San Mateo Union High

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

San Mateo, California - 7 schools

An equity score of 61/100 ranks San Mateo Union High #465 of 1517 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $22,262 per pupil, San Mateo Union High ranks #163 of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

8,942
Total Enrollment
7
Schools
$22,262
Per-Pupil Spending
High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

San Mateo Union High operates 7 public schools serving 8,942 students, placing it among the smallest districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 7 high schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in San Mateo County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $22,262 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the top 187 of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 85.1% local, 11.5% state, and 3.4% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 61/100, ranked #465 of 1517 in California against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 6 of 7 schools offering Advanced Placement (92 AP courses district-wide), a 334.9:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 15.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 40.5% Hispanic or Latino, 26.9% Asian, 20.9% White across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Aragon High, with a diversity index of 73.4/100.

Its largest campus is Aragon High, enrolling 1,658 students (19% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Peninsula High (Continuation), at 123 students, a 13x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Aragon High accounts for 18.5% of all San Mateo Union High student enrollment

That concentration means San Mateo Union High-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. 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

San Mateo Union High school enrollment varies 13× across entities

San Mateo Union High school enrollment ranges from 123 students (lowest) to 1,658 students (highest), a spread of 1,535 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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 Union High student-counselor ratio is 335:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within San Mateo Union High is typically wider than the San Mateo Union High-aggregate figure suggests.

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

San Mateo Union High chronic absenteeism rate is 15.0% — 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 Union High is typically wider than the San Mateo Union High-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

3.4%
Federal
11.5%
State
85.1%
Local

Funding Equity

61
Equity Score
465 / 1517
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 7 schools in San Mateo Union High.

White 20.9%
Hispanic or Latino 40.5%
African American 0.7%
Asian 26.9%
Multiracial 8.3%
Other 2.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 63.9/100

Average Simpson diversity index across San Mateo Union High's schools, above the California average of 46.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Aragon High 73.4
  2. 2 Hillsdale High 71.3
  3. 3 Burlingame High 70.9
  4. 4 San Mateo High 67.4
  5. 5 Capuchino High 63.4

Programs & Resources

6 / 7
Schools with AP
92 AP courses total
334.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in San Mateo Union High

School Enrollment
Aragon High
1,658
Hillsdale High
1,585
Burlingame High
1,583
San Mateo High
1,557
Mills High
1,115
Capuchino High
1,061
Peninsula High (Continuation)
123

How San Mateo Union High Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Los Alamitos Unified Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Westside Union Elementary Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Evergreen Elementary Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Alameda Unified Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Lincoln Unified Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to San Mateo Union High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

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 · $21,940/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo Union High →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $18,665/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo Union High →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $18,783/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo Union High →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $16,028/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo Union High →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $14,134/pupil
Compare vs San Mateo Union High →

Compare San Mateo Union High

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 Union High?

San Mateo Union High has 7 schools, including 7 high. Total enrollment is 8,942 students.

How much does San Mateo Union High spend per student?

San Mateo Union High spends $22,262 per student. The district has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #465 in California.

What is the demographic composition of San Mateo Union High?

San Mateo Union High students are 40.5% Hispanic or Latino, 26.9% Asian, 20.9% White, 0.7% African American, averaged across 7 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for San Mateo Union High?

San Mateo Union High has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #465 out of 1517 districts in California.