2023 Best School Districts in the San Francisco Bay Area

• Palo Alto, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  63 reviews

Senior: PAUSD provides excellent support to students and parents alike, through a broad variety of class types and difficulties, accessible teachers and staff that are available and eager to help during and after school hours, consistent support for college applications, and informative sessions and newsletters for parents. The student networking and community resources are also robust. Campus culture is inviting and encourages exploration beyond one's own comfort zone. The experience at PAUSD, especially in high school, can be intense, but the level of pressure is controllable and customizable when one is well acquainted with their needs, including intellectual, emotional, and academic goals and boundaries.... Read 63 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 19

• Students 11,395

• Mountain View, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.35 out of 5  34 reviews

Senior: The teachers, resources, and student activities are great. There are many teachers who are clearly happy to be there and truly passionate about the material they teach. They are open to sacrificing their lunches to help students out and support any endeavors that the students embark on. Likewise, the counselors and all student resources are robust and plentiful, resulting in an environment that is very open and conducive towards personal growth. At the same time, the students have spirit and are high-achieving, but not competitive, fostering an enriching academic environment. Our school has many successful student organizations like robotics and speech and debate that all emphasize collaboration as a path towards success. I can't say the same for our administration.... Read 34 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 3

• Students 4,563

• Los Gatos, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  34 reviews

Senior: The school is great, besides the gap between normal classes and AP classes. Advanced classes rely on knowledge from the previous year’s advanced class in that subject. This limits students’ ability improve as they often can only choose between college prep and AP, with no honors that they can use as a stepping stone for improvement. I’ve seen and experienced this in both English and History courses, and have seen others rejected for more advanced math (that they are willing to put extra effort in). Additionally, the difference in student population is crazy. Disclaimer: the following is just a stereotype, there are exceptions. All of the well-behaved, confident students are pushing themselves academically in the AP courses, while the awkward kids and the rowdy football kids are focused more on their social lives than their normal course. The shy kids in those courses don’t speak up for themselves when they are uncomfortable.... Read 34 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 2

• Students 3,470

• Lafayette, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4 out of 5  32 reviews

Junior: I feel like I have received a quality education as a student in the Acalanes Union High School District. I have had pleasant experiences in academics and pleasant interactions with my teachers. I believe that the course offerings in this district are exceptional and that the advance placement courses I have taken have played a great part in preparing me for college. The athletic programs offered at these schools are also exceptional and I have enjoyed the relationships I've formed in these programs. Overall it's a great district!... Read 32 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 5

• Students 5,535

• Sunnyvale, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  114 reviews

Senior: The Fremont Union High School District is a well-regarded school district in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is known for its strong academic programs, dedicated teachers, and diverse student population. The district has a high standard for education and offers a variety of extracurricular activities and clubs for students to participate in. The community and parents are also very supportive of the schools. However, like any school district, there may be areas for improvement such as funding, facilities, and resources. Some students may find that the district lacks in certain resources, or that the class sizes are too large which can make it difficult for individualized attention. Additionally, some student have reported that the district does not have enough support for mental health, which is becoming increasingly important for students to have.... Read 114 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 10,836

• Pleasanton, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  59 reviews

Senior: I have been a student in Pleasanton Unified School District for over seven years. Because Pleasanton is a relatively affluent area, the school district receives a large amount of funding. There are new buildings in the schools specially designed to fit career-specific classes. There are electronic devices for every student. The teachers are also generally good and helpful. The food is probably the one lacking aspect although it may just be nitpicking. The schools feel safe and clean. Admin is generally on top of things and has good communication. School spirit, at least at my school is pretty nonexistent however.... Read 59 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 16

• Students 14,469

• Larkspur, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  24 reviews

Senior: Tamalpais high school has a beautiful accessible campus. The school has two gyms, a pool, a weight room and football fields as well as soccer and baseball fields. Tamalpais high school is one of the most beautiful schools I've ever been too and it's staff, employees and teachers are all nice and fun to talk too! Tamalpais high school gave me many opportunities to learn and being able to fit in among many other students from the area and even students from many other countries .... Read 24 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 5

• Students 5,166

• San Mateo, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  71 reviews

Senior: The San Mateo Union High School District is great. There are many friendly students and teachers that are willing and ready to help you succeed. Attending 2 different high schools in this district, I can say that there are many caring and helpful teachers who have the best intentions of teaching students as best they can. They are very supportive and seek to improve the quality in which we learn. In addition, there is a lot of spirit and pride within each school. We love showing out and competing with one another. On the other hand, while most of the student populations of each school are diverse, there are schools that are not. Attending one of these schools myself, I did not find myself enjoying the environment I learned in. This decreased my quality of learning. Unable to really relate or connect to anyone around me, I found school to be a dreadful place. It took a toll on my performance. As a result, I dislike the schools whose student populations aren’t really diverse.... Read 71 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 8

