The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in San Francisco for 2026 are Mission Preparatory (9.0/10), Stevenson (robert Louis) Elementary (8.6/10), and Argonne Elementary (8.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 76 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
San Francisco's 78 ranked elementary schools span a wide performance range, with an average composite score of 6.9/10 — but the top of the table pulls well above that mark. Parker (Jean) Elementary leads the metro at 9.5/10, followed closely by John Yehall Chin Elementary and Sutro Elementary, both at 9.4/10. Harvey Milk Civil Rights Elementary and Thomas Starr King Elementary round out the top five, each scoring 9.3/10. More than half the ranked schools — 41 out of 78 — score 7 or higher, meaning strong options are distributed across the city rather than concentrated in a single neighborhood. The table below lets you sort by overall score, test performance, and other key metrics to find the schools that match your priorities. Use the filters to narrow by location or score range and zero in on the best fit for your family.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.0
- 28.6
- 38.5
- 48.5
- 58.4
- 68.4
- 78.2
- 88.2
- 98.1
- 108.0
All 76 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 76
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Mission PreparatorycharterMission Preparatory Districtstudents 490student-teacher ratio 21.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 2Stevenson (robert Louis) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 438student-teacher ratio 24.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 3Argonne ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 368student-teacher ratio 20.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 4Jefferson ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 502student-teacher ratio 23.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 5Yu (alice Fong) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 589student-teacher ratio 26.8:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 6Parks (rosa) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 344student-teacher ratio 18.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 7Lau (gordon J.) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 650student-teacher ratio 27.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 8Huerta (dolores) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 381student-teacher ratio 25.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 9Mckinley ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 247student-teacher ratio 20.6:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 10Key (francis Scott) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 562student-teacher ratio 24.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 11Sunnyside ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 350student-teacher ratio 23.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 12Miraloma ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 350student-teacher ratio 21.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 13Alamo ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 393student-teacher ratio 23.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14Lilienthal (claire) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 670student-teacher ratio 22.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 15Peabody (george) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 270student-teacher ratio 22.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 16Lawton AlternativeSan Francisco Unifiedstudents 601student-teacher ratio 22.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 17Sutro ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 248student-teacher ratio 22.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 18Grattan ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 384student-teacher ratio 20.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 19Bryant ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 240student-teacher ratio 24.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 20Parker (jean) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 125student-teacher ratio 17.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 21Monroe ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 522student-teacher ratio 26.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 22King (thomas Starr) ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 335student-teacher ratio 16.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 23Glen Park ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 321student-teacher ratio 18.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 24New Traditions ElementarySan Francisco Unifiedstudents 254student-teacher ratio 31.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 25Thomas Edison Charter AcademycharterThomas Edison Charter Academy Districtstudents 557student-teacher ratio 23.2:1grades Kindergarten–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and California education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in California. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Mission Preparatory
Mission Preparatory District
490 students · 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 1% in California · charter
- Academics
- 8.3
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 8.2
- 2
Stevenson (robert Louis) Elementary
San Francisco Unified
438 students · 24.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 5% in California
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 8.1
- Environment
- 8.4
- 3
Argonne Elementary
San Francisco Unified
368 students · 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 6% in California
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 8.0
- Environment
- 9.3
- 4
Jefferson Elementary
San Francisco Unified
502 students · 23.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 6% in California
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 8.2
- 5
Yu (alice Fong) Elementary
San Francisco Unified
589 students · 26.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 7% in California
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 7.9
- Environment
- 7.6
- 6
Parks (rosa) Elementary
San Francisco Unified
344 students · 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 7% in California
- Academics
- 6.3
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 7.9
- 7
Lau (gordon J.) Elementary
San Francisco Unified
650 students · 27.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 10% in California
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 7.6
- 8
Huerta (dolores) Elementary
San Francisco Unified
381 students · 25.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 10% in California
- Academics
- 7.1
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 6.3
- 9
Mckinley Elementary
San Francisco Unified
247 students · 20.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 12% in California
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 8.5
- 10
Key (francis Scott) Elementary
San Francisco Unified
562 students · 24.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 14% in California
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 7.2
- Environment
- 7.8
Questions
What is the best elementary school in San Francisco, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Mission Preparatory is the top-rated elementary school in San Francisco with a composite score of 9.0/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in San Francisco, California?
San Francisco has 167 elementary schools, including 5 charter schools. Of these, 140 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in San Francisco?
Among 140 San Francisco elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.3/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in California).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within California, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in California, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the San Francisco elementary school rankings?
San Francisco has 5 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in San Francisco2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in San Francisco2026 rankings and ratings
- All 257 schools in San FranciscoElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings