Best public schools in Palo Alto, CA
All 17 public schools in Palo Alto, ranked by the share of students who met California's reading (ELA) standard on the spring 2026 state tests, with math results and nearby home values.
17public schools
9,211students enrolled, 2025-26
82%median school, reading (ELA)
78%median school, math
$3.37Mmedian typical home value across school ZIP codes
Herbert Hoover Elementary has the highest reading result in Palo Alto at 91%, and Juana Briones Elementary has the highest math result at 93%. The median Palo Alto school is 22 points above the Santa Clara County reading average (60%) and 32 points above the California average (49%). Schools here belong to Palo Alto Unified. Typical home values in these schools' ZIP codes range from $2.06M to $4.34M.
Palo Alto elementary schools
| Rank | School | District | Reading (ELA) | Math | Typical home value (ZIP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herbert Hoover ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 91% | 92% | $3.37M |
| 2 | Fairmeadow ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 85% | 86% | $3.37M |
| 3 | Ohlone ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 84% | 85% | $2.06M |
| 4 | Juana Briones ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 82% | 93% | $3.37M |
| 5 | Addison ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 78% | 74% | $4.34M |
| 6 | Walter Hays ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 77% | 74% | $4.34M |
| 7 | Palo Verde ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 76% | 78% | $2.06M |
| 8 | Duveneck ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 73% | 76% | $2.06M |
| 9 | El Carmelo ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 71% | 68% | $3.37M |
| 10 | Barron Park ElementaryPalo Alto · Grades K-5 | Palo Alto Unified | 62% | 66% | $3.37M |
| 11 | GreendellPalo Alto · Grades P-K | Palo Alto Unified | n/a | n/a | $2.06M |
Palo Alto middle schools
| Rank | School | District | Reading (ELA) | Math | Typical home value (ZIP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jane Lathrop Stanford MiddlePalo Alto · Grades 6-8 | Palo Alto Unified | 85% | 84% | $3.37M |
| 2 | Ellen Fletcher MiddlePalo Alto · Grades 6-8 | Palo Alto Unified | 84% | 77% | $3.37M |
| 3 | Frank S. Greene Jr. MiddlePalo Alto · Grades 6-8 | Palo Alto Unified | 80% | 76% | $2.06M |
Palo Alto high schools
| Rank | School | District | Reading (ELA) | Math | UC admits, fall 2025 | Typical home value (ZIP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto HighPalo Alto · Grades 9-12 | Palo Alto Unified | 82% | 78% | 265 | $4.34M |
| 2 | Henry M. Gunn HighPalo Alto · Grades 9-12 | Palo Alto Unified | 82% | 81% | 260 | $3.37M |
Palo Alto K-12 schools
| Rank | School | District | Reading (ELA) | Math | Typical home value (ZIP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Packard Children's Hospital/StanfordPalo Alto · Grades K-12 | Palo Alto Unified | n/a | n/a | $3.19M |
How Palo Alto compares
| Spring 2026 | Reading (ELA) | Math |
|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto (median school) | 82% | 78% |
| Santa Clara County | 60% | 54% |
| California | 49% | 38% |