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Schools in 94306 — Palo Alto, California: 94306 students aren't just reaching proficiency — many go beyond it.

94306 has 8 ranked schools in Palo Alto, averaging a Scope Score of 77.9/100 — 37.2 points above the state average of 40.7 (a state average weighted to 94306's own mix of school levels; CDE CAASPP 2025). Scores range from 52.3 to 91.3, a 38.9-point spread. 7 schools rank in the 90th percentile or above statewide.

How 94306 schools perform

The top-ranked school is Henry M. Gunn High with a Scope Score of 91 and 62.9% of students exceeding standard.

Students here are going past the bar, not just to it. Schools here average 60.9% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 20.1%, itself weighted to 94306's own level mix.

Cohort growth among 94306's elementary schools — the returning cohort, 2023 G3 → 2025 G5 — averages +83 scale-score points across 3 schools in 94306 with a large enough tested cohort. Scale scores rise with grade for nearly every school, so this describes the cohort's trajectory, not a ranking against other zip codes — worth examining school by school.

Chronic absenteeism across 94306 averages 9.9%, below the state average of 18.6%, weighted to 94306's own level mix. CDE CAASPP 2025.

How 94306 compares to nearby zip codes

ZipCityMilesSchoolsAvg Scorevs 94306
94306Palo Alto877.9/100
94301Palo Alto2.2375.8/100-2.1
94022Los Altos2.4683.0/100+5.0
94043Mountain View2.7558.2/100-19.7
94303Palo Alto2.81146.1/100-31.8
94040Mountain View3.6765.4/100-12.6

Source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

School archetypes in 94306

6 High Ceiling1 Strong All-Around1 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

All schools in 94306

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Figures
Score range52.3 – 91.3
38.9 pts SchoolScope composite
Chronic absenteeismstate avg 18.6% (level-matched)

Elementary Schools (5)

avg 74.2/1005 ranked elementary schools5 Strong
#SchoolExceededScore
1Herbert Hoover Elementary
Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling
79.2%Strong
88/100
2Juana Briones Elementary
Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling
65.5%Strong
83/100
3Fairmeadow Elementary
Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling
65.9%Strong
82/100
4El Carmelo Elementary
Palo Alto Unified Strong All-Around
51.6%Strong
66/100
5Barron Park Elementary
Palo Alto Unified Building Momentum
40.9%Strong
52/100

Middle Schools (2)

avg 80.6/1002 ranked middle schools2 Strong
#SchoolExceededScore
1Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle
Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling
63.5%Strong
82/100
2Ellen Fletcher Middle
Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling
57.6%Strong
79/100

High Schools (1)

avg 91.3/1001 ranked high schools1 Strong
#SchoolExceededScore
1Henry M. Gunn High
Palo Alto Unified High Ceiling
62.9%Strong
91/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 8 schools in 94306Methodology · Explore all schools

Schools in 94306 on the map

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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about 94306

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

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in 94306 (Palo Alto) good?
94306 has 8 ranked schools in Palo Alto, averaging a Scope Score of 77.9/100 — 37.2 points above the state average, a benchmark weighted to 94306's own mix of school levels. 60.9% of students exceed the state standard on average. Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in 94306?
The highest-scoring school in zip code 94306 is Henry M. Gunn High with a Scope Score of 91/100 and 62.9% of students exceeding the state standard. See full methodology.
How do 94306 schools compare to the state average?
Schools in zip code 94306 average a Scope Score of 77.9/100 — 37.2 points above the state average of 40.7, a state average weighted to zip code 94306's own mix of school levels. The exceeded rate averages 60.9% vs. 20.1% statewide (also level-weighted).
How many schools are in zip code 94306?
Zip code 94306 has 8 ranked schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's composite rating (0–100), built from publicly available California school data across academic-performance and school-climate signals. Full methodology and weights.