San Jose Unified School District
School District · San Jose, California
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
41
27 elem, 6 mid, 8 high
Enrollment
25,059
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.1:1
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
41
27 elem, 6 mid, 8 high
Enrollment
25,059
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.1:1
How this district compares
California rank
#463 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.4
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$17,909
+$262 vs California median
District size
25,059 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
San Jose Unified ranks #463 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. San Jose Unified's schools with real test data average 6.0/10 across 41 schools. Its top-rated schools are Almaden Elementary (8.4/10), Hacienda Science/environmental Magnet (8.2/10), and Williams Elementary (8.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.4/10 despite 75% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.2 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 San Jose Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among San Jose Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in San Jose Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (41 of 41). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Almaden Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Hacienda Science/environmental Magnet | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Williams Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Leland High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Pioneer High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Bret Harte Middle | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Reed Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Hammer Montessori at Galarza Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Booksin Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | John Muir Middle | 7.0 / 10 |
See all 41 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About San Jose Unified
San Jose Unified is a San Jose, California school district serving 41 schools.The district educates 25,059 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.1:1. District-level spending was $17,909 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.0/10, San Jose Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Almaden Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.4/10.
In standardized testing, San Jose Unified students show an average math proficiency of 42.1% and ELA proficiency of 48.3%.
The district includes 27 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 8 high schools.
District Map
Schools in San Jose Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in San Jose Unified with test data.
Schools in San Jose Unified
41 schoolsElementary Schools27
Middle Schools6
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- San Jose
- Total Enrollment
- 25,059
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,189
- District spending per student
- $17,909NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 7.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in San Jose Unified?
San Jose Unified has 41 schools in total — 27 elementary, 6 middle, and 8 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for San Jose Unified?
The average composite rating for San Jose 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 district spending per student in San Jose Unified?
San Jose Unified's district-level spending was $17,909 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 San Jose Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in San Jose Unified is 21.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in San Jose Unified?
Almaden Elementary is the highest-rated school in San Jose Unified with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What are the test scores in San Jose Unified?
Across schools in San Jose Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 42.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 48.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does San Jose Unified compare to other districts in California?
San Jose Unified has an average school rating of 6.0/10 across 41 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
- 42.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 48.3%
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 San Jose 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.
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