Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Palo Alto Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 22 public schools serving 10,879 students in Palo Alto, CA (there are 35 private schools, serving 4,626 private students). 73% of all K-12 students in Palo Alto, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%). Palo Alto has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in California.
The top-ranked public schools in Palo Alto, CA are Herbert Hoover Elementary School, Juana Briones Elementary School and Ellen Fletcher Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Palo Alto, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 68% (versus the California public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 72% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Palo Alto have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of California public schools.
Minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Asian), which is less than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Palo Alto, CA (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
445 East Charleston Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 320-8106
Gr: K-5 | 389 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #22.
Juana Briones Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
4100 Orme St.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0877
Gr: K-5 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #33.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
655 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-9810
Gr: 6-8 | 572 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #44.
Duveneck Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
705 Alester Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 322-5946
Gr: K-5 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #55.
Ohlone Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
950 Amarillo Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1726
Gr: K-5 | 464 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #66.
Henry M. Gunn High School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
780 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 354-8200
Gr: 9-12 | 1,643 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #77.
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
480 East Meadow Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-5188
Gr: 6-8 | 1,002 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #88.
Palo Verde Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3450 Louis Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1672
Gr: K-5 | 334 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #99.
Palo Alto High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
50 Embarcadero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-3701
Gr: 9-12 | 1,891 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1010.
Fairmeadow Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
500 East Meadow Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0845
Gr: K-5 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Addison Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
650 Addison Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5935
Gr: K-5 | 366 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
El Carmelo Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3024 Bryant St.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0960
Gr: K-5 | 282 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1313.
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
750 North California Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(408) 494-8120
Gr: 6-8 | 732 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1414.
Walter Hays Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1525 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5956
Gr: K-5 | 305 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1515.
Greendell
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4120 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-0833
Gr: K | 26 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1616.
Barron Park Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
800 Barron Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 858-0508
Gr: K-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1717.
Oxford Day Academy
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
763 Green St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 260-3152
Gr: 9-12 | 108 students Student-teacher ratio: 36:1
Rank: #1818.
East Palo Alto Academy
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1050 Myrtle St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 893-8900
Gr: 9-12 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1919.
Costano Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2695 Fordham St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2830
Gr: K-5 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2020.
Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 13%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2450 Ralmar St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2828
Gr: 6-8 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2121.
Los Robles-ronald Mcnair Academy
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2033 Pulgas Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2888
Gr: K-5 | 276 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: n/an/a
Packard Children's Hospital/stanford
725 Welch Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 497-8230
Gr: K-12 | 15 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 73%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Palo Alto, CA?
How many public schools are located in Palo Alto?
22 public schools are located in Palo Alto.
What percentage of students in Palo Alto go to public school?
73% of all K-12 students in Palo Alto are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto public schools minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Asian), which is less than the California public schools average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Palo Alto are often viewed compared to one another?

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