4 million → $1.4 million · p. 113 ↗unchanged
(Community Partnerships) Community Schools Grant · $154,980 → $154,980 · p. 113 ↗unchanged
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) Bilingual Secretaries · $142,152 → $142,152 · p. 113 ↗unchanged
Communications Director · $141,529 → $141,529 · p. 114 ↗unchanged
(Community Partnerships) Mental Health Partnerships · $92,980 → $92,980 · p. 114 ↗unchanged
(Community Partnerships) National Community Schools Conference · $20,000 → $20,000 · p. 114 ↗unchanged
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) Data Confirmation Process · $15,000 → $15,000 · p. 113 ↗unchanged
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) CABE Regional for Parents/Paras · $13,440 → $13,440 · p. 113 ↗unchanged
(Outreach and Support for Vulnerable Families) Parent Education through Family Centers · $5,000 → $5,000 · p. 113 ↗unchanged
How the plan measures it · 8 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 57 ↗.
Goal 4Systems and Structures$1.9 million6% of action budgets
“San Rafael City Schools creates intentional and equitable systems and structures that monitor, adjust and improve outcomes for students, particularly our most vulnerable student groups” p. 73 ↗
8 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $1.9 million (−$15,500)
Largest funded actions
(Equitable Access) Provide equitable access to enrichment activities$1.4 millionaction 4.8 · p. 115 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $655,500 is state funding counted toward those services
(MTSS) Behavioral Intervention Specialist$0.2 millionaction 4.7 · p. 114 ↗
(MTSS) Site Committees$0.1 millionaction 4.5 · p. 114 ↗
(District Digital Plan) Reliable and Stable Infrastructure$0.1 millionaction 4.13 · p. 115 ↗
(MTSS) Ellevation Platformunder $0.1 millionaction 4.1 · p. 114 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $20,565 is state funding counted toward those services
3 more funded actions in this goal
(MTSS) Data tracking and Alignment of Student Support Systems · action 4.3 · p. 114 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
(Digital District Plan) Innovative Learning Environments · action 4.10 · p. 115 ↗under $0.1 million
Differentiated Assistance Team Meetings · action 4.14 · p. 115 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
(Equitable Access) Provide equitable access to enrichment activities · $1.4 million → $1.4 million · p. 115 ↗unchanged
All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.
Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends
Student mix
2024–25 · October enrollment count, 4,439 students
1Hispanic or Latino72%
2White21%
3Two or more races4%
4Asian2%
5Black or African American<1%
6American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
7Not reported<1%
8Filipino<1%
9Pacific Islander<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools.
Free or reduced-price meals
73%
Across California, 63% of students qualify.
2024–25 · 3,214 of 4,415 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.
The district’s state records
Is the state giving the district extra help?
The state is giving San Rafael City Elementary extra help in 2026. A student group had the Dashboard’s lowest results (red) on two or more measures three years in a row.
It also qualified the year before.
Which students, on which measures
Students with disabilities
math and suspensions
How English learners moved up on the state’s English test
From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 49% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (835 of 1,691 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.
Which public schools in the San Rafael City Elementary district rank highest?
Elementary: Sun Valley Elementary, 97th percentile (Strong). Middle: James B. Davidson Middle, 56th percentile (Solid). Each percentile is among the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
Does living in the San Rafael City Elementary 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.
More questions (5)
Are the public schools in the San Rafael City Elementary district good?
San Rafael City Elementary’s 7 public elementary schools run from the 8th to the 97th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 2 Strong, 2 Solid, 1 Developing and 2 Needs Support. San Rafael City Elementary’s 2 public middle schools run from the 36th to the 56th percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Solid and 1 Developing. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.
How does chronic absence in the San Rafael City Elementary district compare with California?
The average elementary school in the San Rafael City Elementary district had 6 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
How much does the San Rafael City Elementary district spend per student?
The San Rafael City Elementary district spent $20,370 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 65 cents of every San Rafael City Elementary 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 Rafael City Elementary district’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $30.6 million into 55 funded actions in 4 goals, 29% of its $106.0 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $18.3 million, 60% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Where do these results come from?
California’s state tests (CAASPP) from spring 2026 and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by the San Rafael City Elementary district, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.