Best Elementary Schools in Santa Clara County, California
Introduction
Santa Clara County is home to some of the most academically accomplished elementary schools in California — and it's not hard to see why. Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, communities like Cupertino, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Mountain View have long attracted families who place a premium on education, and the schools here reflect that culture deeply. Strong parent involvement, well-resourced districts, and a community-wide emphasis on learning have created an environment where schools consistently outperform state and national benchmarks.
If you're a parent considering a move to the area — or trying to decide between neighborhoods — the good news is that you have exceptional options across the county. The schools on this list all rank at or near the 100th percentile in English, Math, and Science, meaning they're performing at the very top of California's elementary schools. Here's a closer look at what makes each one stand out.
1. William Faria Elementary — Cupertino Union School District, Cupertino
William Faria Elementary sits in Cupertino, a city that has become synonymous with academic excellence and high expectations — it's also home to Apple's headquarters, which gives you a sense of the community's ambitions. Faria scores at the 100th percentile across English, Math, and Science, placing it among the absolute elite elementary schools in the state. Families who are drawn to rigorous academics, an engaged parent community, and a district (Cupertino Union) with a long track record of excellence will feel right at home here.
2. Herbert Hoover Elementary — Palo Alto Unified School District, Palo Alto
Palo Alto is one of those cities where education isn't just valued — it's practically a civic identity — and Herbert Hoover Elementary embodies that tradition beautifully. Scoring at the 100th percentile in English, Math, and Science, Hoover is part of the highly regarded Palo Alto Unified School District, which draws families from across the Bay Area who are willing to pay a premium to live within its boundaries. The surrounding neighborhoods are walkable, tree-lined, and full of families who are deeply invested in their kids' academic journeys.
3. Bullis Charter School — Santa Clara County Office of Education, Los Altos
Bullis Charter is one of the most talked-about schools in the South Bay, and the numbers back up the reputation — it scores at the 100th percentile in English, Math, and Science. As a charter school operating under the Santa Clara County Office of Education, Bullis has built a distinctive identity around innovation, project-based learning, and a strong sense of community that sets it apart from traditional public schools. Los Altos itself is a beautiful, affluent community with excellent neighborhood schools of its own, which speaks volumes about the caliber Bullis has to maintain to keep earning families' enrollment.
4. Murdock-Portal Elementary — Cupertino Union School District, San Jose
Don't let the San Jose address fool you — Murdock-Portal Elementary is part of the Cupertino Union School District, which is known countywide for its exceptional academic standards. The school scores at the 100th percentile across all three subject areas, making it one of the top performers in a district already full of top performers. Families in this part of San Jose often find themselves in a quieter, more suburban pocket of the city, with the added benefit of access to one of the most academically strong elementary districts in the state.
5. Covington Elementary — Los Altos Elementary School District, Los Altos
Covington Elementary is the kind of school that makes Los Altos such a sought-after community for families with young children. Part of the Los Altos Elementary School District — a small, focused district that punches well above its weight — Covington scores at the 100th percentile in English, Math, and Science. Los Altos has a charming downtown, quiet residential streets, and a strong sense of community pride, and Covington reflects all of that in its culture and its outcomes.
Score Trends — Top 5
William Faria Elementary is showing solid growth across both subjects, with English scores rising from 116 to 119 and Math jumping more impressively from 127 to 134—a seven-point gain that's driving the school's overall improvement. Herbert Hoover Elementary maintains steady English performance at 117 but added five points in Math, moving from 121 to 126, suggesting effective work in numeracy skills. Bullis Charter is the clear standout in this group, posting the strongest gains with English surging 13 points (115 to 128) and Math climbing 9 points (130 to 139)—this charter school is clearly outpacing expectations. Meanwhile, Murdock-Portal Elementary is heading in the wrong direction, with both subjects declining: English dropped 9 points (118 to 109) and Math fell 7 points (132 to 125), raising concerns for parents. Covington Elementary shows a similar troubling pattern, losing 9 points in English (119 to 110) and 6 points in Math (121 to 115), making this school the lowest performer in the top five.
6. Millikin Elementary — Santa Clara Unified School District, Santa Clara
Millikin Elementary is a standout within Santa Clara Unified, a large district that serves the city of Santa Clara — home to Levi's Stadium and a rapidly growing tech workforce. Scoring at the 100th percentile in English, Math, and Science, Millikin demonstrates that exceptional schools aren't limited to the county's smaller, wealthier enclaves. Families looking for a strong academic environment in a more urban, diverse, and affordable part of the county will find a lot to love here.
