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Excellent

#91 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 1% in state

King (thomas Starr) Elementary

Elementary School · San Francisco Unified

1215 Carolina St., San Francisco, CA 94107

Enrollment

335

Student-Teacher

16.8:1

Score

9.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In San Francisco

#6 of 119

public schools

California elementary schools

#79 of 5,817

In district

#6 of 103

San Francisco Unified

School environment

9.6 / 10

Exceptional

About King (thomas Starr) Elementary

King (Thomas Starr) Elementary earns a composite score of 9.3 out of 10 — a label MySchoolScout designates Exceptional. That score is not relative to a local baseline: the school ranks sixth out of 119 public schools in San Francisco and places 91st among 9,533 public schools statewide, outperforming 99% of California schools. For an elementary program operating without selective admissions, those numbers are difficult to match.

The school serves 335 students from kindergarten through fifth grade. A student-teacher ratio of 16.8 to one gives teachers a manageable load for an urban public school. The academic subscore of 8.9 reflects strong measured achievement, while the growth score of 9.5 indicates students are advancing well above the expected rate — a meaningful signal of what instruction here actually produces over time.

King is a regular public school drawing from its local attendance zone. Parents evaluating elementary options across San Francisco are looking at one of the top six performers in the city. The combination of high academic output and strong growth momentum sets it apart from schools that score well on only one dimension.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.5Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+1.32 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendImproving
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency61.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency65.5%
Math vs. State Avg+15.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+22.7 pts
Overall Proficiency64%
Expected (poverty-adj.)52%
vs. Expected+11.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.6Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,682

King (thomas Starr) Elementary — Students at King (thomas Starr) Elementary score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

40%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 60.7%
School
State
39.4%
ELA Proficiency 63.9%
School
State
45.3%

Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2024
Math
61.6%
ELA
65.6%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.5/10.

How King (thomas Starr) Elementary Compares

See how King (thomas Starr) Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.3/10
99th percentile in CA
Academic
8.9/10
8.9/10
Growth
9.5/10
Above average
Environment
9.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
40%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
20 teachers

Location

1215 Carolina St., San Francisco, CA 94107

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering King (thomas Starr) Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Webster (Daniel) Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 0.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Flynn (Leonard R.) Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 0.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, LIVE OAK SCHOOL (rated 7.8/10, 0.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in San Francisco, see our San Francisco schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Bryant Elementary San Francisco 0.3 mi 3.2
MEADOWS-LIVINGSTONE SCHOOL San Francisco 0.4 mi
Meadows-livingstone school San Francisco 0.4 mi
Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy San Francisco 0.5 mi
Webster (Daniel) Elementary San Francisco 0.5 mi 9.0
S.F. International High San Francisco 0.6 mi 5.4
Downtown High San Francisco 0.6 mi 5.4
Mission Preparatory San Francisco 0.5 mi 4.1
LIVE OAK SCHOOL San Francisco 0.7 mi 7.8
S.F. County Opportunity (Hilltop) San Francisco 0.6 mi 7.5
St. Peter's School San Francisco 0.6 mi
ST PETER'S SCHOOL San Francisco 0.6 mi 5.0
Red Bridge San Francisco 0.8 mi
Moscone (George R.) Elementary San Francisco 0.8 mi 5.5
RED BRIDGE San Francisco 0.8 mi
RED BRIDGE San Francisco 0.8 mi
Flynn (Leonard R.) Elementary San Francisco 0.8 mi 8.3
Donum Dei Classical Academy San Francisco 0.9 mi
ST ANTHONY - IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL San Francisco 0.9 mi 5.2
St. Anthony–Immaculate Conception San Francisco 0.9 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94107 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$186,123

Median Home Value

$1,227,000

Median Rent

$3,378/mo

Population

30,190

College Educated

77%

Homeownership

36.5%

Avg Commute

31.7 min

Poverty Rate

8.3%

Median Age

35.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding King (thomas Starr) Elementary has a median household income of $186,123. It is a well-educated community where 77% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,227,000, with a median rent of $3,378/month. The local poverty rate of 8.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
BOWMAN SCHOOL Palo Alto, CA 9.3
Banyan Elementary Newbury Park, CA 9.3
Brockton Avenue Elementary Los Angeles, CA 9.3
Compton Avenue Elementary Los Angeles, CA 9.3
Duff Language Magnet Academy Rosemead, CA 9.3
Eagle Prairie Elementary Rio Dell, CA 9.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about King (thomas Starr) Elementary

What grades does King (thomas Starr) Elementary serve?

King (thomas Starr) Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend King (thomas Starr) Elementary?

King (thomas Starr) Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 335 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at King (thomas Starr) Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at King (thomas Starr) Elementary is 16.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does King (thomas Starr) Elementary rank in CA?

King (thomas Starr) Elementary is ranked #91 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is King (thomas Starr) Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

King (thomas Starr) Elementary has a composite rating of 9.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at King (thomas Starr) Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, King (thomas Starr) Elementary has 60.7% math proficiency and 63.9% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is King (thomas Starr) Elementary a charter school?

No, King (thomas Starr) Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is King (thomas Starr) Elementary a Title I school?

No, King (thomas Starr) Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for King (thomas Starr) Elementary?

40.0% of students at King (thomas Starr) Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
84 Very Walkable
Transit Score
68 Good Transit
Bike Score
69 Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,559/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Francisco). Data >1 year old.

Compare This School

How does King (thomas Starr) Elementary stack up?

Sutro Elementary
9.4
Cobb (William L.) Elementary
9.0
Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary
9.0
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
335
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
20
Free/Reduced Lunch
40.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
San Francisco County
Data Year
2023–2024

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

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