Public schools in Foster City, CA
6 open public schools with an address in Foster City, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,652
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
21.9:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Foster City public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Foster City, CA: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 combined or other. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,652 students, an average of 442 per school. The largest campus is Bowditch Middle (929 students), and the largest elementary school is Foster City Elementary (624).
Every listed school belongs to San Mateo-Foster City. 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 21.9:1, similar to 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.
About 17% 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 Foster City
Elementary schools in Foster City
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audubon Elementary San Mateo-Foster City | KG–05 | 445 | 22.3:1 | |
| Beach Park Elementary San Mateo-Foster City | KG–05 | 347 | 23.1:1 | |
| Brewer Island Elementary San Mateo-Foster City | KG–05 | 306 | 21.9:1 | |
| Foster City Elementary San Mateo-Foster City | KG–05 | 624 | 21.5:1 |
Middle schools in Foster City
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowditch Middle San Mateo-Foster City | 06–08 | 929 | 21.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Foster City
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo-Foster City Special Education Preschool San Mateo-Foster City | Not reported | 1 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White16.9%
- Hispanic15%
- Black1%
- Asian53.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.9%
- Multiracial12.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Foster City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,652 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Foster City
How many public schools are in Foster City, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Foster City: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,652 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Foster City?
All listed public schools with an address in Foster City belong to San Mateo-Foster City. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
Are there charter schools in Foster City?
No school with an address in Foster City is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in California.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Foster City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Foster City public schools is 21.9:1, similar to 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 Foster City 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