Best Schools in South San Francisco, California
18 schools · 11 Elementary · 4 Middle · 3 High
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.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Buri Buri Elementary
Elementary · South San Francisco Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
EL Camino High
High · South San Francisco Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ponderosa Elementary
Elementary · South San Francisco Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in South San Francisco for 2026 are Buri Buri Elementary (8.7/10), EL Camino High (8.0/10), and Ponderosa Elementary (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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
18
12 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$1,159,500
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
18
12 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$1,159,500
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 5.1/10 despite 65% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.8 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 South San Francisco schools.
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 (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 18 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buri Buri Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | EL Camino High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Ponderosa Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Westborough Middle | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Alta Loma Middle | 7.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Sunshine Gardens Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | South San Francisco High | 6.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Parkway Heights Middle | 5.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Spruce Elementary | 5.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Baden High (continuation) | 4.1 / 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
- 6.2/10
- 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%
47% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How South San Francisco compares
California rank
#352 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.1
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$136k
136% of California median
Schools in this city
15
South San Francisco Unified runs South San Francisco's public schools
12 public schools. South San Francisco Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in South San Francisco is a South San Francisco Unified school (12 of 12).
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.9 to 8.7 — the spread is inside South San Francisco, not a citywide average.
About Schools in South San Francisco, California
South San Francisco, California is home to 18 schools, including 12 public schools and 6 private schools. The city's schools span 11 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.2 out of 10, schools in South San Francisco show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite 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 Buri Buri Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10, 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.
Elementary Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 555 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 | ||
| 2 | 370 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 334 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 4 | 394 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 5 | 382 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.3 | ||
| 6 | 305 students · Kindergarten–5th | 2.9 | ||
Private Schools5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Hillside Christian AcademyPrivate 49 students · Pre-K–7th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 218 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | St Veronica Catholic SchoolPrivate 276 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Building Kidz of Ssf IncPrivate 6 students · TK–TK | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 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.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 519 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | 649 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 | ||
| 3 | 587 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Stag AcademyPrivate 26 students · 6th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,088 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 1,287 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
| 3 | 118 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 |
Schools in South San Francisco
South San Francisco, California · 18 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
- 11
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 3
Resources
School District
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 South San Francisco, California
How many schools are in South San Francisco, California?
South San Francisco has 18 schools, including 12 public and 6 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 6.2 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 Buri Buri Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10.
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 8.7/10.
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 7.3/10.
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 8.0/10.
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 6 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Hillside Christian Academy with a score of 7.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in South San Francisco, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in South San Francisco is 16.8:1. 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.
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.