Can I use San Mateo County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the San Mateo County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in San Mateo County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in San Mateo County?

Start with the 176 listed public schools and 38 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

How does San Mateo County compare with nearby school counties?

San Mateo County appears in the Bay Area comparison with Alameda County, CA and Santa Clara County, CA. Use that regional guide to compare county school score, graduation rate, and spending before narrowing to individual districts and schools.

San Mateo County Schools & Education

Name: San Mateo County, California Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

San Mateo County, California

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

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

Elementary 18Middle 3High 0Other 1

22 listed schools in this county slice.

San Mateo Union High

High school only in this slice

8,899 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 7Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Sequoia Union High

High school only in this slice

8,489 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 6Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

South San Francisco Unified

Elementary to high school visible

7,844 students

Elementary 10Middle 3High 4Other 0

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%

Open regional guide Open interactive comparison

Data Story

San Mateo County Schools Surpass State Average Performance Metric

Education data brief for San Mateo County, California.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:School score

San Mateo County holds a composite school score of 64.8, positioning it significantly above the California state average of 55.4 and the national median of 50.0. The county manages 176 public schools with a total enrollment of 83,570 students, primarily across suburban locales. The largest district by student count is San Mateo-Foster City, which serves 10,043 students across 22 schools. High school graduation rates in the county stand at 88.5%, slightly exceeding the national benchmark of 87.0% and the state average of 87.5%. Per-pupil expenditure is recorded at $10,097, which is approximately $1,335 higher than the state average of $8,762 but remains below the national average of $13,000. Enrollment is concentrated in large high schools like Carlmont High, which serves 2,322 students. See the NCES Common Core of Data for school-level records.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

176

in San Mateo County

Reported Enrollment

83,570

172 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

8% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary108

Middle26

High37

Other5

38 School Districts in San Mateo County

San Mateo-Foster City

San Mateo Union High

Sequoia Union High

South San Francisco Unified

Redwood City Elementary

Jefferson Elementary

Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary

Jefferson Union High

Burlingame Elementary

8 schools

3,282 students

Pacifica

8 schools

2,750 students

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 data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 176 matching schools

Public schools in San Mateo County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
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

Profile9–12High2,322 students

Menlo-Atherton High

Sequoia Union High

Atherton, 94025 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,125 students

Sequoia High

Sequoia Union High

Redwood City, 94062 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,909 students

Aragon High

San Mateo Union High

San Mateo, 94402 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,740 students

Woodside High

Sequoia Union High

Woodside, 94062 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,694 students

Hillsdale High

San Mateo Union High

San Mateo, 94403 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,629 students

San Mateo High

San Mateo Union High

San Mateo, 94401 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,613 students

Burlingame High

San Mateo Union High

Burlingame, 94010 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,519 students

Westmoor High

Jefferson Union High

Daly City, 94015 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,302 students

South San Francisco High

South San Francisco Unified

South San Francisco, 94080 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,280 students

El Camino High

South San Francisco Unified

South San Francisco, 94080 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,173 students

Jefferson High

Jefferson Union High

Daly City, 94014 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,159 students

Mills High

San Mateo Union High

Millbrae, 94030 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,141 students

Ralston Intermediate

Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary

Belmont, 94002 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,117 students

Capuchino High

San Mateo Union High

San Bruno, 94066 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,091 students

Half Moon Bay High

Cabrillo Unified

Half Moon Bay, 94019 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,024 students

Burlingame Intermediate

Burlingame Elementary

Burlingame, 94010 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,013 students

Borel Middle

San Mateo-Foster City

San Mateo, 94402 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle926 students

Bowditch Middle

San Mateo-Foster City

Foster City, 94404 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle908 students

Hillview Middle

Menlo Park City Elementary

Menlo Park, 94025 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle867 students

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.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?

Sierra County (95.0%), El Dorado County (93.3%), and Colusa County (92.5%) currently lead California among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in California?

Across California counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,762. The highest current county values are Alpine County ($23,219), Mono County ($10,800), and Marin County ($10,425). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in San Mateo County?

San Mateo County has a school score of 65/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in San Mateo County?

The high school graduation rate in San Mateo County is 88.5%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does San Mateo County spend per student?

San Mateo County spends $10,097 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Napa County

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California

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Calaveras County

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+1 pts

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By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.

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