San Mateo-Foster City

Foster City, California — 21 schools

10,067
Total Enrollment
21
Schools
$22,374
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

San Mateo-Foster City operates 21 public schools serving 10,067 students, placing it in the mid-size range in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 18 elementary, 3 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 9,905 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in San Mateo County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $22,374 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 79.9% local, 14.6% state, and 5.4% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $92,686 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 54/100, ranked #655 of 1547 in California against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 473.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 23.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 42.3% Hispanic or Latino, 26.8% Asian, 16.7% White across the district's schools.

San Mateo-Foster City school enrollment varies 4.3× across entities

San Mateo-Foster City school enrollment ranges from 218 students (lowest) to 929 students (highest), a spread of 711 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

San Mateo-Foster City student-counselor ratio is 473:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

San Mateo-Foster City chronic absenteeism rate is 23.4% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within San Mateo-Foster City is typically wider than the San Mateo-Foster City-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

5.4%
Federal
14.6%
State
79.9%
Local

Funding Equity

54
Equity Score
655 / 1547
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in San Mateo County county, where this district is located.

$2,485
Studio/mo
$2,977
1 BR/mo
$3,604
2 BR/mo
$4,604
3 BR/mo
$4,772
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$92,686
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 21 schools in San Mateo-Foster City.

White 16.7%
Hispanic or Latino 42.3%
African American 0.7%
Asian 26.8%
Multiracial 11.5%
Other 2.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

473.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.4%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in San Mateo-Foster City

School Enrollment
Bowditch Middle
929
Borel Middle
903
Bayside Academy
840
Abbott Middle
721
Foster City Elementary
624
Baywood Elementary
489
Laurel Elementary
469
Audubon Elementary
445
College Park Elementary
431
Fiesta Gardens International Elementary
418
Parkside Montessori
418
Highlands Elementary
379
George Hall Elementary
370
Lead Elementary
349
Beach Park Elementary
347
Sunnybrae Elementary
346
San Mateo Park Elementary
340
North Shoreview Montessori
325
Brewer Island Elementary
306
Meadow Heights Elementary
238
Beresford Elementary
218

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $25,877/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo-Foster City →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $26,901/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo-Foster City →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,737/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo-Foster City →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $19,558/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo-Foster City →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $16,975/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo-Foster City →

Compare San Mateo-Foster City

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in San Mateo-Foster City?

San Mateo-Foster City has 21 schools, including 3 middle, 18 elementary. Total enrollment is 10,067 students.

How much does San Mateo-Foster City spend per student?

San Mateo-Foster City spends $22,374 per student. The district has an equity score of 54/100, ranking #655 in California.

What is the average teacher salary in San Mateo-Foster City?

The average teacher salary in San Mateo-Foster City is $92,686 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near San Mateo-Foster City?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in San Mateo County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of San Mateo-Foster City?

San Mateo-Foster City students are 42.3% Hispanic or Latino, 26.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 0.7% African American, averaged across 21 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for San Mateo-Foster City?

San Mateo-Foster City has an equity score of 54/100, ranking #655 out of 1547 districts in California. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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Full national footprint

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Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

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Federal

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