Excellent
#919 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 10% in state
Lau (gordon J.) Elementary
Elementary School · San Francisco Unified
950 Clay St., San Francisco, CA 94108
Enrollment
650
Student-Teacher
27.1:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
650
Student-Teacher
27.1:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In San Francisco
#31 of 119
public schools
California elementary schools
#666 of 5,817
In district
#30 of 103
San Francisco Unified
Equity
9.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Lau (gordon J.) Elementary
Lau (gordon J.) Elementary is a public elementary school in San Francisco, CA, part of the San Francisco Unified. The school serves approximately 650 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 27.1:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 90.4th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 67% proficiency in math, 28 points above the state average and 58% in reading/language arts, 13 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.4/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $63,864, where 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large city setting.
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Lau (gordon J.) Elementary is 27.1:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Lau (gordon J.) Elementary — Students at Lau (gordon J.) Elementary score 63% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
82.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.4/10.
How Lau (gordon J.) Elementary Compares
See how Lau (gordon J.) Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 67% (2019) to 67.47% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 57% (2019) to 58.43% (2024).
Location
950 Clay St., San Francisco, CA 94108
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Lau (gordon J.) Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Parker (Jean) Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Chin (John Yehall) Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, STS PETER & PAUL SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 0.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in San Francisco, see our San Francisco schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 0.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton (Commodore) Children Center San Francisco | 0.1 mi | — |
| CUMBERLAND CHINESE SCHOOL San Francisco | 0.1 mi | 6.2 |
| Sovereign Private School San Francisco | 0.2 mi | — |
| Ecole Notre Dame Des Victoires San Francisco | 0.2 mi | — |
| Parker (Jean) Elementary San Francisco | 0.3 mi | 9.5 |
| ECOLE NOTRE DAME DES VICTOIRES SCHOOL San Francisco | 0.3 mi | 7.4 |
| STERNE SCHOOL San Francisco | 0.2 mi | 7.1 |
| Sterne School San Francisco | 0.2 mi | — |
| Lee (Edwin and Anita) Newcomer San Francisco | 0.3 mi | — |
| Cathedral School for Boys San Francisco | 0.3 mi | — |
| Chin (John Yehall) Elementary San Francisco | 0.4 mi | 9.4 |
| Enlighten Academy San Francisco | 0.5 mi | — |
| STS PETER & PAUL SCHOOL San Francisco | 0.5 mi | 7.5 |
| Garfield Elementary San Francisco | 0.5 mi | 6.9 |
| The New School of San Francisco San Francisco | 0.6 mi | 6.8 |
| Spring Valley Elementary San Francisco | 0.6 mi | 4.7 |
| Francisco Middle San Francisco | 0.7 mi | 5.8 |
| Fusion Academy San Francisco San Francisco | 0.7 mi | — |
| FUSION ACADEMY SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco | 0.7 mi | — |
| Yick Wo Elementary San Francisco | 0.7 mi | 6.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 94108 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$63,864
Median Home Value
$1,207,500
Median Rent
$1,562/mo
Population
11,008
College Educated
45.3%
Homeownership
9.1%
Avg Commute
27.1 min
Poverty Rate
19.7%
Median Age
45.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Lau (gordon J.) Elementary has a median household income of $63,864. It is a well-educated community where 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,207,500, with a median rent of $1,562/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.7%. The average commute for residents is 27 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 |
|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln Elementary La Crescenta, CA | 8.3 |
| Broadway Elementary Venice, CA | 8.3 |
| Buena Terra Elementary Buena Park, CA | 8.3 |
| Butterfield Ranch Elementary Chino, CA | 8.3 |
| CHANDLER SCHOOL Pasadena, CA | 8.3 |
| Canyon View Elementary San Diego, CA | 8.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Lau (gordon J.) Elementary
What grades does Lau (gordon J.) Elementary serve?
Lau (gordon J.) Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Lau (gordon J.) Elementary?
Lau (gordon J.) Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 650 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lau (gordon J.) Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Lau (gordon J.) Elementary is 27.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Lau (gordon J.) Elementary rank in CA?
Lau (gordon J.) Elementary is ranked #919 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Lau (gordon J.) Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Lau (gordon J.) Elementary has a composite rating of 8.3 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 Lau (gordon J.) Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lau (gordon J.) Elementary has 67.4% math proficiency and 58.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Lau (gordon J.) Elementary a charter school?
No, Lau (gordon J.) Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Lau (gordon J.) Elementary a Title I school?
No, Lau (gordon J.) Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lau (gordon J.) Elementary?
82.2% of students at Lau (gordon J.) 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 100 Walker's Paradise
- Transit Score
- 100 Rider’s Paradise
- Bike Score
- 60 Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (4,559/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Francisco). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 650
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 27.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 82.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- San Francisco County
- Phone
- (415) 291-7921
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
San Francisco Unified- District Enrollment
- 48,736
- Schools in District
- 113
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,909
- District Rank
- #30 of 103
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
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest 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.