San Mateo-Foster City School District
School District · Foster City, California
Avg Rating
5.8
out of 10
Schools
21
18 elem, 3 mid
Enrollment
9,945
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.5:1
Avg Rating
5.8
out of 10
Schools
21
18 elem, 3 mid
Enrollment
9,945
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.5:1
How this district compares
California rank
#512 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.5
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$19,671
+$2,024 vs California median
District size
9,945 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
San Mateo-Foster City ranks #512 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. San Mateo-Foster City's schools with real test data average 5.8/10 across 21 schools. Its top-rated schools are Highlands Elementary (8.6/10), Meadow Heights Elementary (8.2/10), and Bowditch Middle (7.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.2/10 despite 42% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 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 Mateo-Foster City schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among San Mateo-Foster City schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in San Mateo-Foster City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (21 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highlands Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Meadow Heights Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Bowditch Middle | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Parkside Montessori | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | College Park Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Baywood Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | George Hall Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | North Shoreview Montessori | 6.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Foster City Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Borel Middle | 6.2 / 10 |
See all 21 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About San Mateo-Foster City
San Mateo-Foster City is a Foster City, California school district serving 21 schools.The district educates 9,945 students with a student-teacher ratio of 20.5:1. District-level spending was $19,671 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.8/10, San Mateo-Foster City demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Highlands Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.
In standardized testing, San Mateo-Foster City students show an average math proficiency of 54.6% and ELA proficiency of 56.6%.
The district includes 18 elementary schools, 3 middle schools.
District Map
Schools in San Mateo-Foster City, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in San Mateo-Foster City with test data.
Schools in San Mateo-Foster City
21 schoolsElementary Schools18
Middle Schools3
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Foster City
- Total Enrollment
- 9,945
- Teachers (FTE)
- 486
- District spending per student
- $19,671NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 7.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in San Mateo-Foster City?
San Mateo-Foster City has 21 schools in total — 18 elementary, 3 middle. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for San Mateo-Foster City?
The average composite rating for San Mateo-Foster City is 5.8/10. 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 Mateo-Foster City?
San Mateo-Foster City's district-level spending was $19,671 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 Mateo-Foster City?
The average student-teacher ratio in San Mateo-Foster City is 20.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in San Mateo-Foster City?
Highlands Elementary is the highest-rated school in San Mateo-Foster City with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in San Mateo-Foster City?
Across schools in San Mateo-Foster City with test data, the average math proficiency is 54.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 56.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does San Mateo-Foster City compare to other districts in California?
San Mateo-Foster City has an average school rating of 5.8/10 across 21 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
- 5.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 54.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 56.6%
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 Mateo-Foster City 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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