Novato Unified School District
School District · Novato, California
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
14
8 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
7,209
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.4:1
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
14
8 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
7,209
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.4:1
How this district compares
California rank
#475 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.4
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$16,083
$1,564 vs California median
District size
7,209 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Novato Unified ranks #475 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Novato Unified's schools with real test data average 5.9/10 across 14 schools. Its top-rated schools are Pleasant Valley Elementary (7.9/10), Novato High (7.6/10), and Lynwood Elementary (7.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.5/10 despite 44% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Novato Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Novato Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Novato Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (14 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pleasant Valley Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Novato High | 7.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Lynwood Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | San Marin High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | San Jose Middle | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Sinaloa Middle | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | San Ramon Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Nova Education Center | 5.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Hamilton Tk-8 | 5.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Lu Sutton Elementary | 5.2 / 10 |
See all 14 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Novato Unified
Novato Unified is a Novato, California school district serving 14 schools.The district educates 7,209 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.4:1. District-level spending was $16,083 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.9/10, Novato Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Pleasant Valley Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.9/10.
In standardized testing, Novato Unified students show an average math proficiency of 46.2% and ELA proficiency of 54.3%.
The district includes 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Novato Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Novato Unified with test data.
Schools in Novato Unified
14 schoolsElementary Schools8
Middle Schools2
High Schools3
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Novato
- Total Enrollment
- 7,209
- Teachers (FTE)
- 337
- District spending per student
- $16,083NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 10.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Novato Unified?
Novato Unified has 14 schools in total — 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Novato Unified?
The average composite rating for Novato Unified is 5.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Novato Unified?
Novato Unified's district-level spending was $16,083 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Novato Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Novato Unified is 21.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Novato Unified?
Pleasant Valley Elementary is the highest-rated school in Novato Unified with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What are the test scores in Novato Unified?
Across schools in Novato Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 46.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 54.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Novato Unified compare to other districts in California?
Novato Unified has an average school rating of 5.9/10 across 14 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 46.2%
- ELA Proficiency
- 54.3%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Novato Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.