7. Springer Elementary — Los Altos Elementary School District, Mountain View
Springer Elementary brings the high standards of the Los Altos Elementary School District to Mountain View, a city that blends a lively downtown scene with suburban family-friendly neighborhoods. The school scores at the 100th percentile across English, Math, and Science, continuing the district's tradition of outstanding academic results. Mountain View appeals to families who want walkable streets, great restaurants, and proximity to major tech employers — all without sacrificing the quality of their child's education.
8. Oak Avenue Elementary — Los Altos Elementary School District, Los Altos
Oak Avenue Elementary is another gem from the Los Altos Elementary School District, scoring at the 99th percentile in English and the 100th in both Math and Science — good enough to earn an overall ranking at the 100th percentile. The school sits in a classic Los Altos neighborhood setting, with the kind of tight-knit community feel that makes parents want to get involved and stay involved. If you're drawn to a smaller district with a personal touch and consistently excellent outcomes, Oak Avenue is well worth a close look.
9. John Muir Elementary — Cupertino Union School District, San Jose
John Muir Elementary is another Cupertino Union school located in San Jose, and like Murdock-Portal, it benefits from being part of a district with exceptionally high academic standards. The school scores at the 99th percentile in English and the 100th in both Math and Science, for an overall ranking at the 100th percentile. It's a strong option for families in this part of San Jose who want a school with the rigor and reputation of Cupertino Union without necessarily living in the city of Cupertino itself.
10. Lucille M. Nixon Elementary — Palo Alto Unified School District, Stanford
Lucille M. Nixon Elementary has one of the more unique addresses on this list — it serves the Stanford area, drawing from a community that includes faculty, researchers, and staff connected to one of the world's great universities. Part of Palo Alto Unified, Nixon scores at the 100th percentile in English and the 99th in both Math and Science, earning an overall 100th percentile ranking. The intellectual culture of the surrounding neighborhood is palpable, and the school reflects the kind of curiosity-driven environment you'd expect from a community so deeply embedded in academic life.
Score Trends — #6-10
Millikin Elementary is a bright spot for improvement, with both English and Math rising 7 points each—English went from 103 to 110, and Math climbed from 98 to 105—showing consistent progress in foundational skills. Springer Elementary is experiencing minor decline across both subjects, with English dipping 3 points (104 to 101) and Math slipping 2 points (115 to 113), though the drops remain relatively modest. Oak Avenue Elementary is essentially flat, with English barely budging (96 to 97) and Math actually dropping one point (104 to 103), indicating stagnation rather than improvement. John Muir Elementary is the weakest performer in this group, suffering a 4-point English decline (99 to 95) and a concerning 11-point Math drop (112 to 101)—the largest single-subject decline across all schools. Finally, Lucille M. Nixon Elementary shows minor slippage in both English (109 to 108) and Math (98 to 94), continuing a pattern of small but steady erosion that warrants monitoring.
How We Rank Schools
The School Advocate ranks schools using California's Smarter Balanced Assessment data across three subject areas: English (weighted at 40%), Math (weighted at 40%), and Science (weighted at 20%). Scores are converted into percentile rankings that show how each school performs relative to all other public elementary schools in California. More recent years are weighted more heavily than older data, so the rankings reflect where schools stand today — not just where they've been. The result is a straightforward, data-driven snapshot of academic performance that parents can use alongside other factors when evaluating schools.
Compare Schools Yourself
Rankings are a great starting point, but every family's priorities are different. If you want to dig deeper — comparing specific schools side by side, looking at individual subject scores, or evaluating options across different cities or districts — head over to our school comparison tool at /compare. You can build your own custom comparisons and get a clearer picture of which school might be the right fit for your child.
