51³Ô¹ÏÍøºÚÁÏ

Palo Alto Unified School District

25 Churchill Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306-1005
(District boundaries shown in map)
10/
10
Top 5%

Top Rankings

Palo Alto Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 5%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there is 1 public preschool serving 15 students in Palo Alto Unified School District.
Public Preschools in Palo Alto Unified School District have a diversity score of 0.69, which is less than the California public preschool average of 0.74.
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public preschool average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
20 Schools
48 Schools
# Students
10,254 Students
20,442 Students
# Teachers
600 Teachers
646 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1

District Rank

Palo Alto Unified School District, which is ranked #26 of all 1,910 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 98% has increased from 95% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (CA)
#27 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 5%)
78%
34%
82%
47%
72%
29%
98%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.72
0.74
% American Indian
n/a
2%
% Asian
41%
7%
% Hispanic
16%
44%
% Black
2%
12%
% White
29%
21%
% Hawaiian
1%
2%
% Two or more races
11%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $28,183 is higher than the state median of $19,974. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $30,120 is higher than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (CA)
Total Revenue
$289 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$309 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$28,183
$19,974
Spending / Student
$30,120
$18,396

Best Palo Alto Unified School District Public Preschools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Greendell
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4120 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-0833
Gr: K | 15 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%

Recent Articles

10 Advantages of Public Education in 2025
10 Advantages of Public Education in 2025
Explore 10 key benefits of public education in 2025, with fresh statistics, expert insights, and real-world examples for parents and educators.
COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. 51³Ô¹ÏÍøºÚÁÏ (2025)
COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. 51³Ô¹ÏÍøºÚÁÏ (2025)
Explore how COVID-19 continues to affect U.S. public schools in 2025: learning losses, enrollment shifts, mental health, and recovery strategies.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 20 schools
  • Grades: KG-12
  • Enrollment: 10,254 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 71%
  • : 98% (Top 1% in CA)
  • : Top 5%
  • : 78% (Top 5%)
  • : 82% (Top 5%)
  • : 72% (Top 5%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Quick Links