Best Schools in East Palo Alto, California
7 schools · 3 Elementary · 1 Middle · 3 High
Choosing a school in East Palo Alto?
Use this page to compare every school in East Palo Alto by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Costano Elementary
Elementary · Ravenswood City Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle
Middle · Ravenswood City Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
East Palo Alto Academy
High · East Palo Alto Academy District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in East Palo Alto for 2026 are Costano Elementary (7.1/10), Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle (6.2/10), and East Palo Alto Academy (5.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 5 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
7
5 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$1,825,000
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
7
5 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$1,825,000
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in East Palo Alto
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (5 rated schools; 7 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Costano Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle | 6.2 / 10 |
| 3 | East Palo Alto Academy | 5.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Los Robles-Ronald Mcnair Academy | 5.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Oxford Day Academy | 4.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $148,031
- Median home value
- $1,825,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 48%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
43% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How East Palo Alto compares
California rank
#304 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.0
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$148k
148% of California median
Schools in this city
7
Ravenswood City Elementary runs 60% of East Palo Alto's public schools
East Palo Alto touches 3 districts, but Ravenswood City Elementary is the one most addresses actually attend.
Ravenswood City Elementary accounts for 3 of 5 public schools (60%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 5 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.9 to 7.1 — the spread is inside East Palo Alto, not a citywide average.
- Ravenswood City Elementary3 public · 60%
- East Palo Alto Academy District1 public · 20%
- Oxford Day Academy District1 public · 20%
About Schools in East Palo Alto, California
East Palo Alto, California is home to 7 schools, including 5 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.4 out of 10, schools in East Palo Alto show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in East Palo Alto is The Primary School - East Palo Alto with a composite score of 8.0/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
East Palo Alto is served by 3 school districts: East Palo Alto Academy District, Oxford Day Academy District, Ravenswood City Elementary. These districts collectively serve 1,808 students.
East Palo Alto's community shows 48% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $148,031. The poverty rate in the area is 6.6%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 318 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | 266 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 255 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 482 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 287 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 105 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 258 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in East Palo Alto
East Palo Alto, California · 7 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$148,031
Median Home Value
$1,825,000
Median Rent
$2,710/mo
Population
47,123
College Educated
48%
Homeownership
57%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Community Profile
East Palo Alto has a median household income of $148,031. It is a well-educated community where 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,825,000, with a median rent of $2,710/month. The local poverty rate of 6.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 3
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 3
Resources
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in East Palo Alto, California
How many schools are in East Palo Alto, California?
East Palo Alto has 7 schools, including 5 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in East Palo Alto, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in East Palo Alto is 6.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in East Palo Alto, California?
The top-ranked school in East Palo Alto on MySchoolScout is Costano Elementary with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in East Palo Alto, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in East Palo Alto on MySchoolScout is Costano Elementary with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best middle school in East Palo Alto, California?
The top-ranked middle school in East Palo Alto on MySchoolScout is Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle with a composite score of 6.2/10.
What is the best high school in East Palo Alto, California?
The top-ranked high school in East Palo Alto on MySchoolScout is East Palo Alto Academy with a composite score of 5.8/10.
How many school districts serve East Palo Alto, California?
East Palo Alto is served by 3 school districts: East Palo Alto Academy District, Oxford Day Academy District, Ravenswood City Elementary.
What is the education level in East Palo Alto, California?
According to Census data, 48% of adults in East Palo Alto have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in East Palo Alto, California?
The median household income in East Palo Alto is approximately $148,031 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in East Palo Alto, California?
Yes, East Palo Alto has 2 private schools alongside 5 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Primary School - East Palo Alto with a score of 8.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in East Palo Alto, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in East Palo Alto is 19.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in East Palo Alto, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.