Excellent
#158 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 2% in state
Henry M. Gunn High
High School · Palo Alto Unified · Palo Alto, CA
A Palo Alto Unified high school where students score 12 points above what's typical for similar communities.
780 Arastradero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94306
- Math 78% vs CA 32% (2024)
- Reading 84% vs CA 52% (2024)
- 97.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Henry M. Gunn High score 81% 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 8 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 81% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 85% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 88% (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 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
9.5%
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 Henry M. Gunn High 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 23Car-Dependent
- Transit 27Some Transit
- Bike 82Very Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,256/100K
Powered by
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.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowman SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–12 | 0.4 mi | 247 | Compare → |
| ShalemPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 9–12 | 1.0 mi | 9 | Compare → |
| School for Independent LearnersPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 9–12 | 1.1 mi | 13 | Compare → |
| School for Independent LearnersPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 8–12 | 1.1 mi | 14 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Palo Alto Unified
- Schools in district
- 19
- Rank in district
- #5 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
Henry M. Gunn High is listed in Palo Alto Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Henry M. Gunn High
Henry M. Gunn High is a public high school in Palo Alto, CA, part of Palo Alto Unified, serving approximately 1,713 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #158 of 9,539 schools in CA.
State assessment records 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
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 100
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Clara County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 12.0%
- Phone
- (650) 354-8200
- 4-Year Graduation
- 97.0%
- 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.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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