• Students 9,203

• Danville, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  125 reviews

Works Here: San Ramon Valley Unified School District has a great community of students, families, teachers, administration and support staff. We have custodians who keep our schools pristine, maintenance teams who ensures our schools are operational, an efficient warehouse team who receive and delivery everything across our district, teachers who are dedicated to student's learning and administration who prioritize student social emotional wellbeing. SRVUSD is the place to be!... Read 125 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 37

• Students 30,376

• Piedmont, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  8 reviews

Alum: Fantastic school district, very safe and provides a lot for the students. Right now is under construction but surely will be back to normal, if not better, afterwards.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 7

• Students 2,464

• Dublin, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  68 reviews

Senior: Your experience definitely depends on which side of town you live on. The East side of the school district is more competitive and focused on academics than the West side of town. As of right now, all schools feed into Dublin High School. Again, your experience changes depending on the types of classes you take. People who take AP classes experience intense competition and the environment can often be toxic. There have been major instances of cheating in the past. However, if students take a good balance of AP, honors, and regular courses, it is possible to receive a well rounded education. Recently, STEM education has increased in all levels of education due to higher demand. The arts are still somewhat neglected but the music program and visual arts programs are also rapidly improving.... Read 68 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 14

• Students 12,625

• Berkeley, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  17 reviews

Senior: I have been going to Albany schools my whole life and I am a current senior graduating in 2019. It is a very small campus and this may not appeal to all but I enjoyed the community feel. My counselor Ms.Burns was excellent and extremely helpful. The principle Ms. Ritchie is attentive responsive even if she can't help in the way that you would want. They offer difficult courses and I think that the classes are the best thing going for the school. I was happy that my teachers pushed me regarding my school work. There are a lot of teachers who have been teacher there for a long time, the new teachers aren't as good. There are loads of clubs for such a small school and I recommend getting involved in any ways that you can. I was president of two clubs and it provided me with great leadership experience.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 3,501

• Redwood City, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  81 reviews

Senior: During my time in the Sequoia Union High School district, I've noticed that the district is committed to providing a high-quality education to its students, offering diverse academic programs and extracurricular activities, and promoting a supportive and inclusive community for all students. Their dedicated teachers and engaged community make the Sequoia Union High School District an excellent choice for students seeking a comprehensive and enriching educational experience.... Read 81 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 9,055

• Berkeley, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  64 reviews

Senior: I love the fact that Berkeley unified school district offers a lot of opportunities for its students. For example, In elementary school, I was required to learn how to use an instrument. At my highschool, I get to take one of the only fire science classes in the entire state. I also love how diverse all of my classes have been ever since I can remember going to Berkeley schools. One thin I think BUSD could work on is having more teachers of color. I have only had one black clasroomteacher in my 13 years of being a student.... Read 64 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 17

• Students 9,409

• Santa Clara, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  67 reviews

Sophomore: I believe the Santa Clara Unified School District is the Best School District in our area, as it preps us for the realworld STEM experience needed to survive right in the heart of Silicon Valley!... Read 67 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 27

• Students 14,808

• Fremont, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  135 reviews

Junior: I have been to two schools in Fremont unified school district. While I believe one of the brick and motor schools needs to hire teachers that care more about there students this isn’t the case for vista alternative (an independent studies) school as I believe they havereally great teachers! All the teachers at vista were helpful and actually seemed like they wanted you to succeed and work towards your full potential. Although I am leaving vista in senior year it defiantly is not because I didn’t like the school. In fact, I had a great experience but would like to partake in senior activities and graduation in which I would t have at vista.... Read 135 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 43

• Students 35,187

• Alameda, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  63 reviews

Sophomore: I think personally as someone who is more focused on grades than sports, alameda is a good district that gives good opportunities to pick your own pace and learn the best way you can. Besides academics, alameda’s school districts recently banned the usual discriminatory dress code that prevented mainly girls from having as much freedom as men when getting ready to go to school. With that old dress code abolished, girls can more openly express their styles through clothing. Also, being in the bay area, there is tons of racial and lgbtq diversity in the school and discrimination is not tolerated. it gives a safe environment for minority groups.... Read 63 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 16

