Public schools in Novato, CA
16 open public schools with an address in Novato, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,468
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
21.4:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
1
3 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Novato public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in Novato, CA: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,468 students, an average of 498 per school. The largest campus is Novato High (1,287 students), and the largest elementary school is Hamilton TK-8 (544).
Novato Unified operates the most schools here (15), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 21.4:1, 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.
School choice options include 1 charter school, 3 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 45% 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 Novato
Elementary schools in Novato
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton TK-8 Novato Unified | KG–08 | 544 | 21.2:1 | |
| Loma Verde Elementary Novato Unified | KG–05 | 426 | 22.4:1 | |
| Lu Sutton Elementary Novato Unified | KG–05 | 367 | 21.6:1 | |
| Lynwood Elementary Novato Unified · Magnet | KG–05 | 260 | 21.7:1 | |
| Novato Charter Novato Charter District · Charter | KG–08 | 269 | 19.7:1 | |
| Olive Elementary Novato Unified | KG–05 | 364 | 21.4:1 | |
| Pleasant Valley Elementary Novato Unified | KG–05 | 464 | 23.2:1 | |
| Rancho Elementary Novato Unified | KG–05 | 387 | 22.8:1 | |
| San Ramon Elementary Novato Unified | KG–05 | 456 | 22.1:1 |
Middle schools in Novato
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose Middle Novato Unified | 06–08 | 559 | 21.2:1 | |
| Sinaloa Middle Novato Unified | 06–08 | 693 | 20.4:1 |
High schools in Novato
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marin Oaks High Novato Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 69 | 9.3:1 | |
| Nova Education Center Novato Unified · Alternative School | 06–12 | 73 | 14.7:1 | |
| Novato High Novato Unified · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,287 | 19.7:1 | |
| San Marin High Novato Unified · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,250 | 22:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Novato
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novato Early Intervention Novato Unified | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White39.3%
- Hispanic44.2%
- Black1.9%
- Asian5.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial8.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Novato schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,468 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Novato
How many public schools are in Novato, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in Novato: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 7,468 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Novato?
Schools with an address in Novato belong to 2 education agencies, led by Novato Unified (15 schools), Novato Charter 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 Novato?
Novato High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Novato, with 1,287 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Novato?
Yes. 1 of the 16 public schools in Novato are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Novato Charter. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Novato schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Novato public schools is 21.4:1, 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 Novato 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