2026 data 15 schools CA

Best Schools in Novato, CA

15 public K-12 schools in Novato from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

15 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in Novato, CA using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

15
Schools
7,468
Students
Avg Quality
22.3:1
Avg Class Size

How the Novato Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

Novato, CA enrolls 7,468 students across 15 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 1 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 22.3:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in Novato is Novato High, scoring 42/100 (D) with 1,287 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

Novato schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect Novato housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

Novato High accounts for 17.2% of all Novato public-school enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Novato-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A dominant campus often anchors a city's program landscape and absorbs a disproportionate share of district capital and staffing decisions. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Novato school enrollment varies 19× across entities

Novato school enrollment ranges from 69 students (lowest) to 1,287 students (highest), a spread of 1,218 students. That spread reflects typical urban portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Novato student-teacher ratio is 22.3:1 — high (typically associated with larger urban scale or staffing constraints that have widened the headcount gap)

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

# School Score
1. Novato High 42 D
2. San Marin High 47 D
3. Sinaloa Middle 44 D
4. San Jose Intermediate 47 D
5. Hamilton Meadow Park 33 F
6. Pleasant Valley Elementary 35 F
7. San Ramon Elementary 40 D
8. Loma Verde Elementary 48 D
9. Rancho Elementary 53 C-
10. Lu Sutton Elementary 29 F
11. Olive Elementary 45 D
12. Novato Charter 30 F
13. Lynwood Elementary 45 D
14. Nova Education Center 35 F
15. Marin Oaks High 42 D

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in Novato, CA?

The top-rated school in Novato is Novato High with a quality score of 42/100. There are 15 public schools in Novato with 7,468 total students.

How many schools are in Novato, CA?

Novato has 15 public schools with a total enrollment of 7,468 students. 1 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 22.3:1.

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Related Guides

Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.