Novato Unified School District
School District · Novato, California
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
14
8 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,083
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.4:1
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
14
8 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,083
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.4:1
Evaluating Novato Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Novato Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
San Marin High
Novato · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Olive Elementary
Novato · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Sinaloa Middle
Novato · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#410 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.2
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 #410 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Novato Unified's schools with real test data average 6.0/10 across 14 schools. Its top-rated schools are San Marin High (7.9/10), Olive Elementary (7.0/10), and Sinaloa Middle (6.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.7/10 despite 48% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.1 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 | San Marin High | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Olive Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Sinaloa Middle | 6.9 / 10 |
| 4 | San Ramon Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Novato High | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | San Jose Middle | 6.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Pleasant Valley Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Nova Education Center | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Marin Oaks High | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Loma Verde Elementary | 5.8 / 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. The district invests $16,083 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.0/10, Novato Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is San Marin High, which has a composite score of 7.9/10.
In standardized testing, Novato Unified students show an average math proficiency of 47.7% and ELA proficiency of 55.6%.
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 schools Elementary Schools 8
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 3
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Novato
- Total Enrollment
- 7,209
- Teachers (FTE)
- 337
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data 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 6.0/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Novato Unified?
Novato Unified spends $16,083 per student per year.
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?
San Marin High 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 47.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 55.6%. 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 6.0/10 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
- 6.0/10
- Math Proficiency
- 47.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 55.6%
Resources
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)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton 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.
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