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Needs Improvement

#9197 of 9,539 schools in CA

Costano Elementary

Elementary School · Ravenswood City Elementary

2695 Fordham St., East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Enrollment

318

Student-Teacher

17.7:1

Score

3.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#9,197 of 9,539

In East Palo Alto

#4 of 5

public schools

In district

#4 of 4

Ravenswood City Elementary

School environment

8.3 / 10

Excellent

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Costano Elementary

3.2/10

Elementary School in East Palo Alto · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle

6.4/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Open Mind School

Nearby

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Costano Elementary

Costano Elementary is a public elementary school in East Palo Alto, CA, part of Ravenswood City Elementary. Costano Elementary serves approximately 318 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Costano Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 out of 10 and ranks #9,197 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Costano Elementary show 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares0.9 pts below district
  • This school 3.2 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 4.1
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

67% of students at Costano Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress1.9Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-3.08 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics2.1Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency8.3% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency6.5% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-37.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-36.3 pts
Overall Proficiency7% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)27% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-19.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile5th
Resources & Environment8.3Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$34,067
Chronic Absenteeism66.7%

Costano Elementary — Students at Costano Elementary score 7% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 27%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

84.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 23.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
39.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 25.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.3% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
35%
ELA
31%
2010
Math
50%
ELA
41%
2011
Math
56%
ELA
45%
2012
Math
54%
ELA
44%
2013
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2014
Math
12%
ELA
18%
2015
Math
8%
ELA
18%
2016
Math
7%
ELA
18%
2017
Math
12%
ELA
26%
2018
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2019
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2022
Math
2.5%
ELA
14.5%
2024
Math
8.2%
ELA
6.5%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 1.9/10.

How Costano Elementary Compares

See how Costano Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.2/10
4th percentile in CA
Academic
2.1/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
1.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
8.3/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
85%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
18 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
66.7%

Location

2695 Fordham St., East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Costano Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Duveneck Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Palo Alto), which scores notably higher. Another option is BEECHWOOD SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 1.6 miles away, in nearby Menlo Park), which scores notably higher. Additionally, KIPP Valiant Community Prep (rated 6.8/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby Menlo Park), which scores notably higher. For more schools in East Palo Alto, see our East Palo Alto schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle East Palo Alto 0.5 mi 6.4
Open Mind School Menlo Park 0.5 mi
OPEN MIND SCHOOL Menlo Park 0.5 mi
KIPP Esperanza High Oakland 0.8 mi 5.7
Mid-Peninsula Education Center Menlo Park 0.7 mi
MID-PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL Menlo Park 0.7 mi 7.0
Oxford Day Academy East Palo Alto 0.9 mi 2.4
Aspire East Palo Alto Charter Oakland 0.9 mi 2.2
EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL East Palo Alto 1.1 mi 7.5
Eastside College Preparatory School East Palo Alto 1.1 mi
East Palo Alto Academy East Palo Alto 1.1 mi 6.4
La Scuola International School Silicon Valley East Palo Alto 1.2 mi
THE PRIMARY SCHOOL - EAST PALO ALTO East Palo Alto 1.2 mi 6.7
Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy East Palo Alto 1.2 mi 4.4
Belle Haven Elementary Menlo Park 1.3 mi 4.7
BBS Palo Alto 1.7 mi
KIPP Valiant Community Prep Menlo Park 1.5 mi 6.8
Duveneck Elementary Palo Alto 2.0 mi 8.6
BEECHWOOD SCHOOL Menlo Park 1.6 mi 7.5
Silicon Valley International School Palo Alto 1.9 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94303 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$148,031

Median Home Value

$1,825,000

Median Rent

$2,710/mo

Population

47,123

College Educated

48.4%

Homeownership

57%

Avg Commute

24.7 min

Poverty Rate

6.6%

Median Age

38.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Abraham Lincoln Elementary Santa Rosa, CA 3.2
Alice Birney Elementary Eureka, CA 3.2
Alice N. Stroud Elementary Modesto, CA 3.2
Allendale Elementary Oakland, CA 3.2
Arlington Heights Elementary Citrus Heights, CA 3.2
Dingle Elementary Woodland, CA 3.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Costano Elementary

What grades does Costano Elementary serve?

Costano Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Costano Elementary?

Costano Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 318 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Costano Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Costano Elementary is 17.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Costano Elementary rank in CA?

Costano Elementary ranks #9,197 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Costano Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Costano Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Costano Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Costano Elementary has 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Costano Elementary a charter school?

No, Costano Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Costano Elementary a Title I school?

No, Costano Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Costano Elementary?

84.9% of students at Costano 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
60 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
65 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
318
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
18
Free/Reduced Lunch
84.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
San Mateo County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
66.7%

District

Ravenswood City Elementary
District Enrollment
1,416
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$34,067
District Rank
#4 of 4

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