• Students 9,071

• Castro Valley, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  73 reviews

Senior: As a senior, I have seen Castro Valley High School develop. The students give feedback to the administration and the leadership team and are persistent in giving the students what they've wished for. Last year, students felt like there was a need for an all-gender bathroom on campus and the administration took the request into account so when I came back to school, I saw a new all-gender bathroom in the 300 hall!... Read 73 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 16

• Students 9,203

• Milpitas, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  56 reviews

Senior: Calaveras High School has really helped to shape me into the person I am today. Because of Calaveras High School, I become more confident as a person, and now, a natural leader. Although there were several fights and incidents within the four years I attended, my overall experience was positive. You don't only learn academically, but also personally, discovering who you are as a person. There are many staff and students who are willing to help you, all you have to do is ask! I'm thankful to have attended Calaveras High School and create memories that will last a lifetime.... Read 56 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 14

• Students 10,413

• San Jose, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  37 reviews

Senior: I've been at Del Mar for the past 4 years, I would say this school is very open to everything and very inclusive they make sure everyone fits in and care for our education. The staff are very supportive of every student and help them succeed. They listen to parents'/students' requests to make this school better. Del Mar has multiple good classes for everyone, it gives students an opportunity to prepare themselves for the real world and gain some experience in the field. I would say the best class they offer would be avid because they help us prepare for college but also support us so we don't feel alone especially if we're first generation.... Read 37 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 6

• Students 8,583

• Brentwood, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  156 reviews

Senior: I am very involved at Liberty high school. I play baseball, water polo, and swim. I'm in NHS, CSF, Honor role, and math club. My unweighted GPA is a 3.9. I love going to Liberty. I have made my first real friends that I want to stay friends with after high school. I found the sport I am going to be playing in college: water polo. I have made unforgettable memories and have learned life long lessons. I love most of the staff and they are so helpful. However, like with most things there are some bad apples but I really cannot complain about much. The student life, activities, and extracurriculars are really fun and exciting. I will say however, some of the policies don't always make sense. There have also been some very terrible teachers that have spent years there before getting fired. however, overall I am happy that I got to attend Liberty.... Read 156 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 5

• Students 8,222

• San Francisco, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  263 reviews

Alum: I think one of the strengths of my high school was definitely diversity with people and programs offered. There’s a great selection of sports and visual and performing arts and anyone can join. The coaches will do their part in melding their students to become talented individuals whilst providing them the necessary resources. The one downfall I would say is the large spectrum of teachers. I wouldn’t say all teachers are the best of the best, but if you’re lucky you’ll get a teacher who loves teaching and is truly dedicated to helping you succeed. To overcome this hurdle, I’d definitely recommend you visit RateYourTeacher to navigate what teachers are fit your needs and speak to your counselor early on to help you get that specific teacher. Overall, I really enjoyed my high school experience and hope you or your child does too!... Read 263 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 114

• Students 51,790

• Benicia, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  22 reviews

Senior: I transferred to Benicia High from Vallejo High School because my Mom wanted me to get a better education and I definitely did. The people are friendly and most of my teachers actually cared about the students and wanted to teach. I love a lot of the teachers I met while studying at Benicia High and I feel like they really try their best to try to set their students up for success after high school. I just wish they would provide more resources in terms of scholarships and internship opportunities and make their resources more well-known. Although overall, it is a great school with so many great teachers.... Read 22 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 8

• Students 4,526

• San Jose, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  210 reviews

Senior: East Side Union Highschool District was pretty good over all! My school did have enough funding for quality mental health services, which was the highlight of my high school experience. Unfortunately the lack of consistency was rather frustrating but it's a small price to pay for a good education.... Read 210 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 16

• Students 22,488

• Livermore, CA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  40 reviews

Sophomore: I have really enjoyed Las Positas's design program. I am finishing my second semester, and ready to enroll in my third on November 20th. I like the fact that only two teachers teach the required classes for graduation, I have built a strong relationship with these teachers and appreciate their techniques. My first semester I had taken one of the hardest classes, hand drafting. I did not receive a perfect grade, but felt that I learned more in that class than any class ever before. I did not give this school 5 stars because I have unfortunately taken a few classes where I felt that the teacher did the absolute bare minimum. One teacher for example would take exactly 2 weeks to grade every single assignment. This was incredibly unfortunate when the next weeks assignment was based off of the last. She took 4 days minimum to respond to any email.... Read 40 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 18

• Students 13,305