Carlmont High

Carlmont High serves 2,360 students in grades 9–12 in Belmont, California, earning a composite score of 9.1/10 — a rating that places it among the very best public schools in the state. It ranks #21 out of 1,892 California high schools, outperforming 98% of public schools statewide. That level of performance is rare at any enrollment size, let alone at a school of Carlmont's scale.

Academic performance drives the rating. The school posts a 9.3/10 academic score paired with a strong 8.5/10 growth score — meaning students don't just arrive with advantages, they gain ground while they're here. A student-teacher ratio of 20.5:1 is standard for a school this size, but the outcomes it produces are not.

Carlmont holds the top spot among all six public schools in Belmont and ranks #195 of 9,533 public schools across California. For families evaluating high schools in the Bay Area, those numbers carry real weight. The school's Exceptional rating reflects consistent strength across the metrics that predict long-term student success, making it a clear frontrunner for college-bound families in San Mateo County.

Carlmont High is a large school with 2,360 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

The student-teacher ratio at Carlmont High is 20.5:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.