San Mateo County Schools & Education
San Mateo County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,097
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#12
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: San Mateo County
Measured School Summary
San Mateo County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.5%.
Funding Context
San Mateo County spends $10,097 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 18% above the California average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 15% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read San Mateo County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
176 public schools and 38 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
65/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #12 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
88.5%
1.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$10,097
$1,335 above the state average
School coverage
176
38 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
San Mateo County has 176 public schools across 38 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What San Mateo County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
San Mateo County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#12
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 98% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
San Mateo-Foster City
Elementary and middle visible
10,043 students
22 listed schools in this county slice.
San Mateo Union High
High school only in this slice
8,899 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Sequoia Union High
High school only in this slice
8,489 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
South San Francisco Unified
Elementary to high school visible
7,844 students
17 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
San Mateo-Foster City is the largest listed district slice, with 22 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in San Mateo County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different San Mateo County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Comparison context
Compare San Mateo County With Nearby School Markets
San Mateo County appears in curated regional school comparisons where parents commonly weigh county lines, housing tradeoffs, commute, and district boundaries before narrowing to individual schools.
Bay Area
Alameda County vs Santa Clara County vs San Mateo County Schools
This comparison is for families weighing East Bay, South Bay, and Peninsula school signals alongside commute and housing cost.
Compared with
Alameda County, CA and Santa Clara County, CA
Current leader
San Mateo County, CA at 65/100
Graduation-rate leader: San Mateo County, CA at 88.5%
Education Overview
About Schools in San Mateo County, California
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Robust Infrastructure for Peninsula Students
San Mateo County supports 83,570 students across a diverse network of 176 public schools. This infrastructure includes 108 elementary, 26 middle, and 37 high schools managed by 38 distinct districts. Families can choose from traditional settings or the 14 charter schools that make up 8% of the county's options.
Spotlight on San Mateo-Foster City and South San Francisco
San Mateo-Foster City serves as the county's largest district, educating 10,043 students across 22 individual schools. South San Francisco Unified follows closely with 7,844 students, while Jefferson Elementary manages 14 schools. Sequoia Union High District operates several massive campuses, including Carlmont High with 2,322 enrolled students.
Suburban Learning with Large High School Campuses
Education here primarily takes place in suburban locales, which house 117 of the county's 176 schools. While the average school size is 492 students, high schools like Menlo-Atherton and Sequoia High often exceed 2,000 students. This mix offers a quintessential Bay Area suburban experience with highly populated, resource-rich secondary schools.
School Overview
Total Schools
176
in San Mateo County
Reported Enrollment
83,570
172 schools reporting
School Districts
38
districts
Charter Schools
14
8% of total
School Level Breakdown
38 School Districts in San Mateo County
San Mateo-Foster City
GuideSan Mateo Union High
GuideSequoia Union High
GuideSouth San Francisco Unified
GuideRedwood City Elementary
GuideJefferson Elementary
GuideBelmont-Redwood Shores Elementary
GuideJefferson Union High
GuideBurlingame Elementary
Pacifica
176 Public Schools in San Mateo County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 17 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 176 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlmont High | Profile | Sequoia Union High | Belmont, 94002Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,322 |
| Menlo-Atherton High | Profile | Sequoia Union High | Atherton, 94025Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,125 |
| Sequoia High | Profile | Sequoia Union High | Redwood City, 94062City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,909 |
| Aragon High | Profile | San Mateo Union High | San Mateo, 94402City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,740 |
| Woodside High | Profile | Sequoia Union High | Woodside, 94062Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,694 |
| Hillsdale High | Profile | San Mateo Union High | San Mateo, 94403City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,629 |
| San Mateo High | Profile | San Mateo Union High | San Mateo, 94401City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,613 |
| Burlingame High | Profile | San Mateo Union High | Burlingame, 94010Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,519 |
| Westmoor High | Profile | Jefferson Union High | Daly City, 94015Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,302 |
| South San Francisco High | Profile | South San Francisco Unified | South San Francisco, 94080City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,280 |
| El Camino High | Profile | South San Francisco Unified | South San Francisco, 94080City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,173 |
| Jefferson High | Profile | Jefferson Union High | Daly City, 94014Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,159 |
| Mills High | Profile | San Mateo Union High | Millbrae, 94030Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,141 |
| Ralston Intermediate | Profile | Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary | Belmont, 94002Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,117 |
| Capuchino High | Profile | San Mateo Union High | San Bruno, 94066Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,091 |
| Half Moon Bay High | Profile | Cabrillo Unified | Half Moon Bay, 94019Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,024 |
| Burlingame Intermediate | Profile | Burlingame Elementary | Burlingame, 94010Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,013 |
| Borel Middle | Record | San Mateo-Foster City | San Mateo, 94402City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 926 |
| Bowditch Middle | Record | San Mateo-Foster City | Foster City, 94404Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 908 |
| Hillview Middle | Record | Menlo Park City Elementary | Menlo Park, 94025Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 867 |
Carlmont High
Sequoia Union High
Belmont, 94002 / Suburb: Large
Menlo-Atherton High
Sequoia Union High
Atherton, 94025 / Suburb: Large
Sequoia High
Sequoia Union High
Redwood City, 94062 / City: Small
Aragon High
San Mateo Union High
San Mateo, 94402 / City: Midsize
Woodside High
Sequoia Union High
Woodside, 94062 / Suburb: Large
Hillsdale High
San Mateo Union High
San Mateo, 94403 / City: Midsize
San Mateo High
San Mateo Union High
San Mateo, 94401 / City: Midsize
Burlingame High
San Mateo Union High
Burlingame, 94010 / Suburb: Large
Westmoor High
Jefferson Union High
Daly City, 94015 / Suburb: Large
South San Francisco High
South San Francisco Unified
South San Francisco, 94080 / City: Small
El Camino High
South San Francisco Unified
South San Francisco, 94080 / City: Small
Jefferson High
Jefferson Union High
Daly City, 94014 / Suburb: Large
Mills High
San Mateo Union High
Millbrae, 94030 / Suburb: Large
Ralston Intermediate
Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary
Belmont, 94002 / Suburb: Large
Capuchino High
San Mateo Union High
San Bruno, 94066 / Suburb: Large
Half Moon Bay High
Cabrillo Unified
Half Moon Bay, 94019 / Town: Fringe
Burlingame Intermediate
Burlingame Elementary
Burlingame, 94010 / Suburb: Large
Hillview Middle
Menlo Park City Elementary
Menlo Park, 94025 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,097
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review San Mateo County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
How should I read the school score in San Mateo County?
What is the graduation rate in San Mateo County?
How much does San Mateo County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in San Mateo County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in San Mateo County, California?
San Mateo County supports 83,570 students across a diverse network of 176 public schools. This infrastructure includes 108 elementary, 26 middle, and 37 high schools managed by 38 distinct districts. Families can choose from traditional settings or the 14 charter schools that make up 8% of the county's options.
What are the major school districts in San Mateo County, California?
San Mateo-Foster City serves as the county's largest district, educating 10,043 students across 22 individual schools. South San Francisco Unified follows closely with 7,844 students, while Jefferson Elementary manages 14 schools. Sequoia Union High District operates several massive campuses, including Carlmont High with 2,322 enrolled students.
What is the school experience like in San Mateo County?
Education here primarily takes place in suburban locales, which house 117 of the county's 176 schools. While the average school size is 492 students, high schools like Menlo-Atherton and Sequoia High often exceed 2,000 students. This mix offers a quintessential Bay Area suburban experience with highly populated, resource-rich secondary schools.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.