Needs Improvement
#9042 of 9,539 schools in CA
Lead Elementary
Elementary School · San Mateo-Foster City
949 Ocean View Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401
Enrollment
349
Student-Teacher
19.4:1
Score
3.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
349
Student-Teacher
19.4:1
Score
3.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
California schools
#9,042 of 9,539
In San Mateo
#17 of 19
public schools
In district
#19 of 21
San Mateo-Foster City
School environment
7.8 / 10
Very Good
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Lead Elementary
Elementary School in San Mateo · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Bayside Academy
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Parkside Montessori
0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Lead Elementary
Lead Elementary is a public elementary school in San Mateo, CA, part of San Mateo-Foster City. Lead Elementary serves approximately 349 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Lead Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #9,042 of 9,539 schools in CA.
Structured state assessment records for Lead Elementary show 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 3.5 · Needs Improvement
- District avg 6.7
- CA avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
39% of students at Lead Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Lead Elementary — Students at Lead Elementary score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
61.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 36 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 2.2/10.
How Lead Elementary Compares
See how Lead Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
949 Ocean View Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Lead Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. College Park Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is North Shoreview Montessori (rated 9.3/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Parkside Montessori (rated 9.1/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in San Mateo, see our San Mateo schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bayside Academy San Mateo | 0.4 mi | 7.2 |
| Parkside Montessori San Mateo | 0.6 mi | 9.1 |
| ST TIMOTHY SCHOOL San Mateo | 0.6 mi | 6.3 |
| Sunnybrae Elementary San Mateo | 0.8 mi | 3.4 |
| North Shoreview Montessori San Mateo | 0.9 mi | 9.3 |
| Fiesta Gardens International Elementary San Mateo | 1.2 mi | 5.9 |
| CENTENNIAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL San Mateo | 1.3 mi | 7.4 |
| St. Matthew Catholic San Mateo | 1.3 mi | — |
| THE BURKARD SCHOOL San Mateo | 1.6 mi | 5.4 |
| UP ACADEMY San Mateo | 1.6 mi | — |
| The Burkard School San Mateo | 1.7 mi | — |
| EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL OF ST. MATTHEW San Mateo | 1.3 mi | 8.0 |
| FUSION ACADEMY SAN MATEO FOSTER CITY San Mateo | 1.4 mi | 7.3 |
| Fusion Academy San Mateo-Foster City San Mateo | 1.4 mi | — |
| COMPASS HIGH SCHOOL San Mateo | 1.7 mi | — |
| UP ACADEMY, INC. San Mateo | 1.7 mi | — |
| Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew San Mateo | 1.4 mi | — |
| THE NUEVA SCHOOL San Mateo | 1.8 mi | 7.4 |
| College Park Elementary San Mateo | 1.5 mi | 9.5 |
| Borel Middle San Mateo | 1.7 mi | 7.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 94401 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$121,258
Median Home Value
$1,123,300
Median Rent
$2,713/mo
Population
35,628
College Educated
45.3%
Homeownership
44.4%
Avg Commute
27.1 min
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Median Age
35.9
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Apple Valley Virtual Academy Apple Valley, CA | 3.5 |
| Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy Oakland, CA | 3.5 |
| BEATITUDES OF OUR LORD CATHOLIC SCHOOL La Mirada, CA | 3.5 |
| Barnett Elementary Ramona, CA | 3.5 |
| Citrus Glen Elementary Ventura, CA | 3.5 |
| Edenvale Elementary San Jose, CA | 3.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Lead Elementary
What grades does Lead Elementary serve?
Lead Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Lead Elementary?
Lead Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 349 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lead Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Lead Elementary is 19.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Lead Elementary rank in CA?
Lead Elementary ranks #9,042 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Lead Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Lead Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 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 Lead Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Lead Elementary has 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Lead Elementary a charter school?
No, Lead Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Lead Elementary a Title I school?
No, Lead Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lead Elementary?
61.3% of students at Lead 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 349
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 61.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- San Mateo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 39.0%
- Phone
- (650) 312-7550
Resources & Links
District
San Mateo-Foster City- District Enrollment
- 9,945
- Schools in District
- 22
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,671
- District Rank
- #19 of 21
Other Schools in This District
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