On the Peninsula
Atherton
On the Peninsula
Atherton
One of the Peninsula's most exclusive addresses, split across three elementary districts and a single shared high school.
Quick summary
Atherton has no school district of its own. Public school assignment splits across three elementary districts by exact address: Las Lomitas in the west, Menlo Park City across the central and eastern pockets, and Redwood City along the northwest Selby Lane corridor. All of Atherton feeds Menlo-Atherton High in the Sequoia Union district, and some families transfer to Woodside High through open enrollment. A majority of local families also choose private school, with campuses like Menlo School and Sacred Heart in town. Atherton is the most expensive ZIP code in the country, so confirm both the public path and your exact district by address.
Atherton has no single elementary district. Which district a home belongs to depends on the exact address. Northwest Atherton (the Selby Lane corridor near North Fair Oaks) is in the Redwood City School District. Central and east Atherton, including Lindenwood and Lloyden Park, is in Menlo Park City School District. The western hills west of Alameda de las Pulgas, toward Interstate 280, are in Las Lomitas. All of Atherton feeds Menlo-Atherton High. Some families also pursue Woodside High through an open-enrollment transfer, covered further down the page.
District 1 of 3
Las Lomitas Elementary School District (LLESD)
Las Lomitas Elementary School District serves the western edge of Atherton, west of Alameda de las Pulgas toward Interstate 280, the area known locally as Alameda to 280.
District office: 1011 Altschul Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025
At a glance
Better than 99% of California districts · top 1%
This ranks Las Lomitas among the top 1% of California public school districts, the highest-ranked district serving Menlo Park.
Elementary (K-3)
- Las Lomitas Elementary
Middle (4-8)
- La Entrada Middle
High school (separate district)
- Menlo-Atherton High, via Sequoia Union High School District, same as MPCSD
1,142
Students
5 stars
District rating
$13,300,000
Median home price
Test proficiency
Percent proficient or above
Last verified: October 2026. Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Median home price from MLSListings. Enrollment from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Buyers should confirm current figures directly with Las Lomitas Elementary School District, the authoritative source.
Schools in Las Lomitas (LLESD)
Proficient means the share of students scoring Advanced or Proficient, the two highest of California's four achievement levels. These were called Standard Met and Standard Exceeded before 2025-26.
Las Lomitas uses an unusual grade structure: Las Lomitas Elementary is a K-3 lower school, and La Entrada Middle is a 4-8 upper school, not a typical elementary-then-middle split. Both feed into Menlo-Atherton High, shown once below for all of Atherton. See the Menlo-Atherton High entry below.
Schools are listed by California statewide rank, highest-ranked first.
Address: 299 Alameda de las Pulgas, Atherton, CA 94027
Grades: K-3
Enrollment: 526
Student-teacher ratio: 20.0 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $50,308
No science score: California tests science starting in grade 5, and this school only goes up to grade 3.
Feeder: La Entrada Middle, then Menlo-Atherton High
Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Enrollment and address from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger. Last verified: October 2026.
Address: 2200 Sharon Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Grades: 4-8
Enrollment: 614
Student-teacher ratio: 15.9 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $50,786
Feeder: Menlo-Atherton High
Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Enrollment and address from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger. Last verified: October 2026.
District 2 of 3
Menlo Park City Elementary School District (MPCSD)
Menlo Park City Elementary School District serves central and east Atherton, including the Lindenwood and Lloyden Park areas.
District office: 181 Encinal Ave, Atherton, CA 94027
At a glance
Better than 97% of California districts · top 3%
This ranks Menlo Park City Elementary among the top 3% of California public school districts.
Elementary (K-5)
- Encinal Elementary
- Laurel Elementary
- Oak Knoll Elementary
Middle (6-8)
- Hillview Middle
High school (separate district)
- Menlo-Atherton High, via Sequoia Union High School District
2,622
Students
5 stars
District rating
$10,574,000
Median home price
Test proficiency
Percent proficient or above
Last verified: October 2026. Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Median home price from MLSListings. Enrollment from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Buyers should confirm current figures directly with Menlo Park City Elementary School District, the authoritative source.
