Excellent
#380 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 4% 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
8.8
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,713
Student-Teacher
17.1:1
Score
8.8
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Palo Alto
#5 of 15
public schools
California high schools
#52 of 1,892
In district
#7 of 17
Palo Alto Unified
School environment
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Henry M. Gunn High
Henry M. Gunn High is a public high school in Palo Alto, CA, part of the Palo Alto Unified. The school serves approximately 1,713 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 17.1:1.
It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.8/10, placing it in the 96th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall. Students demonstrate 81% proficiency in math, 50 points above the state average and 86% in reading/language arts, 35 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.7/10).
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's said publicly about Henry M. Gunn High
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Henry M. Gunn High — Students at Henry M. Gunn High score 81% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 70%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
9.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 8 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: 6.4/10.
How Henry M. Gunn High Compares
See how Henry M. Gunn High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 82% (2019) to 77.64% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 87% (2019) to 83.59% (2024).
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. Juana Briones Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is BOWMAN SCHOOL (rated 9.3/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Lucille M. Nixon Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby Stanford), which scores slightly higher. 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 | 8.8 |
| Juana Briones Elementary Palo Alto | 0.5 mi | 9.5 |
| Barron Park Elementary Palo Alto | 0.9 mi | 7.2 |
| Santa Rita Elementary Los Altos | 0.8 mi | 8.5 |
| 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 | 8.3 |
| Gardner Bullis Elementary Los Altos Hills | 1.4 mi | 8.6 |
| Bullis Charter Los Altos | 1.1 mi | 9.1 |
| 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 | 6.4 |
| Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle Palo Alto | 1.7 mi | 8.7 |
| Lucille M. Nixon Elementary Stanford | 1.5 mi | 9.3 |
| Herbert Hoover Elementary Palo Alto | 1.7 mi | 9.3 |
| Lydian Academy Palo Alto | 1.8 mi | — |
| Fairmeadow Elementary Palo Alto | 1.8 mi | 8.5 |
| 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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Henry M. Gunn High 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 |
|---|---|
| Cathedral City High Cathedral City, CA | 8.8 |
| Cupertino High Cupertino, CA | 8.8 |
| Erma Duncan Polytechnical High Fresno, CA | 8.8 |
| Jurupa Hills High Fontana, CA | 8.8 |
| King/Drew Medical Magnet High Los Angeles, CA | 8.8 |
| Lynbrook High San Jose, CA | 8.8 |
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 is ranked #380 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Henry M. Gunn High's MySchoolScout rating?
Henry M. Gunn High has a composite rating of 8.8 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 Henry M. Gunn High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Henry M. Gunn High has 81.3% math proficiency and 86.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 23 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 27 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 82 Very Bikeable
- 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
- 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
- Phone
- (650) 354-8200
- 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
- #7 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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