Best Schools in Novato, California
22 schools · 14 Elementary · 2 Middle · 5 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Novato?
Use this page to compare every school in Novato 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.
Pleasant Valley Elementary
Elementary · Novato Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Novato Charter
Elementary · Novato Charter District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Novato High
High · Novato Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Novato for 2026 are Pleasant Valley Elementary (7.9/10), Novato Charter (7.8/10), and Novato High (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 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
22
15 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$1,054,967
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
22
15 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$1,054,967
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.5/10 despite 44% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Novato schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Novato schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Novato
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 15 rated schools; 22 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pleasant Valley Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Novato Charter | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Novato High | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Lynwood Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | San Marin High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | San Jose Middle | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Sinaloa Middle | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | San Ramon Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Nova Education Center | 5.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Hamilton Tk-8 | 5.2 / 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
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $117,514
- Median home value
- $1,054,967
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 68%
35% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Novato compares
California rank
#392 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$118k
118% of California median
Schools in this city
17
Novato Unified runs Novato's public schools
15 public schools. Novato Unified is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Novato is a Novato Unified school (14 of 15).
Among 15 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.0 to 7.9 — the spread is inside Novato, not a citywide average.
- Novato Unified14 public · 93%
- Novato Charter District1 public · 7%
About Schools in Novato, California
Novato's public school landscape spans 15 ranked schools with an average score of 6.9 out of 10 — a solid mid-range baseline that masks real performance variation across the city. Six of those 15 schools, or 40%, clear the 7-point threshold, giving families genuine choices at the higher end of the performance band.
Elementary schools dominate the top tier. Loma Verde Elementary leads the city at 8.5 out of 10, the highest score among all 15 ranked schools. Rancho Elementary and San Ramon Elementary both score 8.4, making Novato's elementary cohort unusually competitive — three schools within one-tenth of a point of each other at the top. Lynwood Elementary rounds out the strong elementary group at 7.9. That cluster of high-performing elementary schools is one of Novato's clearest assets for families with younger children.
At the secondary level, San Marin High scores 8.2 out of 10, placing it well above the city average and among the strongest schools in Novato regardless of grade level. Parents with middle or high school-age children have a clearly defined anchor school in San Marin.
The 6.9 city average tells an honest story: the top quarter of Novato schools performs well above that mark, but a meaningful share of the 15 ranked schools sits below the 7-point line. The gap between the three leading elementary schools and the city mean runs nearly 1.5 points — significant in practical terms. Families should verify which school their address maps to before assuming proximity to a high-scoring school guarantees enrollment. Attendance boundaries in Novato's elementary zone vary enough that address research delivers real returns. For parents prioritizing performance at every stage, the combination of strong elementary options and a high-scoring high school makes Novato a competitive choice within Marin County — provided families land in the right attendance zone.
Elementary Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 458 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 266 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.8 | ||
| 3 | 259 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 | ||
| 4 | 441 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 | ||
| 5 | 522 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.2 | ||
| 6 | 349 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 | ||
| 7 | 349 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.7 | ||
| 8 | 414 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 9 | 362 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
Private Schools5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 178 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 14 elementary schools in Novato
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 | 516 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 752 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,393 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 | ||
| 2 | 1,186 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 88 students · 9th–12th | 4.0 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | North Bay Christian AcademyPrivate 25 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 67 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.3 |
Schools in Novato
Novato, California · 22 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$117,514
Median Home Value
$1,054,967
Median Rent
$2,430/mo
Population
59,997
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
68%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Community Profile
Novato has a median household income of $117,514. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,054,967, with a median rent of $2,430/month. The local poverty rate of 8.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 14
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 5
- Other
- 1
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 Novato, California
How many schools are in Novato, California?
Novato has 22 schools, including 15 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Novato, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Novato is 6.1 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 Novato, California?
The top-ranked school in Novato on MySchoolScout is Pleasant Valley Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Novato, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Novato on MySchoolScout is Pleasant Valley Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Novato, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Novato on MySchoolScout is San Jose Middle with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best high school in Novato, California?
The top-ranked high school in Novato on MySchoolScout is Novato High with a composite score of 7.6/10.
How many school districts serve Novato, California?
Novato is served by 2 school districts: Novato Charter District, Novato Unified.
What is the education level in Novato, California?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in Novato have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Novato, California?
The median household income in Novato is approximately $117,514 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Novato, California?
Yes, Novato has 7 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Good Shepherd Lutheran School with a score of 6.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Novato, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Novato is 16.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Novato, 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.