Schools in Menlo Park City (MPCSD)
Proficient means the share of students scoring Advanced or Proficient, the two highest of California's four achievement levels. These were called Standard Met and Standard Exceeded before 2025-26.
Schools are listed by California statewide rank, highest-ranked first.
Address: 1895 Oak Knoll Ln, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 590
Student-teacher ratio: 18.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $14,551
Feeder: Hillview Middle, then Menlo-Atherton High
Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Enrollment and address from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger. Last verified: October 2026.
Address: 95 Edge Rd, Atherton, CA 94027
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 614
Student-teacher ratio: 17.6 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $14,329
Feeder: Hillview Middle, then Menlo-Atherton High
Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Enrollment and address from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger. Last verified: October 2026.
Address: 195 Encinal Ave, Atherton, CA 94027
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 579
Student-teacher ratio: 15.4 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $14,552
Feeder: Hillview Middle, then Menlo-Atherton High
Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Enrollment and address from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger. Last verified: October 2026.
Address: 1100 Elder Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 837
Student-teacher ratio: 15.5 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $20,083
Feeder: Menlo-Atherton High
Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Enrollment and address from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger. Last verified: October 2026.
District 3 of 3
Redwood City School District (RCSD), Atherton pocket
Serves northwest Atherton, the Selby Lane corridor near the North Fair Oaks and Redwood City border. Redwood City School District covers a much larger area beyond Atherton; this is the only campus within Atherton's town limits.
Schools in the Atherton pocket
Proficient means the share of students scoring Advanced or Proficient, the two highest of California's four achievement levels. These were called Standard Met and Standard Exceeded before 2025-26.
Schools are listed by California statewide rank, highest-ranked first.
Address: 170 Selby Ln, Atherton
Grades: TK-5
Enrollment: 630
Student-teacher ratio: 25.3 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $21,373
Adelante Selby is a dual-language Spanish immersion school. Many students take state tests in English while learning primarily in Spanish, which affects how these scores should be read. Spanish immersion continues at Kennedy Middle for grades 6-8.
Feeder: Kennedy Middle, then Menlo-Atherton High
Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Enrollment and address from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger. Last verified: October 2026.
Shared high school
Menlo-Atherton High
Menlo-Atherton High serves all of Atherton. Students from the Las Lomitas, Menlo Park City, and Redwood City districts all attend M-A, part of the Sequoia Union High School District.
Woodside transfer, in brief
The open-enrollment transfer to Woodside High runs through Sequoia Union High School District's annual application window, typically in the spring before ninth grade. A spot is not guaranteed: it depends on space available at Woodside that year, and returning students and siblings are typically given priority. Confirm current windows, forms, and priority rules directly with Sequoia Union High School District.
Proficient means the share of students scoring Advanced or Proficient, the two highest of California's four achievement levels. These were called Standard Met and Standard Exceeded before 2025-26.
Schools are listed by California statewide rank, highest-ranked first.
Address: 555 Middlefield Rd, Atherton, CA 94027
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 2,152
Student-teacher ratio: 17.9 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $36,894
Rank and star rating from SchoolDigger. Enrollment and address from the California Department of Education. Test proficiency from CAASPP 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger. Last verified: October 2026.
Beyond the ratings
Academic Culture and School Community
Quick summary
Atherton is unusual: it has no public school system of its own, and a majority of local families choose private school. Public students are served by three elementary districts depending on address, all feeding Menlo-Atherton High, while top private options like Menlo School and Sacred Heart sit within the town itself. Understanding both paths matters when buying in the nation's most expensive ZIP code.
