Juana Briones Elementary vs Herbert Hoover Elementary
Juana Briones Elementary has a higher overall rating of 9.5/10 compared to 7.0/10. In math proficiency, Herbert Hoover Elementary leads at 94.0%.
Attendance data is under correction. A public school's existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating shown here may still reflect an unverified attendance input.
Juana Briones Elementary
Palo Alto, CA
260 students
Herbert Hoover Elementary
Palo Alto, CA
386 students
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| Metric | Juana Briones Elementary | Herbert Hoover Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.5 / 10 | 7.0 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.8 | 9.8 |
| Growth Score | 9.3 | 4.4 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 8.5% | 5.2% |
| Environment Score | 9.7 | 9.4 |
| State Rank | #22 of 9,557 | #3,406 of 9,557 |
| State Percentile | 100th | 64th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Juana Briones Elementary | Herbert Hoover Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 77.0% | 94.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 72.0% | 87.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Palo Alto (94306) | Palo Alto (94306) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $186,479 | $186,479 |
| Median Home Value | $2,000,001 | $2,000,001 |
| Median Rent | $2,927 | $2,927 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 80.5% | 80.5% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.7% | 8.7% |
| Avg Commute | 23 min | 23 min |
The data story: Juana Briones Elementary vs Herbert Hoover Elementary
Herbert Hoover Elementary ranks #84 of 9,533 California schools, placing it in the top 1% statewide — but Juana Briones Elementary ranks #26 of 9,533, putting it in the top 0.3%. The 58-spot gap between schools that sit 1.1 miles apart in Palo Alto is meaningful: both are exceptional by any statewide measure, but Juana Briones Elementary holds a clear edge in overall standing, rating 9.5/10 against Herbert Hoover Elementary's 9.3/10.
The academic picture splits in opposite directions. Herbert Hoover Elementary scores 9.9/10 on academics versus Juana Briones Elementary's 9.5 — a 0.4-point gap that reflects stronger raw proficiency at Hoover. Juana Briones Elementary flips the script on growth, scoring 9.6/10 versus Herbert Hoover Elementary's 9.0. That 0.6-point growth advantage suggests students at Juana Briones are gaining more ground year-over-year relative to peers, even if entering cohorts show slightly lower baseline proficiency. Families weighing a high-achieving child who needs to be pushed against a child who may need consistent forward momentum will find these two numbers the most useful to compare.
Herbert Hoover Elementary enrolls 386 students versus Juana Briones Elementary's 260 — roughly 49% larger. Despite that size difference, student-teacher ratios are nearly identical at 20.3:1 and 20.0:1 respectively, so classroom density is not a differentiating factor. Juana Briones Elementary serves a modestly higher share of free- and reduced-lunch students (8% vs. 5%), though both figures are far below state and national averages, reflecting Palo Alto's affluent demographics broadly.
Both schools serve grades KG–05 with the same grade span. The key programmatic distinction surfaces in the ratings composite: Juana Briones Elementary's higher overall rank is driven primarily by its growth advantage, while Herbert Hoover Elementary's case rests on its near-perfect academic score of 9.9/10 — the stronger single-metric number of any figure in this comparison. Parents prioritizing demonstrated proficiency outcomes will find Hoover's academic score compelling; those focused on year-over-year student progress will favor Juana Briones.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Juana Briones Elementary
Herbert Hoover Elementary suits families whose child is already performing at or near grade level and who prioritize schools with the highest demonstrated proficiency outcomes. Its 9.9/10 academic score is the strongest single metric between these two schools, making it the better fit for parents whose primary question is "how well are students here performing on tested standards."
Herbert Hoover Elementary
Juana Briones Elementary is the better fit for families who want evidence that a school actively moves students forward — its 9.6/10 growth score outpaces Herbert Hoover Elementary by 0.6 points, and its #26 statewide rank is 58 places higher. Parents whose child may need to close gaps, or who simply want the school with the stronger upward trajectory, will find Juana Briones the stronger choice.