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5.6 avg / 10

Best Schools in Redwood City, California

53 schools · 35 Elementary · 4 Middle · 11 High · 3 Other

Public: 37
Private: 16
Districts: 22
Avg Rating: 5.6/10
Estimated Scores: 13%

Family Snapshot

At a glance
Avg school rating
5.6/10

28% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$147,567

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$1,324,034

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
46%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
26 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
46%

Of occupied housing units

How Redwood City compares

California rank

#464 of 596

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.7

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$148k

148% of California median

Schools in this city

39

About Schools in Redwood City, California

Redwood City's public school system spans 34 ranked schools with an average score of 5.6 out of 10 — a middle-of-the-road baseline that masks significant variation across the city. Parents should know upfront that performance here is uneven: 11 schools, or 32% of the total, score 7 or higher, while the remaining majority fall below that threshold. That spread means neighborhood and school selection matter more than citywide averages.

At the top, Redwood Shores Elementary leads all ranked schools with an 8.1 out of 10, making it the highest-performing public school in the city. Tide Academy, a high school, matches that score at 8.1, and Rocketship Academy Brilliant Minds reaches 8.0 at the elementary level. North Star Academy earns an 8.0 among middle schools, and Design Tech High rounds out the top five at 7.9. The presence of strong options at every grade band — elementary, middle, and high school — means families can find competitive schools across the full K–12 range rather than having to settle at any single transition point.

The city's school landscape reflects broader San Mateo County diversity. Charter options like Rocketship Academy Brilliant Minds and Design Tech High give families alternatives to traditional district assignments, particularly relevant for parents whose neighborhood school falls below the 7+ threshold. Design Tech High's profile as a project-based learning environment stands out for families prioritizing applied, technology-forward coursework at the secondary level. Tide Academy's matching score at the high school level also signals that top-end secondary options exist within the public system.

Practically, parents researching Redwood City should start by identifying their assigned schools, then check whether any of the 11 higher-scoring schools — especially the five at 7.9 or above — are accessible through open enrollment or charter applications. The 5.6 city average signals that defaulting to an assigned school without research carries real risk. Families willing to navigate enrollment options have access to genuinely strong public schools, but proximity alone is not a reliable guide to quality here.

Elementary Schools

35 schools
# School Rating
1 408 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.1
2 486 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.0
3 461 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.6
4 458 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.0
5 604 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.5
6 401 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.0
7 614 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.0
8 132 students · Kindergarten–8th 5.8
9 355 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.7
10 673 students · Kindergarten–8th 5.5
11 615 students · Kindergarten–8th 5.5
12 533 students · Kindergarten–8th 5.2
13 561 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.1
14 304 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.2
15 654 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.2
16 702 students · Kindergarten–8th 4.0
17 544 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.0
18 540 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.0
19 638 students · Kindergarten–8th 4.0
20 486 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.7
21 341 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.6
22 526 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.2
23 453 students · Kindergarten–8th 3.2
24 314 students · Kindergarten–5th 2.3
Private Schools 11 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 245 students · Pre-K–8th Not Rated
Show 10 more elementary schools
2 234 students · Pre-K–8th Not Rated
3 207 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
4 34 students · Kindergarten–7th Not Rated
5 150 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
6 145 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
7 6 students · Kindergarten–1st Not Rated
8 15 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten Not Rated
9 2 students · Pre-K–TK Not Rated
10 6 students · 5th–12th Not Rated
11 2 students · Pre-K–TK Not Rated

Middle Schools

4 schools
# School Rating
1 527 students · 3rd–8th 8.0
2 751 students · 6th–8th 7.5
3 445 students · 6th–8th 3.8
Private Schools 1 school

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 26 students · 5th–8th Not Rated

High Schools

11 schools
# School Rating
1 208 students · 9th–12th 8.1
2 537 students · 9th–12th 7.9
3 1,903 students · 9th–12th 7.4
4 379 students · 9th–12th 7.3
5 192 students · 9th–12th 6.4
6 281 students · 9th–12th 4.5
7 8 students · 5th–12th
8 3 students · 7th–12th
9 8 students · 7th–12th
Private Schools 2 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 903 students · 7th–12th Not Rated
2 1,029 students · 7th–12th Not Rated

Other Schools

3 schools
# School Rating
1 41 students · Kindergarten–12th 7.4
Private Schools 2 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 52 students · 2nd–12th Not Rated
2 29 students · 3rd–12th Not Rated

Schools in Redwood City

Redwood City, California · 53 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes

Median Income

$147,567

Median Home Value

$1,324,034

Median Rent

$2,616/mo

Population

130,421

College Educated

46%

Homeownership

46%

Avg Commute

26 min

Poverty Rate

9.0%

Community Profile

Redwood City has a median household income of $147,567. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,324,034, with a median rent of $2,616/month. The local poverty rate of 9.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

Total Schools
53
Elementary
35
Middle
4
High
11
Districts
22
Avg Rating
5.6/10

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Redwood City, California

How many schools are in Redwood City, California?

Redwood City has 53 schools, including 37 public and 16 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Redwood City, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Redwood City is 5.6 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Redwood City, California?

The top-ranked school in Redwood City on MySchoolScout is Redwood Shores Elementary with a composite score of 8.1/10.

What is the best elementary school in Redwood City, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Redwood City on MySchoolScout is Redwood Shores Elementary with a composite score of 8.1/10.

What is the best middle school in Redwood City, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Redwood City on MySchoolScout is North Star Academy with a composite score of 8.0/10.

What is the best high school in Redwood City, California?

The top-ranked high school in Redwood City on MySchoolScout is Tide Academy with a composite score of 8.1/10.

How many school districts serve Redwood City, California?

Redwood City is served by 22 school districts: Rocketship Si Se Puede Academy District, Rocketship Discovery Prep District, Rocketship Alma Academy District, Rocketship Rising Stars District, Rocketship Mateo Sheedy Elementary District, Rocketship Redwood City District, Rocketship Academy Brilliant Minds District, Kipp Excelencia Community Preparatory District, Rocketship Spark Academy District, Rocketship Futuro Academy District, Rocketship Los Suenos Academy District, Everest Public High District, Rocketship Delta Prep District, Summit Preparatory Charter High District, Design Tech High District, Connect Community Charter District, Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep District, Rocketship Mosaic Elementary District, Belmont-redwood Shores Elementary, Redwood City Elementary, Sequoia Union High, San Mateo County Office of Education.

What is the education level in Redwood City, California?

According to Census data, 46% of adults in Redwood City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Redwood City, California?

The median household income in Redwood City is approximately $147,567 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Redwood City, California?

Yes, Redwood City has 16 private schools alongside 37 public schools. The top-rated private school is Creative Learning Center with a score of 6.9/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Redwood City, California?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Redwood City is 18.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Redwood City, 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.

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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.