South San Francisco Unified School District
School District · South San Francisco, California
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
15
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
7,770
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
15
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
7,770
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
How this district compares
California rank
#315 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,850
+$1,203 vs California median
District size
7,770 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
South San Francisco Unified ranks #315 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. South San Francisco Unified's schools with real test data average 6.4/10 across 15 schools. Its top-rated schools are Junipero Serra Elementary (8.8/10), Buri Buri Elementary (8.7/10), and EL Camino High (8.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.8/10 despite 37% 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 South San Francisco Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among South San Francisco Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in South San Francisco Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (15 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Junipero Serra Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Buri Buri Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | EL Camino High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Ponderosa Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Skyline Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Westborough Middle | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Alta Loma Middle | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Monte Verde Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Sunshine Gardens Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 10 | South San Francisco High | 6.9 / 10 |
See all 15 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About South San Francisco Unified
South San Francisco Unified is a South San Francisco, California school district serving 15 schools.The district educates 7,770 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.1:1. District-level spending was $18,850 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.4/10, South San Francisco Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Junipero Serra Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.
In standardized testing, South San Francisco Unified students show an average math proficiency of 45.4% and ELA proficiency of 49.4%.
The district includes 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in South San Francisco Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in South San Francisco Unified with test data.
Schools in South San Francisco Unified
15 schoolsElementary Schools9
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- South San Francisco
- Total Enrollment
- 7,770
- Teachers (FTE)
- 407
- District spending per student
- $18,850NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 7.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in South San Francisco Unified?
South San Francisco Unified has 15 schools in total — 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for South San Francisco Unified?
The average composite rating for South San Francisco Unified is 6.4/10. 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 South San Francisco Unified?
South San Francisco Unified's district-level spending was $18,850 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 South San Francisco Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in South San Francisco Unified is 19.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in South San Francisco Unified?
Junipero Serra Elementary is the highest-rated school in South San Francisco Unified with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What are the test scores in South San Francisco Unified?
Across schools in South San Francisco Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 45.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 49.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does South San Francisco Unified compare to other districts in California?
South San Francisco Unified has an average school rating of 6.4/10 across 15 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
- 6.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 45.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 49.4%
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 South San Francisco 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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