Average
#6499 of 9,533 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
5.6
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
349
Student-Teacher
19.4:1
Score
5.6
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In San Mateo
#14 of 19
public schools
California elementary schools
#3,867 of 5,817
In district
#15 of 21
San Mateo-Foster City
School environment
8.4 / 10
Very strong
About Lead Elementary
LEAD Elementary is a regular public elementary school located in San Mateo, California. Serving kindergarten through fifth grade, the school has an enrollment of 349 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 19.4:1 with 18 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. LEAD Elementary's MySchoolScout rating is 3.5 out of 10, reflecting its state ranking of #7869 among 9566 schools in California, placing it at the 18th percentile.
Academically, the school has an average score of 2.3 out of 10, with proficiency rates of 19% for ELA/Reading and 18% for Math across all grade levels. While these statistics show areas where LEAD Elementary is focusing on student development, its community setting offers many opportunities for growth and support. Located in a mid-size city, the school benefits from being part of San Mateo's vibrant educational landscape.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Lead Elementary are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
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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 12 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: 6.0/10.
How Lead Elementary Compares
See how Lead Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 24% (2019) to 17.65% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 23% (2019) to 18.06% (2024).
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. North Shoreview Montessori (rated 9.1/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Parkside Montessori (rated 8.9/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL OF ST. MATTHEW (rated 8.0/10, 1.3 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 | 6.1 |
| Parkside Montessori San Mateo | 0.6 mi | 8.9 |
| ST TIMOTHY SCHOOL San Mateo | 0.6 mi | 6.3 |
| Sunnybrae Elementary San Mateo | 0.8 mi | 5.0 |
| North Shoreview Montessori San Mateo | 0.9 mi | 9.1 |
| Fiesta Gardens International Elementary San Mateo | 1.2 mi | 6.6 |
| 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 | 7.0 |
| Borel Middle San Mateo | 1.7 mi | 5.6 |
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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Lead Elementary has a median household income of $121,258. 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 $1,123,300, with a median rent of $2,713/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.9%. 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 |
|---|---|
| BETHEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Redding, CA | 5.6 |
| Benjamin F. Beswick Elementary Tustin, CA | 5.6 |
| Biggs Elementary Biggs, CA | 5.6 |
| Bonsall West Elementary Oceanside, CA | 5.6 |
| CATHEDRAL OF ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL Stockton, CA | 5.6 |
| Chavez Elementary San Diego, CA | 5.6 |
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 is ranked #6499 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Lead Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Lead Elementary has a composite rating of 5.6 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 Lead Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lead Elementary has 17.7% math proficiency and 18.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (2,131/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Mateo). Data >1 year old.
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
- Phone
- (650) 312-7550
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
San Mateo-Foster City- District Enrollment
- 9,945
- Schools in District
- 22
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,671
- District Rank
- #15 of 21
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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