Excellent
#611 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 6% in state
Palo Alto High
High School · Palo Alto Unified · Palo Alto, CA
A Palo Alto Unified high school serving grades 9th – 12th.
50 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94301
- Math 70% vs CA 32% (2024)
- Reading 72% vs CA 52% (2024)
- 95.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Palo Alto High score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 8 points since 2019, to 71% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 82% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 85% (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
10.8%
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 Palo Alto 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 87Very Walkable
- Transit 49Some Transit
- Bike 100Biker’s Paradise
- 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
$235,529
Median home value
$2,000,001
Median rent
$3,290/mo
College educated
83.3%
Homeownership
51.6%
Poverty rate
4.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94301; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castilleja SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 6–12 | 0.3 mi | 416 | Compare → |
| Castilleja SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.5 | 6–12 | 0.3 mi | 422 | Compare → |
| Living Wisdom School of Palo AltoPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–12 | 0.8 mi | 76 | Compare → |
| Living Wisdom School of Palo AltoPrivate · tuition | 6.3 | K–12 | 0.8 mi | 72 | 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
- #11 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
Palo Alto High is listed in Palo Alto Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Palo Alto High
Palo Alto High is a public high school in Palo Alto, CA, part of Palo Alto Unified, serving approximately 1,932 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #611 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 85% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Palo Alto High
What grades does Palo Alto High serve?
Palo Alto High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Palo Alto High?
Palo Alto High has an enrollment of approximately 1,932 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palo Alto High?
The student-teacher ratio at Palo Alto High is 16.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Palo Alto High rank in CA?
Palo Alto High ranks #611 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Palo Alto High's MySchoolScout rating?
Palo Alto High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Palo Alto High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Palo Alto High has 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 85% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Palo Alto High a charter school?
No, Palo Alto High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Palo Alto High a Title I school?
No, Palo Alto High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Palo Alto High?
10.8% of students at Palo Alto 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
- 1,932
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 114
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Clara County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 15.3%
- Phone
- (650) 329-3701
- 4-Year Graduation
- 95.0%
- Area population (ZIP 94301)
- 17,126
- Area average commute
- 23.7 min
- Area median age
- 45.4
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 94301; 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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