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8.5 avg / 10

Palo Alto Unified School District

School District · Palo Alto, California

Students: 10,271
Teachers (FTE): 599

Avg Rating

8.5

out of 10

Schools

19

13 elem, 3 mid, 2 high

Per-Pupil Spending

$28,533

Student-Teacher Ratio

17.1:1

How this district compares

California rank

#9 of 713

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

+2.2

above California avg

Per-pupil spending

$28,533

+$10,886 vs California median

District size

10,271 students

Much larger than California median

About Palo Alto Unified

Palo Alto Unified is a Palo Alto, California school district serving 19 schools. The district educates 10,271 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17.1:1. The district invests $28,533 per student annually.

With an average rating of 8.5/10, Palo Alto Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.

The highest-rated school in the district is Juana Briones Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.5/10.

In standardized testing, Palo Alto Unified students show an average math proficiency of 79.0% and ELA proficiency of 79.5%.

The district includes 13 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 2 high schools.

District Map

Schools in Palo Alto Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency 79.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 79.5%
School
State
N/A

Average proficiency across all schools in Palo Alto Unified with test data.

District Details

State
California
City
Palo Alto
Total Enrollment
10,271
Teachers (FTE)
599
Child Poverty Rate
0.0%
Data Year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Palo Alto Unified?

Palo Alto Unified has 19 schools in total — 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Palo Alto Unified?

The average composite rating for Palo Alto Unified is 8.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the per-pupil spending in Palo Alto Unified?

Palo Alto Unified spends $28,533 per student per year.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Palo Alto Unified?

The average student-teacher ratio in Palo Alto Unified is 17.1:1.

What is the top-rated school in Palo Alto Unified?

Juana Briones Elementary is the highest-rated school in Palo Alto Unified with a composite score of 9.5/10.

What are the test scores in Palo Alto Unified?

Across schools in Palo Alto Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 79.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 79.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Palo Alto Unified compare to other districts in California?

Palo Alto Unified has an average school rating of 8.5/10 across 19 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 are based on a comprehensive methodology that weighs Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating
8.5/10
Math Proficiency
79.0%
ELA Proficiency
79.5%

Resources

🔍 Search for District Website 📄 Official NCES Data 🏫 GreatSchools Profile 📍 View on Google Maps

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Other School Districts in CA

Compare Palo Alto Unified with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in CA →

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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