Saratoga Elementary vs Foothill Elementary
Saratoga Elementary and Foothill Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 8.8 out of 10. In math proficiency, Foothill Elementary leads at 90.0%.
Saratoga Elementary
Saratoga, CA
311 students
Foothill Elementary
Saratoga, CA
293 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Saratoga Elementary | Foothill Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.8 / 10 | 9.1 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.6 | 9.5 |
| Growth Score | 8.7 | 8.7 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 2.9% | 6.5% |
| Environment Score | 7.6 | 9.6 |
| State Rank | #538 of 9,539 | #245 of 9,539 |
| State Percentile | 94th | 97th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Saratoga Elementary | Foothill Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 90.0% | 90.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 91.0% | 89.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Saratoga Elementary | Foothill Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 311 | 293 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 22.2:1 | 18.3:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 2.9% | 6.5% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | — | 14.7% |
| District | Saratoga Union Elementary | Saratoga Union Elementary |
| City | Saratoga | Saratoga |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Saratoga (95070) | Saratoga (95070) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $240,980 | $240,980 |
| Median Home Value | $2,000,001 | $2,000,001 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $3,501 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 80.8% | 80.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute | 27 min | 27 min |
The data story: Saratoga Elementary vs Foothill Elementary
Saratoga Elementary edges out Foothill Elementary in overall rating by 0.2 points — 9.3 versus 9.1 on a 10-point scale — but the state rank gap is more telling. Saratoga Elementary sits at #126 of 9,533 California schools, while Foothill Elementary ranks #257 of 9,533. Both are top-tier performers, but Saratoga Elementary's position in the top 1.4% versus Foothill's top 2.7% reflects a measurable, consistent edge across the rating dimensions that drive the composite score.
Academically, the two schools are nearly identical: Foothill Elementary scores 9.5 out of 10 versus Saratoga Elementary's 9.6. The sharper contrast appears in growth — Saratoga Elementary scores 9.2 on student growth versus Foothill Elementary's 8.6, a 0.6-point gap on a dimension that captures how much individual students advance year over year, not just where they score at a single point in time. For families who care whether a school accelerates students beyond their starting point, Saratoga Elementary's growth advantage is the number that matters most.
On classroom dynamics, Foothill Elementary runs a student-teacher ratio of 18.3 to 1, compared to Saratoga Elementary's 22.2 to 1 — roughly four additional students per teacher. Foothill Elementary's smaller classes could translate to more individual attention, particularly for students who benefit from closer adult oversight. Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility sits at 6% at Foothill Elementary versus 3% at Saratoga Elementary, reflecting minor differences in the economic composition of each school's families in what is already a low-FRL community. Enrollment is similar — 293 at Foothill Elementary, 311 at Saratoga Elementary.
Both schools serve kindergarten through fifth grade and sit 0.7 miles apart within the same Saratoga school district, meaning the practical distinction is not program structure but performance margins and classroom size. No magnet designations, language immersion tracks, or specialized program differences are reported between them.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Saratoga Elementary
Foothill Elementary suits families who prioritize smaller class sizes — its 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio gives it a clear edge over Saratoga Elementary's 22.2:1. It's a strong fit for kids who work best with more teacher access and for parents who want a top-3% California school without the slightly more competitive environment that Saratoga Elementary's higher state rank implies.
Foothill Elementary
Saratoga Elementary is the better fit for families who weight student growth trajectory above all else — its 9.2 growth score is 0.6 points above Foothill Elementary's 8.6, meaning the school consistently accelerates students beyond baseline expectations. Parents willing to accept larger class sizes in exchange for the top-1.4% California ranking and stronger year-over-year academic momentum will find Saratoga Elementary the sharper choice.