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Excellent

#419 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 4% in state

Foster City Elementary

Elementary School · San Mateo-Foster City

461 Beach Park Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404

Enrollment

679

Student-Teacher

22.6:1

Score

8.9

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#419 of 9,539

In Foster City

#2 of 5

public schools

In district

#6 of 21

San Mateo-Foster City

Equity

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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Foster City Elementary

8.9/10

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

Beach Park Elementary

5.3/10

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

Fusion Academy San Mateo Foster City

7.3/10

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

About Foster City Elementary

Foster City Elementary is a public elementary school in Foster City, CA, part of San Mateo-Foster City. Foster City Elementary serves approximately 679 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Foster City Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #419 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Foster City Elementary show 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares2.2 pts above district
  • This school 8.9 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.7
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Foster City Elementary runs 22.6:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.9Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.37 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics9.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency79.7% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency74.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+34 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+31.6 pts
Overall Proficiency77% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)67% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+9.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,671
Chronic Absenteeism11.6%

Foster City Elementary — Students at Foster City Elementary score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

12.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 82.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
39.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 78.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.3% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 34 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
89%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
88%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
86%
ELA
79%
2014
Math
81%
ELA
76%
2015
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
84%
ELA
78%
2017
Math
83%
ELA
80%
2018
Math
84%
ELA
80%
2019
Math
84%
ELA
80%
2020*
Math
79%
ELA
78%
2021*
Math
79%
ELA
78%
2022
Math
83.7%
ELA
82%
2024
Math
79.7%
ELA
74.1%

* 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: 8.9/10.

How Foster City Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.9/10
96th percentile in CA
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
8.9/10
Excellent
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
12%
Teaching Staff
23:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.6%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

461 Beach Park Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Foster City Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Parkside Montessori (rated 9.1/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby San Mateo), with a very similar rating. Another option is George Hall Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby San Mateo), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Central Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 1.6 miles away, in nearby Belmont), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Foster City, see our Foster City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Beach Park Elementary Foster City 0.6 mi 5.3
FUSION ACADEMY SAN MATEO FOSTER CITY San Mateo 0.9 mi 7.3
Fusion Academy San Mateo-Foster City San Mateo 0.9 mi
RONALD C WORNICK JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Foster City 0.9 mi 7.5
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School Foster City 1.0 mi
Design Tech High Redwood City 1.1 mi 9.2
George Hall Elementary San Mateo 1.1 mi 9.0
Brewer Island Elementary Foster City 1.3 mi 8.7
Nesbit Elementary Belmont 1.5 mi 7.4
San Mateo County Special Education Redwood City 1.5 mi 4.1
Central Elementary Belmont 1.6 mi 8.8
Kids' Connection Foster City 1.7 mi
KIDS CONNECTION ELEMENTARY Foster City 1.7 mi 5.6
THE NUEVA SCHOOL San Mateo 1.4 mi 7.4
Fiesta Gardens International Elementary San Mateo 1.5 mi 5.9
Audubon Elementary Foster City 1.7 mi 8.6
Parkside Montessori San Mateo 1.7 mi 9.1
Redwood Shores Elementary Redwood City 1.5 mi 8.0
Bowditch Middle Foster City 1.7 mi 9.2
Bayside Academy San Mateo 1.8 mi 7.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94404 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$182,417

Median Home Value

$1,682,700

Median Rent

$3,501/mo

Population

35,950

College Educated

74.5%

Homeownership

51.1%

Avg Commute

30.2 min

Poverty Rate

4.7%

Median Age

40.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary Manhattan Beach, CA 8.9
Bella Vista Elementary Monterey Park, CA 8.9
Birney Elementary Redondo Beach, CA 8.9
Birney Elementary San Diego, CA 8.9
Carpenter Community Charter Studio City, CA 8.9
Carver (Charles J.) Elementary Cerritos, CA 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Foster City Elementary

What grades does Foster City Elementary serve?

Foster City Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Foster City Elementary?

Foster City Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 679 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Foster City Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Foster City Elementary is 22.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Foster City Elementary rank in CA?

Foster City Elementary ranks #419 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Foster City Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Foster City 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 Foster City Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Foster City Elementary has 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Foster City Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Foster City Elementary a Title I school?

No, Foster City Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

12.4% of students at Foster City 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
73 Very Walkable
Bike Score
73 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
679
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Free/Reduced Lunch
12.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
San Mateo County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.6%

District

San Mateo-Foster City
District Enrollment
9,945
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,671
District Rank
#6 of 21

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