Excellent
#404 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 4% in state
Fairmeadow Elementary
Elementary School · Palo Alto Unified · Palo Alto, CA
A Palo Alto Unified elementary school where students score 13 points above what's typical for similar communities.
500 East Meadow Dr., Palo Alto, CA 94306
- Math 82% vs CA 39% (2024)
- Reading 81% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 21:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Fairmeadow Elementary score 82% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 6 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 82% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 84% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 82% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
9.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Fairmeadow Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Jose map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 62Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 34Some Transit
- Bike 93Biker’s Paradise
- City Safety: High3,256/100K
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Palo Alto), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$186,479
Median home value
$2,000,001
Median rent
$2,927/mo
College educated
80.5%
Homeownership
52.2%
Poverty rate
8.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94306; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achieve Inc.Private · tuition | 8.2private | 3–12 | 0.3 mi | 56 | Compare → |
| Herbert Hoover ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.2 | K–5 | 0.3 mi | 386 | Compare → |
| Challenger School - MiddlefieldPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–8 | 0.4 mi | 358 | Compare → |
| Imagination Lab SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–8 | 0.6 mi | 39 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Palo Alto Unified
- Schools in district
- 19
- Rank in district
- #10 of 17
- District spending per student
- $28,533NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 2.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Fairmeadow Elementary is listed in Palo Alto Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Fairmeadow Elementary
Fairmeadow Elementary is a public elementary school in Palo Alto, CA, part of Palo Alto Unified, serving approximately 441 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 21:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #404 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
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 ranks #404 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Fairmeadow Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Fairmeadow Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 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 Fairmeadow Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Fairmeadow Elementary has 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 441
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Clara County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 8.2%
- Phone
- (650) 856-0845
- Area population (ZIP 94306)
- 27,527
- Area average commute
- 22.9 min
- Area median age
- 41
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 94306; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.