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Excellent

#158 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 2% in state

Henry M. Gunn High

High School · Palo Alto Unified

780 Arastradero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94306

Enrollment

1,713

Student-Teacher

17.1:1

Score

9.2

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#158 of 9,539

In Palo Alto

#5 of 15

public schools

In district

#5 of 17

Palo Alto Unified

School environment

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Henry M. Gunn High

9.2/10

High School in Palo Alto · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Bowman School

Nearby

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

Ellen Fletcher Middle

9.4/10

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

About Henry M. Gunn High

Henry M. Gunn High is a public high school in Palo Alto, CA, part of Palo Alto Unified. Henry M.

Gunn High serves approximately 1,713 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Henry M. Gunn High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #158 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Henry M. Gunn High show 85% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

What's said publicly about Henry M. Gunn High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Henry M. Gunn Senior High School is a public high school located in Palo Alto, California 1 . It is one of two public high schools in the city, the other being Palo Alto High School 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 9.2 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.9
  • CA avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.55 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics9.4Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency77.6% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency83.6% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+49.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+27.7 pts
Overall Proficiency81% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)69% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+11.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile90th
College Readiness9.2Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate97%
AP Participation54.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$28,533
Chronic Absenteeism12%

Henry M. Gunn High — Students at Henry M. Gunn High score 81% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

9.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 85.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
31.8% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 87.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
51.5% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 30 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
90%
ELA
88%
2010
Math
90%
ELA
93%
2011
Math
89%
ELA
88%
2012
Math
93%
ELA
93%
2013
Math
91%
ELA
88%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
91%
ELA
93%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
82%
2017
Math
86%
ELA
90%
2018
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2019
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2020*
Math
88%
ELA
90%
2021*
Math
88%
ELA
90%
2024
Math
77.6%
ELA
83.6%

* 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: 8.6/10.

How Henry M. Gunn High Compares

See how Henry M. Gunn High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.2/10
98th percentile in CA
Academic
9.4/10
Excellent
Growth
8.6/10
Excellent
Environment
9.9/10
Excellent
AP Courses
4
State avg: 2.6
Sports
29
15 boys' · 14 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
10%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
100 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.0%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4 AP courses offered
54.3% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics29sports offered
15 boys'·14 girls'·55 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

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

Location

780 Arastradero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94306

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Henry M. Gunn High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Bullis Charter (rated 9.7/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Los Altos), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Ellen Fletcher Middle (rated 9.4/10, 0.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle (rated 9.4/10, 1.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Palo Alto, see our Palo Alto schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Bowman School Palo Alto 0.4 mi
BOWMAN SCHOOL Palo Alto 0.4 mi 9.3
Ellen Fletcher Middle Palo Alto 0.4 mi 9.4
Juana Briones Elementary Palo Alto 0.5 mi 9.1
Barron Park Elementary Palo Alto 0.9 mi 8.7
Santa Rita Elementary Los Altos 0.8 mi 7.8
Shalem Palo Alto 1.0 mi
KEYS FAMILY DAY SCHOOL Palo Alto 1.2 mi 6.7
Ardis G. Egan Junior High Los Altos 1.0 mi 9.2
Gardner Bullis Elementary Los Altos Hills 1.4 mi 9.3
Bullis Charter Los Altos 1.1 mi 9.7
SCHOOL FOR INDEPENDENT LEARNERS Los Altos 1.1 mi
School for Independent Learners Los Altos 1.1 mi
El Carmelo Elementary Palo Alto 1.7 mi 7.5
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle Palo Alto 1.7 mi 9.4
Lucille M. Nixon Elementary Stanford 1.5 mi 9.2
Herbert Hoover Elementary Palo Alto 1.7 mi 9.2
Lydian Academy Palo Alto 1.8 mi
Fairmeadow Elementary Palo Alto 1.8 mi 8.9
CASA DEI BAMBINI SCHOOL Palo Alto 1.9 mi

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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Carlmont High Belmont, CA 9.2
Albany High Albany, CA 9.1
Jurupa Hills High Fontana, CA 9.1
Monta Vista High Cupertino, CA 9.1
Cupertino High Cupertino, CA 9.3
Mountain View High Mountain View, CA 9.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Henry M. Gunn High

What grades does Henry M. Gunn High serve?

Henry M. Gunn High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Henry M. Gunn High?

Henry M. Gunn High has an enrollment of approximately 1,713 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Henry M. Gunn High?

The student-teacher ratio at Henry M. Gunn High is 17.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Henry M. Gunn High rank in CA?

Henry M. Gunn High ranks #158 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Henry M. Gunn High's MySchoolScout rating?

Henry M. Gunn High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 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 Henry M. Gunn High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Henry M. Gunn High has 85% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Henry M. Gunn High a charter school?

No, Henry M. Gunn High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Henry M. Gunn High a Title I school?

No, Henry M. Gunn High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Henry M. Gunn High?

9.5% of students at Henry M. Gunn High 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
23 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
27 Some Transit
Bike Score
82 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,713
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
100
Free/Reduced Lunch
9.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Santa Clara County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.0%
4-Year Graduation
97.0%

District

Palo Alto Unified
District Enrollment
10,271
Schools in District
19
Per-Pupil Spending
$28,533
District Rank
#5 of 17

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