6.4 avg / 10

Best Schools in South San Francisco, California

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

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 12

Private: 7

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 6.4/10

Estimated Scores: 29%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.4/10
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

#291 of 596

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.1

above 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 6.4 out of 10, schools in South San Francisco show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in South San Francisco is Buri Buri Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10, 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 (19) 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	8.4
2	Ponderosa Elementary 370 students · Kindergarten–5th	370	Kindergarten–5th	7.4
3	Martin Elementary 382 students · Kindergarten–5th	382	Kindergarten–5th	6.0
4	Sunshine Gardens Elementary 334 students · Kindergarten–5th	334	Kindergarten–5th	5.5
5	Los Cerritos Elementary 305 students · Kindergarten–5th	305	Kindergarten–5th	5.1
6	Spruce Elementary 394 students · Kindergarten–5th	394	Kindergarten–5th	3.8
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	Not Rated
2	MILLS MONTESSORI Private 45 students · Pre-K–2nd	45	Pre-K–2nd	Not Rated
3	ST VERONICA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 276 students · Kindergarten–8th	276	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
4	ALL SOULS CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Private 235 students · Kindergarten–8th	235	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
5	Building Kidz Private 20 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten	20	Kindergarten–Kindergarten	Not Rated
6	St. Veronica Catholic School Private 144 students · Kindergarten–8th	144	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated

Middle Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Alta Loma Middle 649 students · 6th–8th	649	6th–8th	7.1
2	Westborough Middle 519 students · 6th–8th	519	6th–8th	6.2
3	Parkway Heights Middle 587 students · 6th–8th	587	6th–8th	6.0

High Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	El Camino High 1,088 students · 9th–12th	1,088	9th–12th	8.2
2	South San Francisco High 1,287 students · 9th–12th	1,287	9th–12th	8.0
3	Baden High (Continuation) 118 students · 9th–12th	118	9th–12th	6.5

Other Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	SHILOH UNITED SCHOOL Private 46 students · Pre-K–11th	46	Pre-K–11th	Not Rated

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.

Quick Facts

State: California
Total Schools: 19
Elementary: 12
Middle: 3
High: 3
Districts: 1
Avg Rating: 6.4/10

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

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 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 6.4 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in South San Francisco, California?

The top-ranked school in South San Francisco on MySchoolScout is Buri Buri Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10.

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 8.4/10.

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

The top-ranked middle school in South San Francisco on MySchoolScout is Alta Loma Middle with a composite score of 7.1/10.

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 8.2/10.

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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.