King (Thomas Starr) Elementary vs Sutro Elementary
King (Thomas Starr) Elementary and Sutro Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.3 out of 10. In math proficiency, Sutro Elementary leads at 67.0%.
King (Thomas Starr) Elementary
San Francisco, CA
335 students
Sutro Elementary
San Francisco, CA
248 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | King (Thomas Starr) Elementary | Sutro Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.3 / 10 | 9.4 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.9 | 9.7 |
| Growth Score | 9.5 | 9.7 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 40% | 64.1% |
| Environment Score | 9.6 | 8.2 |
| State Rank | #91 of 9,533 | #50 of 9,533 |
| State Percentile | 99th | 100th |
Test Scores
| Subject | King (Thomas Starr) Elementary | Sutro Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 57.0% | 67.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 57.0% | 62.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | King (Thomas Starr) Elementary | Sutro Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 335 | 248 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 16.8:1 | 22.5:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 40.0% | 64.1% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco Unified |
| City | San Francisco | San Francisco |
Neighborhood
| Metric | San Francisco (94107) | San Francisco (94118) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $186,123 | $159,550 |
| Median Home Value | $1,227,000 | $1,817,200 |
| Median Rent | $3,378 | $2,695 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 77.0% | 72.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.3% | 6.3% |
| Avg Commute | 32 min | 33 min |
The data story: King (Thomas Starr) Elementary vs Sutro Elementary
King (Thomas Starr) Elementary and Sutro Elementary are both strong performers in San Francisco, but Sutro Elementary holds a meaningful edge in statewide standing. Sutro Elementary ranks #50 of 9,533 schools in California while King (Thomas Starr) Elementary ranks #91 of 9,533 — a 41-position gap that, at the top of a nearly 10,000-school list, represents a real separation in overall performance. Their overall ratings are close on paper, with Sutro Elementary at 9.4/10 and King (Thomas Starr) Elementary at 9.3/10, but the state rank context shows Sutro pulling ahead where it counts.
Academically, the delta is sharper. Sutro Elementary scores 9.7/10 in academics versus King (Thomas Starr) Elementary's 8.9/10 — a gap of 0.8 points on a 10-point scale. Growth scores are nearly identical, with Sutro Elementary at 9.7/10 and King (Thomas Starr) Elementary at 9.5/10, indicating both schools are advancing students at rates above most California peers. Sutro's combination of high academic attainment and strong growth suggests students arrive performing well and continue accelerating.
The two schools differ substantially in the populations they serve. King (Thomas Starr) Elementary enrolls 335 students versus Sutro Elementary's 248, making King the larger campus. Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility tells a starker story: 64% of Sutro Elementary students qualify compared to 40% at King (Thomas Starr) Elementary, meaning Sutro is serving a significantly higher proportion of economically disadvantaged families while still outranking King statewide. Student-teacher ratio runs the opposite direction — King (Thomas Starr) Elementary sits at 16.8 students per teacher versus Sutro Elementary's 22.5, giving King a classroom size advantage of nearly six students per teacher.
Both schools serve grades KG–05 and sit 4.5 miles apart within San Francisco. The structural difference is in what each school delivers to its respective student body: Sutro Elementary achieves elite California rankings while educating a higher-need population, while King (Thomas Starr) Elementary offers smaller class sizes in a less economically stressed environment.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
King (Thomas Starr) Elementary
King (Thomas Starr) Elementary suits families who prioritize smaller class sizes — its 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio is nearly six students per teacher fewer than Sutro's, which translates to more individual attention in the classroom. It's a strong choice for parents who want a top-100 California school with a more intimate daily environment.
Sutro Elementary
Sutro Elementary is the better fit for families chasing the highest possible academic ceiling in San Francisco. Its #50 California rank and 9.7/10 academic score outpace King (Thomas Starr) Elementary despite serving a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students — a signal of exceptional instructional quality relative to its peer schools.