Best Schools in Los Altos, California
23 schools · 17 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High
Choosing a school in Los Altos?
Use this page to compare every school in Los Altos 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.
Bullis Charter
Elementary · Bullis Charter District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Covington Elementary
Elementary · Los Altos Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Ardis G. Egan Junior High
Middle · Los Altos Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Los Altos for 2026 are Bullis Charter (9.7/10), Covington Elementary (9.4/10), and Ardis G. Egan Junior High (9.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 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
23
10 public · 13 private
Avg Score
7.9
out of 10
Median Home
$2,000,001
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
23
10 public · 13 private
Avg Score
7.9
out of 10
Median Home
$2,000,001
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +4.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Los Altos schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Los Altos
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (16 of 23). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bullis Charter | 9.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Covington Elementary | 9.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Ardis G. Egan Junior High | 9.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Oak Avenue Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Loyola Elementary | 9.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Los Altos High | 9.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Almond Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Montclaire Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Georgina P. Blach Junior High | 8.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Santa Rita Elementary | 7.8 / 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
- 7.9/10
- Median household income
- $250,001
- Median home value
- $2,000,001
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 87%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 84%
75% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Los Altos compares
California rank
#38 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.6
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$250k
251% of California median
Schools in this city
16
About Schools in Los Altos, California
Los Altos is a small Silicon Valley city with 10 ranked public schools, and the numbers here are unusually consistent. Every one of those 10 schools — 100% — scores 7 or higher out of 10, and the city-wide average sits at 8.7. That kind of floor-to-ceiling uniformity is rare in any market. Parents researching here are not navigating a mixed landscape; they are choosing among genuinely strong options at every grade level.
The top-rated school is Georgina P. Blach Junior High, a middle school scoring 9.5 out of 10. Two elementary schools follow closely: Covington Elementary at 9.4 and Bullis Charter at 9.2. Oak Avenue and Santa Rita elementaries both score 8.6, keeping even the lower end of the top five well above the city average. The spread from the fifth-ranked school to the first is less than a full point — a tight band that signals citywide strength, not just a single outlier pulling the average.
For elementary families, the options are genuinely competitive across the board. Covington, Bullis Charter, Oak Avenue, and Santa Rita all score above 8.5, meaning parents aren't trading down regardless of which attendance zone they land in. Bullis Charter is worth a separate look for families who prefer a charter school structure; it requires its own application process and does not follow standard district boundaries.
The middle school picture is straightforward. Georgina P. Blach at 9.5 is the highest-rated school in the city and gives parents a clear, high-confidence destination after elementary. That continuity from elementary to middle — with no meaningful performance drop — is one of Los Altos's practical advantages over cities where middle school quality lags behind.
For families making a relocation decision, Los Altos minimizes school-assignment risk. With a 100% rate of schools scoring 7 or above and an average of 8.7 across all 10 ranked public schools, the gap between a typical assignment and the best assignment is narrow. Focus your research on attendance boundaries, charter lottery timelines, and program fit — the baseline quality across the city makes those the right questions to ask.
Elementary Schools
17 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,025 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.7 | ||
| 2 | 407 students · Kindergarten–6th | 9.4 | ||
| 3 | 328 students · Kindergarten–6th | 9.2 | ||
| 4 | 351 students · Kindergarten–6th | 9.1 | ||
| 5 | 365 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.8 | ||
| 6 | 406 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 | ||
| 7 | 367 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.8 | ||
| Private Schools 10 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Miramonte School
Private
100 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | Ventana School
Private
82 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 | ||
| 3 | St Simon
Private
457 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.0 | ||
Show all 17 elementary schools in Los Altos
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 496 students · 7th–8th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 404 students · 7th–8th | 8.6 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,114 students · 9th–12th | 9.0 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Waldorf School of the Peninsula
Private
124 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | School for Independent Learners
Private
13 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 3 | School for Independent Learners
Private
14 students · 8th–12th | — | ||
Schools in Los Altos
Los Altos, California · 23 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$250,001
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Rent
$3,501/mo
Population
43,666
College Educated
87%
Homeownership
84%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Community Profile
Los Altos has a median household income of $250,001. It is a well-educated community where 87% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $2,000,001, with a median rent of $3,501/month. The local poverty rate of 3.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 17
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
Resources
Nearby Cities
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 Los Altos, California
How many schools are in Los Altos, California?
Los Altos has 23 schools, including 10 public and 13 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Los Altos, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Los Altos is 7.9 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 Los Altos, California?
The top-ranked school in Los Altos on MySchoolScout is Bullis Charter with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Los Altos, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Los Altos on MySchoolScout is Bullis Charter with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Los Altos, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Los Altos on MySchoolScout is Ardis G. Egan Junior High with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best high school in Los Altos, California?
The top-ranked high school in Los Altos on MySchoolScout is Los Altos High with a composite score of 9.0/10.
How many school districts serve Los Altos, California?
Los Altos is served by 4 school districts: Bullis Charter District, Cupertino Union, Los Altos Elementary, Mountain View-los Altos Union High.
What is the education level in Los Altos, California?
According to Census data, 87% of adults in Los Altos have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Los Altos, California?
The median household income in Los Altos is approximately $250,001 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Los Altos, California?
Yes, Los Altos has 13 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Miramonte School with a score of 7.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Los Altos, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Los Altos is 13.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Los Altos, 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 Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
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.