Muir (John) Elementary vs Sutro Elementary
Muir (John) Elementary and Sutro Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.2 out of 10. In math proficiency, Sutro Elementary leads at 82.0%.
Muir (John) Elementary
San Francisco, CA
226 students
Sutro Elementary
San Francisco, CA
248 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Muir (John) Elementary | Sutro Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.2 | 9.7 |
| Growth Score | 9.9 | 9.0 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 76.1% | 64.1% |
| Environment Score | 7.7 | 9.2 |
| State Rank | #175 of 9,539 | #176 of 9,539 |
| State Percentile | 98th | 98th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Muir (John) Elementary | Sutro Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 37.0% | 82.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 27.0% | 62.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Muir (John) Elementary | Sutro Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 226 | 248 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 18.8:1 | 22.5:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 76.1% | 64.1% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 52.2% | 6.0% |
| District | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco Unified |
| City | San Francisco | San Francisco |
Neighborhood
| Metric | San Francisco (94117) | San Francisco (94118) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $175,096 | $159,550 |
| Median Home Value | $1,641,400 | $1,817,200 |
| Median Rent | $2,786 | $2,695 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 78.3% | 72.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.4% | 6.3% |
| Avg Commute | 32 min | 33 min |
The data story: Muir (John) Elementary vs Sutro Elementary
Sutro Elementary outranks Muir (John) Elementary by a wide margin in California's statewide standings: Sutro Elementary sits at #21 of 9,533 California schools while Muir (John) Elementary ranks #1,001 of 9,533 — a gap of 980 positions. That difference shows up in their overall ratings too, where Sutro Elementary scores 9.6/10 against Muir (John) Elementary's 8.4/10, a 1.2-point spread. For parents who treat state rank as a proxy for school quality, that gap between two San Francisco elementary schools just 2.4 miles apart is hard to ignore.
Academically, the two schools are closer than the overall gap suggests. Sutro Elementary holds a 9.7/10 academic score versus Muir (John) Elementary's 9.2/10 — a meaningful but narrower 0.5-point delta. The growth score tells a sharper story: Sutro Elementary scores 9.7/10 on student growth while Muir (John) Elementary scores 8.4/10, a 1.3-point difference indicating that Sutro students are advancing at a notably faster rate relative to their starting points. That growth gap drives much of the overall rating divergence between the two schools.
On demographics and classroom structure, Muir (John) Elementary serves 226 students compared to Sutro Elementary's 248. Muir carries a higher economically disadvantaged population — 76% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch versus 64% at Sutro Elementary. Muir (John) Elementary also offers a lower student-teacher ratio of 18.8:1 compared to Sutro Elementary's 22.5:1, meaning Muir students get more individual teacher access on average despite the school serving a higher-need population.
Both Muir (John) Elementary and Sutro Elementary serve grades KG through 05, making them direct structural peers for families with kindergarten-through-fifth-grade children. The meaningful separation comes down to demonstrated outcomes — Sutro's growth and academic scores both outpace Muir's — while Muir counters with smaller class sizes and a track record serving a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Muir (John) Elementary
Muir (John) Elementary suits families who prioritize smaller class sizes and a school experienced in supporting higher-need student populations. With an 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio and 76% free/reduced lunch enrollment, it fits parents who want more individualized teacher attention and a socioeconomically diverse school community in San Francisco.
Sutro Elementary
Sutro Elementary fits families for whom academic outcomes and student growth trajectories are the primary decision driver. Its #21 statewide rank, 9.7/10 growth score, and 1.2-point overall rating advantage over Muir (John) Elementary make it the stronger choice for parents seeking the highest demonstrated performance among San Francisco elementary options.