A town without its own school district
Atherton is an exclusive residential community made up primarily of acre-plus estates, holding the long-standing distinction of being the most expensive ZIP code (94027) in the United States. Despite its substantial property tax base, Atherton has no municipal public school system of its own. Instead, public school boundaries divide across three separate elementary districts based on parcel location: Las Lomitas Elementary School District in the west, Menlo Park City School District across central and eastern pockets, and Redwood City School District along the northwestern border. High school assignment is unified: all Atherton homes are zoned for Menlo-Atherton High School in the Sequoia Union High School District. Because elementary boundaries split directly through town, verifying a specific address is essential.
A strong public path
The public schools serving Atherton rank among the finest in California. Both Las Lomitas and Menlo Park City are top-tier K-8 districts with deep community funding, while Menlo-Atherton High offers an expansive AP curriculum, extensive athletics, and strong college placement. Families choosing the public system enjoy well-resourced environments, with their specific elementary and middle school path determined entirely by neighborhood location.
The private school landscape
Atherton stands out for having one of the highest private school enrollment rates in California, with a majority of local K-12 students attending independent schools. Several nationally prominent private institutions sit directly within town borders, including Menlo School (grades 6 through 12) and Sacred Heart Schools (preschool through grade 12), alongside St. Joseph's School and nearby Woodside Priory. On local parenting and real estate forums, families frequently weigh whether to use the top-ranked public districts or invest in local private options where low student-to-counselor ratios and specialized college counseling match the high-expectation culture of Silicon Valley.
The Woodside High option
Although all Atherton residences are assigned to Menlo-Atherton High, some families choose Woodside High School through the district's open-enrollment transfer process. Woodside High is widely recognized for specialized small-cohort programs, including its Green Academy (officially the Efficient Use of Water and Energy Academy), an established AVID college-readiness track, and a Graphics and Technology Academy. Transfers are restricted to incoming ninth graders, with applications accepted during online registration and a February 1 deadline. Grants are awarded on a space-available lottery basis, with approved families notified in early spring. Once accepted, Woodside becomes the student's official home school, and families assume responsibility for daily transportation. Because district policies update annually, buyers should verify current rules directly with Sequoia Union High School District.
The bigger picture
Atherton offers a rare combination of educational choices: top-rated public elementary feeder paths, an exceptional public high school with transfer flexibility, and world-class private campuses right in its backyard. The ideal path depends on the student's learning style and the exact home address. Prospective buyers are encouraged to verify parcel assignments and visit both public and private options directly.
This section reflects a mix of public data and general community information. School options and policies change over time. We encourage families to verify details directly with each school or district.
Neighborhoods
Where to Look in Atherton
Atherton is the highest-priced residential enclave in the country, with minimum one-acre zoning, private estate compounds, and heritage oak canopies. Because Atherton has no school district of its own, parcel addresses split across three elementary districts, Menlo Park City, Las Lomitas, and Redwood City, before all students converge at Menlo-Atherton High in the Sequoia Union district. Always verify exact district boundaries by parcel address.
El Camino to Alameda
District and schools
Street-dependent: homes south of Atherton Avenue feed Menlo Park City School District (Encinal or Laurel → Hillview Middle), while homes north of Atherton Avenue feed Redwood City School District (Adelante Selby → Kennedy Middle); select southwestern parcels touch Las Lomitas. All feed Menlo-Atherton High; verify exact parcel boundaries with the district.
The quintessential West Atherton estate corridor of wide streets and expansive parcels between El Camino Real and Alameda de las Pulgas, centered around the Menlo Circus Club.
What you'll find
Flat one-to-three-acre parcels behind private security gates and mature perimeter hedges, from preserved historic estates to modern architectural compounds. Many properties in this pocket trade privately off-market.
Price context
$20,600,000
Tends to suit
Ultra-luxury buyers seeking maximum prestige, estate acreage, and central proximity to the Menlo Circus Club.
Alameda to 280
District and schools
Las Lomitas Elementary School District: Las Lomitas Elementary (K-3) → La Entrada Middle (4-8) → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address; verify with the district.
Atherton's western boundary of rolling hills and dense evergreen cover rising toward Interstate 280, a secluded, semi-rural setting.