Top 50 Rankings
| Rank | School | District | City | English | Math | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Faria Elementary | Cupertino Union | Cupertino | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2 | Herbert Hoover Elementary | Palo Alto Unified | Palo Alto | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 3 | Bullis Charter | Santa Clara County Office of Education | Los Altos | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 4 | Murdock-Portal Elementary | Cupertino Union | San Jose | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 5 | Covington Elementary | Los Altos Elementary | Los Altos | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 6 | Millikin Elementary | Santa Clara Unified | Santa Clara | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 7 | Springer Elementary | Los Altos Elementary | Mountain View | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 8 | Oak Avenue Elementary | Los Altos Elementary | Los Altos | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| 9 | John Muir Elementary | Cupertino Union | San Jose | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| 10 | Lucille M. Nixon Elementary | Palo Alto Unified | Stanford | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| 11 | Argonaut Elementary | Saratoga Union Elementary | Saratoga | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| 12 | Stevenson Elementary | Mountain View Whisman | Mountain View | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 13 | Amy Imai Elementary | Mountain View Whisman | Mountain View | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 14 | Nelson S. Dilworth Elementary | Cupertino Union | San Jose | 99 | 100 | 99 |
| 15 | Ohlone Elementary | Palo Alto Unified | Palo Alto | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 16 | Abraham Lincoln Elementary | Cupertino Union | Cupertino | 98 | 100 | 99 |
| 17 | Cherry Chase Elementary | Sunnyvale | Sunnyvale | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 18 | Juana Briones Elementary | Palo Alto Unified | Palo Alto | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 19 | Gardner Bullis Elementary | Los Altos Elementary | Los Altos Hills | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 20 | Williams Elementary | San Jose Unified | San Jose | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 21 | Montclaire Elementary | Cupertino Union | Los Altos | 97 | 99 | 99 |
| 22 | Loyola Elementary | Los Altos Elementary | Los Altos | 97 | 99 | 99 |
| 23 | Blue Hills Elementary | Cupertino Union | Saratoga | 98 | 99 | 98 |
| 24 | Saratoga Elementary | Saratoga Union Elementary | Saratoga | 97 | 99 | 98 |
| 25 | Marshall Lane Elementary | Campbell Union | Saratoga | 97 | 98 | 98 |
| 26 | C. B. Eaton Elementary | Cupertino Union | Cupertino | 96 | 99 | 98 |
| 27 | Palo Verde Elementary | Palo Alto Unified | Palo Alto | 97 | 98 | 98 |
| 28 | Fairmeadow Elementary | Palo Alto Unified | Palo Alto | 98 | 98 | 98 |
| 29 | Duveneck Elementary | Palo Alto Unified | Palo Alto | 97 | 98 | 98 |
| 30 | Forest Hill Elementary | Campbell Union | San Jose | 97 | 98 | 98 |
| 31 | Mabel Mattos Elementary | Milpitas Unified | Milpitas | 96 | 98 | 98 |
| 32 | Steindorf STEAM K-8 Magnet | Cambrian | San Jose | 96 | 98 | 97 |
| 33 | Daves Avenue Elementary | Los Gatos Union Elementary | Los Gatos | 96 | 97 | 97 |
| 34 | Laurelwood Elementary | Santa Clara Unified | Santa Clara | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| 35 | Cumberland Elementary | Sunnyvale | Sunnyvale | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| 36 | Almond Elementary | Los Altos Elementary | Los Altos | 96 | 98 | 97 |
| 37 | Evergreen Elementary | Evergreen Elementary | San Jose | 96 | 98 | 97 |
| 38 | Tom Matsumoto Elementary | Evergreen Elementary | San Jose | 97 | 96 | 97 |
| 39 | Alta Vista Elementary | Union Elementary | Los Gatos | 95 | 97 | 97 |
| 40 | Oster Elementary | Union Elementary | San Jose | 95 | 97 | 97 |
| 41 | John Sinnott Elementary | Milpitas Unified | Milpitas | 95 | 97 | 96 |
| 42 | Blossom Hill Elementary | Los Gatos Union Elementary | Los Gatos | 95 | 97 | 96 |
| 43 | Graystone Elementary | San Jose Unified | San Jose | 96 | 97 | 96 |
| 44 | Stevens Creek Elementary | Cupertino Union | Cupertino | 95 | 97 | 96 |
| 45 | Foothill Elementary | Saratoga Union Elementary | Saratoga | 92 | 98 | 96 |
| 46 | Silver Oak Elementary | Evergreen Elementary | San Jose | 95 | 97 | 96 |
| 47 | West Valley Elementary | Cupertino Union | Sunnyvale | 93 | 98 | 96 |
| 48 | James Franklin Smith Elementary | Evergreen Elementary | San Jose | 97 | 95 | 96 |
| 49 | Benjamin Bubb Elementary | Mountain View Whisman | Mountain View | 95 | 95 | 96 |
| 50 | Escondido Elementary | Palo Alto Unified | Stanford | 95 | 95 | 96 |