Public schools in East Palo Alto, CA
7 open public schools with an address in East Palo Alto, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
7
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,209
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.1:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
4
0 virtual
An overview of East Palo Alto public schools
The federal directory lists 7 public schools in East Palo Alto, CA: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,209 students, an average of 316 per school. The largest campus is Aspire East Palo Alto Charter (496 students).
Ravenswood City Elementary operates the most schools here (3), plus 4 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17.1:1, lower than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 4 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 86% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving East Palo Alto
Ravenswood City Elementary
Public school district
3 schools in East Palo Alto · 4 total
Aspire East Palo Alto Charter District
Independent charter agency
1 school in East Palo Alto
East Palo Alto Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in East Palo Alto
KIPP Esperanza High District
Independent charter agency
1 school in East Palo Alto
Oxford Day Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in East Palo Alto
Elementary schools in East Palo Alto
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspire East Palo Alto Charter Aspire East Palo Alto Charter District · Charter | KG–08 | 496 | 24.5:1 | |
| Costano Elementary Ravenswood City Elementary | KG–05 | 369 | 17.1:1 | |
| Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy Ravenswood City Elementary | KG–05 | 276 | 18.4:1 |
Middle schools in East Palo Alto
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle Ravenswood City Elementary | 06–08 | 488 | 14.8:1 |
High schools in East Palo Alto
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Palo Alto Academy East Palo Alto Academy District · Charter | 09–12 | 278 | 13:1 | |
| KIPP Esperanza High KIPP Esperanza High District · Charter | 09–12 | 194 | 10.2:1 | |
| Oxford Day Academy Oxford Day Academy District · Charter | 09–12 | 108 | 43:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White1.1%
- Hispanic85.9%
- Black4.2%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander5.8%
- Multiracial2.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 East Palo Alto schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,209 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in East Palo Alto
How many public schools are in East Palo Alto, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 7 open public schools with a location address in East Palo Alto: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. Together they reported 2,209 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve East Palo Alto?
Schools with an address in East Palo Alto belong to 5 education agencies, led by Ravenswood City Elementary (3 schools), Aspire East Palo Alto Charter District (1 school), East Palo Alto Academy District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in East Palo Alto?
East Palo Alto Academy reported the largest high-school enrollment in East Palo Alto, with 278 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in East Palo Alto?
Yes. 4 of the 7 public schools in East Palo Alto are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Aspire East Palo Alto Charter, East Palo Alto Academy, KIPP Esperanza High. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in East Palo Alto schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across East Palo Alto public schools is 17.1:1, lower than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in East Palo Alto guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities