5.8 avg / 10

Best Schools in South San Francisco, California

19 schools · 12 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 12

Private: 7

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 5.8/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in South San Francisco?

Use this page to compare every school in South San Francisco by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Middle · South San Francisco Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

High · South San Francisco Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in South San Francisco for 2026 are Westborough Middle (8.3/10), EL Camino High (8.1/10), and South San Francisco High (6.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 17 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.

Best value · beats the odds

Baden High (continuation)

Rates 5.6/10 despite 66% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 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 South San Francisco schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Sunshine Gardens Elementary

STAAR proficiency rose +2.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among South San Francisco schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in South San Francisco

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (17 of 19). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Westborough Middle	8.3 / 10	Middle	+1.0	88th
2	EL Camino High	8.1 / 10	High	+0.6	85th
3	South San Francisco High	6.9 / 10	High	+0.8	60th
4	Alta Loma Middle	6.8 / 10	Middle	+0.2	58th
5	Buri Buri Elementary	6.8 / 10	Elementary	-0.7	58th
6	Hillside Christian Academy	6.7 / 10	Elementary	—	64th
7	Mills Montessori	6.3 / 10	Elementary	—	51th
8	St Veronica Catholic School	6.0 / 10	Elementary	—	42th
9	Ponderosa Elementary	5.8 / 10	Elementary	-1.0	38th
10	All Souls Catholic Elementary School	5.8 / 10	Elementary	—	35th

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: 5.8/10
Median household income: $135,966
Median home value: $1,159,500
Bachelor's degree or higher: 40%
Avg commute: 27 min
Owner-occupied homes: 61%

How South San Francisco compares

California rank

#414 of 597

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.4

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$136k

136% of California median

Schools in this city

17

About Schools in South San Francisco, California

South San Francisco, California is home to 19 schools, including 12 public schools and 7 private schools. The city's schools span 12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools.

With an average rating of 5.8 out of 10, schools in South San Francisco show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in South San Francisco is Westborough Middle with a composite score of 8.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

South San Francisco is served by 1 school district: South San Francisco Unified. These districts collectively serve 7,770 students.

South San Francisco's community shows 40% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $135,966. The poverty rate in the area is 7.0%.

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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (19) Elementary (12) Middle (3) High (3)

Filter by Type: All Types (19) Public (12) Private (7)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (19) Academics (12) Growth (12) Diversity (12) Resources (12)

Filter by ZIP: 94080 (19)

Elementary Schools

12 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Buri Buri Elementary 555 students · Kindergarten–5th	555	Kindergarten–5th	6.8
2	Ponderosa Elementary 370 students · Kindergarten–5th	370	Kindergarten–5th	5.8
3	Sunshine Gardens Elementary 334 students · Kindergarten–5th	334	Kindergarten–5th	4.7
4	Martin Elementary 382 students · Kindergarten–5th	382	Kindergarten–5th	3.9
5	Los Cerritos Elementary 305 students · Kindergarten–5th	305	Kindergarten–5th	3.5
6	Spruce Elementary 394 students · Kindergarten–5th	394	Kindergarten–5th	3.5
Private Schools 6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Hillside Christian Academy Private 62 students · Kindergarten–6th	62	Kindergarten–6th	6.7
2	Mills Montessori Private 45 students · Pre-K–2nd	45	Pre-K–2nd	6.3
3	St Veronica Catholic School Private 276 students · Kindergarten–8th	276	Kindergarten–8th	6.0
4	All Souls Catholic Elementary School Private 235 students · Kindergarten–8th	235	Kindergarten–8th	5.8

Show all 12 elementary schools in South San Francisco

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

Building Kidz Private St. Veronica Catholic School Private

Middle Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Westborough Middle 519 students · 6th–8th	519	6th–8th	8.3
2	Alta Loma Middle 649 students · 6th–8th	649	6th–8th	6.8
3	Parkway Heights Middle 587 students · 6th–8th	587	6th–8th	5.5

High Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	EL Camino High 1,088 students · 9th–12th	1,088	9th–12th	8.1
2	South San Francisco High 1,287 students · 9th–12th	1,287	9th–12th	6.9
3	Baden High (continuation) 118 students · 9th–12th	118	9th–12th	5.6

Other Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Shiloh United School Private 46 students · Pre-K–11th	46	Pre-K–11th	5.1

Schools in South San Francisco

South San Francisco, California · 19 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$135,966

Median Home Value

$1,159,500

Median Rent

$2,840/mo

Population

65,036

College Educated

40%

Homeownership

61%

Avg Commute

27 min

Poverty Rate

7.0%

Community Profile

South San Francisco has a median household income of $135,966. It is a well-educated community where 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,159,500, with a median rent of $2,840/month. The local poverty rate of 7.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: California
Elementary: 12
Middle: 3
High: 3
Other: 1

Resources

🔍 Google "South San Francisco schools" 🏫 GreatSchools South San Francisco 📊 Niche South San Francisco Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

South San Francisco Unified

17 schools · 7,770 students

Nearby Cities

San Bruno (14 schools)

2 mi

Brisbane (2 schools)

2 mi

Daly City (24 schools)

Pacifica (15 schools)

5 mi

Burlingame (16 schools)

6 mi

San Francisco (297 schools)

7 mi

Hillsborough (9 schools)

8 mi

Montara (1 school)

9 mi

San Mateo (46 schools)

10 mi

El Granada (2 schools)

11 mi

Half Moon Bay (10 schools)

13 mi

Foster City (9 schools)

11 mi

Belmont (16 schools)

12 mi

Other Major Cities in California

Top metros statewide by school count.

Los Angeles 928 schools San Diego 412 schools San Jose 335 schools Sacramento 273 schools Fresno 216 schools

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 rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in South San Francisco, California

How many schools are in South San Francisco, California?

South San Francisco has 19 schools, including 12 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in South San Francisco, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in South San Francisco is 5.8 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 South San Francisco, California?

The top-ranked school in South San Francisco on MySchoolScout is Westborough Middle with a composite score of 8.3/10.

What is the best elementary school in South San Francisco, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in South San Francisco on MySchoolScout is Buri Buri Elementary with a composite score of 6.8/10.

What is the best middle school in South San Francisco, California?

The top-ranked middle school in South San Francisco on MySchoolScout is Westborough Middle with a composite score of 8.3/10.

What is the best high school in South San Francisco, California?

The top-ranked high school in South San Francisco on MySchoolScout is EL Camino High with a composite score of 8.1/10.

How many school districts serve South San Francisco, California?

South San Francisco is served by 1 school district: South San Francisco Unified.

What is the education level in South San Francisco, California?

According to Census data, 40% of adults in South San Francisco have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in South San Francisco, California?

The median household income in South San Francisco is approximately $135,966 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in South San Francisco, California?

Yes, South San Francisco has 7 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Hillside Christian Academy with a score of 6.7/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in South San Francisco, California?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in South San Francisco is 16.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in South San Francisco, 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.