For the 2025 school year, there are 23 public schools serving 10,898 students in Palo Alto, CA (there are , serving 12,542 private students). 46% 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 75% 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 (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
445 East Charleston Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 320-8106
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 320-8106
Grades: K-5
| 386 students
Rank: #22.
Juana Briones Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
4100 Orme St.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0877
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0877
Grades: K-5
| 260 students
Rank: #33.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
655 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-9810
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-9810
Grades: 6-8
| 549 students
Rank: #44.
Duveneck Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
705 Alester Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 322-5946
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 322-5946
Grades: K-5
| 349 students
Rank: #55.
Ohlone Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
950 Amarillo Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1726
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1726
Grades: K-5
| 448 students
Rank: #66.
Henry M. Gunn High School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
780 Arastradero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 354-8200
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 354-8200
Grades: 9-12
| 1,713 students
Rank: #77.
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
480 East Meadow Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-5188
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-5188
Grades: 6-8
| 1,025 students
Rank: #88.
Palo Verde Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3450 Louis Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1672
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-1672
Grades: K-5
| 366 students
Rank: #99.
Palo Alto High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
50 Embarcadero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-3701
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-3701
Grades: 9-12
| 1,932 students
Rank: #1010.
Fairmeadow Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
500 East Meadow Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0845
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0845
Grades: K-5
| 441 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Addison Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
650 Addison Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5935
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5935
Grades: K-5
| 338 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
El Carmelo Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3024 Bryant St.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0960
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 856-0960
Grades: K-5
| 314 students
Rank: #1313.
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
750 North California Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(408) 494-8120
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(408) 494-8120
Grades: 6-8
| 760 students
Rank: #1414.
Walter Hays Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1525 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5956
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-5956
Grades: K-5
| 295 students
Rank: #1515.
Greendell
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4120 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-0833
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-0833
Grades: K
| 15 students
Rank: #1616.
Barron Park Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
800 Barron Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 858-0508
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 858-0508
Grades: K-5
| 229 students
Rank: #1717.
Oxford Day Academy
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1001 Beech St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 260-3152
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 260-3152
Grades: 9-12
| 105 students
Rank: #1818.
East Palo Alto Academy
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1050 Myrtle St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 893-8900
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 893-8900
Grades: 9-12
| 287 students
Rank: #1919.
Costano Elementary School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2695 Fordham St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2830
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2830
Grades: K-5
| 318 students
Rank: #2020.
Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 13%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2450 Ralmar St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2828
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2828
Grades: 6-8
| 482 students
Rank: #2121.
Los Robles-ronald Mcnair Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2033 Pulgas Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2888
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2888
Grades: K-5
| 266 students
Rank: n/an/a
725 Welch Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 497-8230
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 497-8230
Grades: K-12
| 20 students
Rank: n/an/a
12345 El Monte Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 849-7955
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 849-7955
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Palo Alto, California Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
1039 Garden St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 325-1460
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 325-1460
Grades: 9-12
| 202 students
2086 Clarke St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2881
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2881
Grades: K-5
| n/a students
2450 Ralmar St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-6700
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-6700
Grades: 8
| 121 students
2450 Ralmar St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-6700
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-6700
Grades: 4-8
| 514 students
2086 Clarke St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 614-4300
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 614-4300
Grades: 6-8
| 110 students
2450 Ralmar St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2800
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2800
Grades: K-5
| 35 students
951 Oconnor St. E.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2800
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2800
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
420 Florence St., Ste. 300
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(877) 806-0920
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(877) 806-0920
Grades: K-3
| n/a students
2033 Pulgas Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2800
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2800
Grades: 6-8
| 114 students
Po Box 51071
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 328-5696
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 328-5696
Grades: K-7
| 49 students
Sequoia Community Day (Closed 2015)
Alternative School
763 Green St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 323-1085
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 323-1085
Grades: 9-12
| 41 students
South Community High School (Closed 2013)
Alternative School
2031 Pulgas Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 599-1517
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 599-1517
Grades: 9-12
| 8 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Palo Alto, CA?
The top ranked public schools in Palo Alto, CA include Herbert Hoover Elementary School, Juana Briones Elementary School and Ellen Fletcher Middle School. Palo Alto has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in California.
How many public schools are located in Palo Alto?
23 public schools are located in Palo Alto.
What percentage of students in Palo Alto go to public school?
46% 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 75% 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?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Palo Alto include: Fairmeadow Elementary School vs. Herbert Hoover Elementary School, Herbert Hoover Elementary School vs. Fairmeadow Elementary School, Ohlone Elementary School vs. Walter Hays Elementary School
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