Excellent
#1396 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 15% 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
8.0
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
295
Student-Teacher
21.1:1
Score
8.0
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Palo Alto
#13 of 15
public schools
California elementary schools
#993 of 5,817
In district
#15 of 17
Palo Alto Unified
Equity
9.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Walter Hays Elementary
Walter Hays Elementary serves 295 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Palo Alto, offering a strong academic foundation in one of California's most education-focused communities. With 14 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 21.1 to 1, providing reasonable class sizes for elementary learners. The school demonstrates exceptional academic performance, earning a 9.0 out of 10 rating and ranking #196 out of 9,566 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 98th percentile.
Students consistently excel in core subjects, with 78% achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and 79% meeting or exceeding standards in mathematics across all grade levels. Walter Hays Elementary draws families from a highly educated community where 81% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The school's 94301 zip code reflects Palo Alto's affluent character, with a median household income of $217,611 and median home values around $2 million, while maintaining a low poverty rate of just 4%.
Located on Middlefield Road, Walter Hays Elementary sits in the heart of Palo Alto's family-oriented neighborhoods, where the commitment to educational excellence runs deep throughout this small but influential Silicon Valley city.
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Walter Hays Elementary is 21.1:1, 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
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Walter Hays Elementary — Students at Walter Hays Elementary score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).
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 12 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: 6.7/10.
How Walter Hays Elementary Compares
See how Walter Hays Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 83% (2019) to 79.39% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 83% (2019) to 78.13% (2024).
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 8.8/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Addison Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, SYNAPSE SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar 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 | 8.1 |
| 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 | 8.5 |
| 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 | 8.8 |
| STRATFORD SCHOOL - PALO ALTO Palo Alto | 0.6 mi | 7.3 |
| Palo Alto High Palo Alto | 0.8 mi | 8.1 |
| 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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Walter Hays Elementary has a median household income of $235,529. It is a well-educated community where 83% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $2,000,001, with a median rent of $3,290/month. The local poverty rate of 4.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 24 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 |
|---|---|
| Anna A. Borba Fundamental Elementary Chino, CA | 8.0 |
| Birdielee V. Bright Elementary Los Angeles, CA | 8.0 |
| Bixby Elementary Hacienda Heights, CA | 8.0 |
| Buena Vista Elementary Tulare, CA | 8.0 |
| Coastal Grove Charter Arcata, CA | 8.0 |
| Coliseum Street Elementary Los Angeles, CA | 8.0 |
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 is ranked #1396 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Walter Hays Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Walter Hays Elementary has a composite rating of 8.0 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 Walter Hays Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Walter Hays Elementary has 78.7% math proficiency and 77.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 49 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 29 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 80 Very Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (3,256/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Palo Alto). Data >1 year old.
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
- Phone
- (650) 322-5956
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Palo Alto Unified- District Enrollment
- 10,271
- Schools in District
- 19
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $28,533
- District Rank
- #15 of 17
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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