Excellent
#686 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 7% in state
Fairmeadow Elementary
Elementary School · Palo Alto Unified
500 East Meadow Dr., Palo Alto, CA 94306
Enrollment
441
Student-Teacher
21:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
441
Student-Teacher
21:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Palo Alto
#8 of 15
public schools
California elementary schools
#509 of 5,817
In district
#10 of 17
Palo Alto Unified
Equity
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Fairmeadow Elementary
Fairmeadow Elementary is a public elementary school in Palo Alto, CA, part of the Palo Alto Unified. The school serves approximately 441 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 21:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5/10, placing it in the 92.8th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 82% proficiency in math, 43 points above the state average and 81% in reading/language arts, 35 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.1/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $186,479, where 81% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a small city setting.
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Fairmeadow Elementary is 21:1, 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.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Fairmeadow Elementary — Students at Fairmeadow Elementary score 82% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 70%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
9.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 12 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.8/10.
How Fairmeadow Elementary Compares
See how Fairmeadow Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 82% (2019) to 82.09% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 83% (2019) to 81% (2024).
Location
500 East Meadow Dr., Palo Alto, CA 94306
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Fairmeadow Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Herbert Hoover Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Palo Verde Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 0.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, KEYS FAMILY DAY SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 0.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Palo Alto, see our Palo Alto schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle Palo Alto | 0.1 mi | 8.7 |
| Herbert Hoover Elementary Palo Alto | 0.3 mi | 9.3 |
| ACHIEVE INC. Palo Alto | 0.3 mi | 8.2 |
| Challenger School - Middlefield Palo Alto | 0.4 mi | — |
| Palo Verde Elementary Palo Alto | 0.6 mi | 8.5 |
| IMAGINATION LAB SCHOOL Palo Alto | 0.6 mi | — |
| GROSSMAN ACADEMY Palo Alto | 0.6 mi | — |
| LIVING WIDSOM HIGH SCHOOL Palo Alto | 0.6 mi | — |
| Imagination Lab School Palo Alto | 0.6 mi | — |
| KEYS FAMILY DAY SCHOOL Palo Alto | 0.7 mi | 6.7 |
| The Kehillah School Palo Alto | 0.7 mi | — |
| Shalem Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | — |
| Keys Family Day School Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | — |
| KEHILLAH JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL Palo Alto | 0.7 mi | 5.9 |
| KEYS FAMILY DAY SCHOOL Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | 7.7 |
| Greendell Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | — |
| El Carmelo Elementary Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | 6.4 |
| MEIRA ACADEMY Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | — |
| ATHENA ACADEMY Palo Alto | 0.9 mi | 6.2 |
| THE GIRLS' MIDDLE SCHOOL Palo Alto | 1.0 mi | 7.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 94306 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$186,479
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Rent
$2,927/mo
Population
27,527
College Educated
80.5%
Homeownership
52.2%
Avg Commute
22.9 min
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Median Age
41
Community Profile
The community surrounding Fairmeadow Elementary has a median household income of $186,479. It is a well-educated community where 81% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $2,000,001, with a median rent of $2,927/month. The local poverty rate of 8.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 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 |
|---|---|
| Aspire Firestone Academy Charter Oakland, CA | 8.5 |
| Birney Tech Academy Pico Rivera, CA | 8.5 |
| Carver Elementary Los Angeles, CA | 8.5 |
| Charles W. Barrett Elementary Los Angeles, CA | 8.5 |
| Cherry Chase Elementary Sunnyvale, CA | 8.5 |
| Cherrywood Elementary San Jose, CA | 8.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Fairmeadow Elementary
What grades does Fairmeadow Elementary serve?
Fairmeadow Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Fairmeadow Elementary?
Fairmeadow Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 441 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fairmeadow Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Fairmeadow Elementary is 21:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Fairmeadow Elementary rank in CA?
Fairmeadow Elementary is ranked #686 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Fairmeadow Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Fairmeadow Elementary has a composite rating of 8.5 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 Fairmeadow Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Fairmeadow Elementary has 82.0% math proficiency and 80.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Fairmeadow Elementary a charter school?
No, Fairmeadow Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Fairmeadow Elementary a Title I school?
No, Fairmeadow Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Fairmeadow Elementary?
9.8% of students at Fairmeadow 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 62 Somewhat Walkable
- Transit Score
- 34 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 93 Biker’s Paradise
- City Safety
- High (3,256/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Palo Alto). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 441
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 9.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Clara County
- Phone
- (650) 856-0845
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Palo Alto Unified- District Enrollment
- 10,271
- Schools in District
- 19
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $28,533
- District Rank
- #10 of 17
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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