Parker (Jean) Elementary vs King (Thomas Starr) Elementary
Parker (Jean) Elementary and King (Thomas Starr) Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.5 out of 10. King (Thomas Starr) Elementary is significantly larger with 335 students, about 2.7× the size of Parker (Jean) Elementary (125). In math proficiency, King (Thomas Starr) Elementary leads at 57.0%.
Parker (Jean) Elementary
San Francisco, CA
125 students
King (Thomas Starr) Elementary
San Francisco, CA
335 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Parker (Jean) Elementary | King (Thomas Starr) Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.5 / 10 | 9.3 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.2 | 8.9 |
| Growth Score | 9.7 | 9.5 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 80% | 40% |
| Environment Score | 9.5 | 9.6 |
| State Rank | #30 of 9,533 | #91 of 9,533 |
| State Percentile | 100th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Parker (Jean) Elementary | King (Thomas Starr) Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 57.0% | 57.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 42.0% | 57.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Parker (Jean) Elementary | King (Thomas Starr) Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 125 | 335 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 17.9:1 | 16.8:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 80.0% | 40.0% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco Unified |
| City | San Francisco | San Francisco |
Neighborhood
| Metric | San Francisco (94133) | San Francisco (94107) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,025 | $186,123 |
| Median Home Value | $1,519,100 | $1,227,000 |
| Median Rent | $1,985 | $3,378 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 54.9% | 77.0% |
| Poverty Rate | 15.9% | 8.3% |
| Avg Commute | 31 min | 32 min |
The data story: Parker (Jean) Elementary vs King (Thomas Starr) Elementary
Parker (Jean) Elementary and King (Thomas Starr) Elementary sit 3.1 miles apart in San Francisco and both earn strong marks on MySchoolScout, but the gap between them is narrower than their divergent demographics might suggest. Parker (Jean) Elementary scores 9.5/10 overall versus King (Thomas Starr) Elementary's 9.3/10 — a 0.2-point difference that matters less than the rankings context: Parker (Jean) Elementary lands at #30 of 9,533 California elementary schools, while King (Thomas Starr) Elementary ranks #91 of 9,533. Both schools sit in the top 1% statewide, making this a genuine choice between two high-performers rather than a clear-cut winner.
On academic proficiency and student growth, Parker (Jean) Elementary holds a slim edge. Its academic score of 9.2/10 versus King (Thomas Starr) Elementary's 8.9/10 represents a 0.3-point gap, while Parker (Jean) Elementary's growth score of 9.7/10 edges King (Thomas Starr) Elementary's 9.5/10 by 0.2 points. That growth figure is particularly notable at Parker — a 9.7 growth score at a school where 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch signals that teachers are accelerating progress for students who often face the steepest starting gaps.
The demographic and structural differences between the two schools are substantial. Parker (Jean) Elementary enrolls 125 students compared to King (Thomas Starr) Elementary's 335, making Parker considerably more intimate. Free and reduced lunch eligibility tells a sharply different story: 80% at Parker (Jean) Elementary versus 40% at King (Thomas Starr) Elementary, reflecting meaningfully different socioeconomic compositions. King (Thomas Starr) Elementary's student-teacher ratio of 16.8:1 edges Parker (Jean) Elementary's 17.9:1, giving King a slight structural advantage in individual attention per student despite its larger enrollment.
Both schools serve grades KG through 05, so grade span creates no distinction for families. The real differentiator is school culture and community mix: Parker (Jean) Elementary operates as a high-achieving small school serving a predominantly low-income population, while King (Thomas Starr) Elementary is a larger, more economically mixed campus with a lower student-teacher ratio and still-elite statewide standing.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Parker (Jean) Elementary
Parker (Jean) Elementary suits families who want a small-school environment and are drawn to a campus where strong growth scores show teachers actively closing achievement gaps for a high-needs population. With only 125 students and a #30 statewide rank, it offers elite academic outcomes in an unusually intimate setting.
King (Thomas Starr) Elementary
King (Thomas Starr) Elementary is the better fit for families who prefer a larger, more socioeconomically diverse campus with a slightly lower student-teacher ratio. At 335 students with a 16.8:1 ratio and a #91 California rank, it delivers top-tier academics alongside a broader mix of peers and more robust extracurricular infrastructure typical of larger schools.