What you'll find
Generously spaced homes on one-to-two-acre parcels, sloping hillside topography, and a blend of mid-century ranches and modern custom estates.
Price context
$13,300,000
Tends to suit
Buyers seeking privacy, wooded acreage, hillside terrain, and access to the Las Lomitas schools.
Lindenwood
District and schools
Menlo Park City School District: your assigned elementary (Encinal, Laurel, or Oak Knoll) → Hillview Middle → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address; verify with the district.
A historic, park-like estate enclave in northeastern Atherton bounded roughly by Middlefield, Marsh, Bay, and Ringwood roads. Remnants of the 1878 James C. Flood estate, Linden Towers, remain throughout, including historic ornamental entry gates and vintage street lamps.
What you'll find
Level one-acre parcels with classic ranch homes, mid-century custom residences, and recent contemporary rebuilds, with convenient proximity to Holbrook-Palmer Park.
Price context
$10,574,000
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting estate acreage in an established neighborhood with convenient access to commuter corridors and downtown Menlo Park.
Middlefield to El Camino
District and schools
Menlo Park City School District: your assigned elementary (Encinal, Laurel, or Oak Knoll) → Hillview Middle → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address; verify with the district.
The flatter central-eastern band between Middlefield Road and El Camino Real, estate-scale living on a conventional street grid.
What you'll find
One-acre parcels with a mix of post-war ranch homes, mid-century properties, and modern custom rebuilds, the town's most accessible single-family price tier.
Price context
$5,200,000
Tends to suit
Buyers seeking an Atherton estate address and Menlo Park City schools at the town's entry-level price point.
Price figures show the median sale price of single-family homes in each area over the last 12 completed months, sourced directly from the MLS. Many of Atherton's highest-end estates sell privately and never reach public listing databases, so these medians reflect only publicly recorded MLS transactions and understate the true top of the market. Median is used rather than average because it better reflects a typical recorded sale in areas with limited transaction volume.
School District Verification Notice
Atherton does not operate a municipal school district. Elementary and middle school assignments cross three different public school districts (Menlo Park City, Las Lomitas, and Redwood City) depending on street location and parcel lines. All public high school students are assigned to Menlo-Atherton High School in the Sequoia Union High School District. Always verify exact parcel assignments with district boundary locators before writing an offer.
FAQ
Common questions
Does Atherton have its own school district?
No. Atherton has no public school system of its own. Homes fall across three elementary districts, Las Lomitas, Menlo Park City, and Redwood City, depending on address, and all feed Menlo-Atherton High School.
Do most Atherton families use public or private school?
A majority of Atherton's K-12 students attend private school, well above the California average. Several respected private schools, including Menlo School and Sacred Heart, are located within the town, alongside strong public district options.
Can Atherton students attend Woodside High instead of Menlo-Atherton?
Yes, through the Sequoia Union open-enrollment transfer, available to incoming ninth graders on a space-available basis with a February 1 deadline. Confirm current rules directly with the district.
Which Atherton neighborhoods are in the Las Lomitas district?
Generally, the western pockets of Atherton west of Alameda de las Pulgas feed into Las Lomitas, one of the highest-ranked districts on the Peninsula. Because boundaries split mid-town, buyers should always verify district assignments by parcel address.
What is the most exclusive part of Atherton?
West Atherton, the flat estate corridor between El Camino Real and Alameda de las Pulgas around the Menlo Circus Club, is widely considered the town's most exclusive pocket, with gated one-to-three-acre estates, privacy hedges, and many homes selling off the public market. The separate hillside area farther west toward Interstate 280 is known locally as West of Alameda, or Alameda to 280.
Do all Atherton neighborhoods feed the same schools?
All Atherton homes feed into Menlo-Atherton High School, but elementary and middle school assignments depend on the address, feeding into either Las Lomitas, Menlo Park City, or Redwood City School District. Confirm with district maps before buying.
Last verified: October 2026 (reflecting 2025-26 state results). See each district and school section above for its specific source.
