Excellent
#864 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 9% in state
Walter Hays Elementary
Elementary School · Palo Alto Unified
1525 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94301
Enrollment
295
Student-Teacher
21.1:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
295
Student-Teacher
21.1:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
California schools
#864 of 9,539
In Palo Alto
#13 of 15
public schools
In district
#14 of 17
Palo Alto Unified
Equity
9.6 / 10
Excellent
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Walter Hays Elementary
Elementary School in Palo Alto · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Tru School
0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
St. Elizabeth Seton
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Walter Hays Elementary
Walter Hays Elementary is a public elementary school in Palo Alto, CA, part of Palo Alto Unified. Walter Hays Elementary serves approximately 295 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Walter Hays Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #864 of 9,539 schools in CA.
Structured state assessment records for Walter Hays Elementary show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 8.5 · Excellent
- District avg 8.7
- CA avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
Walter Hays Elementary runs 21.1:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Walter Hays Elementary — Students at Walter Hays Elementary score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
15.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 34 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage 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: 7.6/10.
How Walter Hays Elementary Compares
See how Walter Hays Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
1525 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94301
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Walter Hays Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Duveneck Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is SYNAPSE SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 0.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Addison Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 0.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Palo Alto, see our Palo Alto schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| TRU SCHOOL Palo Alto | 0.2 mi | 5.8 |
| St. Elizabeth Seton Palo Alto | 0.4 mi | — |
| ST ELIZABETH SETON SCHOOL Palo Alto | 0.4 mi | 5.1 |
| Addison Elementary Palo Alto | 0.5 mi | 7.8 |
| Castilleja School Palo Alto | 0.5 mi | — |
| CASTILLEJA SCHOOL Palo Alto | 0.5 mi | 7.5 |
| Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle Palo Alto | 0.6 mi | 9.2 |
| SYNAPSE SCHOOL Palo Alto | 0.7 mi | 8.1 |
| CORNERSTONE LEARNING FOUNDATION Palo Alto | 0.6 mi | 5.7 |
| BBS Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | — |
| Duveneck Elementary Palo Alto | 0.7 mi | 8.6 |
| STRATFORD SCHOOL - PALO ALTO Palo Alto | 0.6 mi | 7.3 |
| Palo Alto High Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | 8.7 |
| GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | — |
| ODYSSEY MONTESSORI Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | — |
| Tru Palo Alto | 0.9 mi | — |
| Living Wisdom School of Palo Alto Palo Alto | 1.1 mi | — |
| LIVING WISDOM SCHOOL OF PALO ALTO Palo Alto | 1.1 mi | 6.3 |
| CASA DEI BAMBINI SCHOOL Palo Alto | 1.1 mi | — |
| Lydian Academy Palo Alto | 1.2 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 94301 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$235,529
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Rent
$3,290/mo
Population
17,126
College Educated
83.3%
Homeownership
51.6%
Avg Commute
23.7 min
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Median Age
45.4
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Academy for Enriched Sciences Encino, CA | 8.5 |
| Alamo Elementary San Francisco, CA | 8.5 |
| Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences San Diego, CA | 8.5 |
| Cypress Elementary Newbury Park, CA | 8.5 |
| Genevieve M. Crosby Elementary Garden Grove, CA | 8.5 |
| Grattan Elementary San Francisco, CA | 8.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Walter Hays Elementary
What grades does Walter Hays Elementary serve?
Walter Hays Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Walter Hays Elementary?
Walter Hays Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 295 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter Hays Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter Hays Elementary is 21.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Walter Hays Elementary rank in CA?
Walter Hays Elementary ranks #864 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Walter Hays Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Walter Hays Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 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 Walter Hays Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Walter Hays Elementary has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Walter Hays Elementary a charter school?
No, Walter Hays Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Walter Hays Elementary a Title I school?
No, Walter Hays Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Walter Hays Elementary?
15.6% of students at Walter Hays 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
- 295
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 15.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Clara County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.3%
- Phone
- (650) 322-5956
Resources & Links
District
Palo Alto Unified- District Enrollment
- 10,271
- Schools in District
- 19
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $28,533
- District Rank
- #14 of 17
Other Schools in This District
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