Sutro Elementary vs West Portal Elementary
Sutro Elementary has a higher overall rating of 9.2/10 compared to 7.9/10. West Portal Elementary is significantly larger with 590 students, about 2.4× the size of Sutro Elementary (248). In math proficiency, West Portal Elementary leads at 82.0%.
Sutro Elementary
San Francisco, CA
248 students
West Portal Elementary
San Francisco, CA
590 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Sutro Elementary | West Portal Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2 / 10 | 7.9 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.7 | 9.2 |
| Growth Score | 9.0 | 7.0 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 64.1% | 33.7% |
| Environment Score | 9.2 | 8.1 |
| State Rank | #176 of 9,539 | #1,804 of 9,539 |
| State Percentile | 98th | 81th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Sutro Elementary | West Portal Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 82.0% | 82.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 62.0% | 75.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Sutro Elementary | West Portal Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 248 | 590 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 22.5:1 | 24.6:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 64.1% | 33.7% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 6.0% | 11.2% |
| District | San Francisco Unified | San Francisco Unified |
| City | San Francisco | San Francisco |
Neighborhood
| Metric | San Francisco (94118) | San Francisco (94127) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $159,550 | $205,429 |
| Median Home Value | $1,817,200 | $1,897,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,695 | $3,501 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 72.2% | 66.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 6.3% | 5.5% |
| Avg Commute | 33 min | 30 min |
The data story: Sutro Elementary vs West Portal Elementary
Sutro Elementary holds an overall rating of 9.6/10 against West Portal Elementary's 8.8/10 — a 0.8-point gap that translates into a stark difference in statewide standing. Sutro Elementary ranks #21 of 9,533 California schools, placing it in the top 0.2% of the state. West Portal Elementary ranks #494 of 9,533, which is still a strong result — top 6% — but trails Sutro Elementary by 473 positions. For parents anchoring their decision in third-party ratings, that distance is not trivial.
The academic and growth numbers reinforce the gap. Sutro Elementary scores 9.7/10 in academics versus West Portal Elementary's 9.2/10, a half-point difference that reflects measurably higher proficiency. On growth — how much students improve relative to their peers — Sutro Elementary again scores 9.7/10 while West Portal Elementary reaches 9.0/10. Both schools perform well above state norms, but Sutro Elementary demonstrates stronger student progress on top of already high baseline achievement.
The two schools serve meaningfully different populations. West Portal Elementary enrolls 590 students versus Sutro Elementary's 248, making it more than twice as large. Sutro Elementary's student-teacher ratio of 22.5:1 is tighter than West Portal Elementary's 24.6:1, meaning roughly two additional students per classroom at West Portal. The free and reduced-price lunch rates diverge sharply: 64% of Sutro Elementary students qualify, compared to 34% at West Portal Elementary — a 30-point spread that signals a substantially different socioeconomic mix between two schools just 2.8 miles apart.
Both Sutro Elementary and West Portal Elementary serve grades KG–05, so grade-span is not a differentiator. The meaningful distinctions are size and community composition. Sutro Elementary operates as a smaller, higher-poverty school that outperforms nearly every school in California, suggesting strong instructional execution across a diverse student body. West Portal Elementary is a larger, lower-poverty school with solid but comparatively lower academic and growth scores.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Sutro Elementary
Sutro Elementary is the stronger fit for families who prioritize raw academic performance and growth above all else. Its #21 California rank and 9.7/10 academic score are exceptional by any measure. Parents comfortable with a smaller school (248 students) and a socioeconomically diverse environment — 64% free and reduced lunch — will find a high-achieving community that punches well above its weight.
West Portal Elementary
West Portal Elementary suits families who want a large, established school with a more affluent peer group and still-strong statewide credentials (top 6% in California). Its 590-student enrollment means more extracurricular options and a wider social environment. Parents less focused on the ratings margin and more interested in a lower-poverty, higher-enrollment campus will find West Portal Elementary a comfortable and academically solid choice.