On the Peninsula
San Mateo
On the Peninsula
San Mateo
Most of San Mateo is served by the San Mateo-Foster City School District for kindergarten through eighth grade, then by one of three high schools in the San Mateo Union High School District, assigned by address.
Quick summary
San Mateo homes are served by two districts: the San Mateo-Foster City School District for K-8 and the San Mateo Union High School District for grades 9 to 12. The district ranks in the top 31 percent of California districts, but that figure blends San Mateo and Foster City, and individual San Mateo schools range widely by exact address, from College Park, which scores better than 97 percent of elementary schools statewide, to campuses near the bottom of the state. Your assigned elementary school depends on your parcel, so always verify by address. High school is more predictable: the three comprehensive high schools, Aragon, Hillsdale, and San Mateo High, are all strong and closely grouped. Montessori and language immersion programs are open by application and lottery. The median single-family home sold for $2,220,000 over the last year, and neighborhoods range from flat bayfront entry points to hillside estates.
District
San Mateo-Foster City School District (SMFCSD)
Serves San Mateo and Foster City for kindergarten through eighth grade. A few schools admit by application and lottery rather than by home address; see the notes on each school card below. This district rating covers both cities, and within San Mateo individual schools range widely, so checking the specific school for an address matters more here than the district average.
At a glance
Better than 69% of California districts · top 31%
This district rating covers both San Mateo and Foster City. Within San Mateo itself, individual schools range widely, so an address-level check matters more here than the district average.
Elementary
- San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8), see the school tabs below.
Middle
- San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8), see the school tabs below.
High school (separate district)
- Three schools by home address, Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High, via the San Mateo Union High School District.
9,708
Students
3 stars
District rating
$2,220,000
Median home price
Test proficiency
Percent proficient or above
Last verified: October 2026. Rank, rating, and percentile from SchoolDigger. Median home price from MLSListings. Test proficiency from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment from the California Department of Education, 2025-26.
Schools in San Mateo
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.
Eligibility
College Park operates the district's Mandarin immersion program alongside its neighborhood strand. Admission to the immersion program requires a district application and lottery, with one-third of incoming kindergarten seats prioritized for children living in the historic neighborhood. General neighborhood enrollment is assigned by address and subject to space availability. Verify with the district.
Address: 1001 Bermuda Dr, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 434
Student-teacher ratio: 23.9 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $23,014
Feeder: The Mandarin immersion pathway continues at Bayside Academy for grades 6-8, while the general neighborhood path continues to a San Mateo-Foster City district middle school, then to a San Mateo Union high school by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 130 San Miguel Way, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 392
Student-teacher ratio: 20.5 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $30,179
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Eligibility
North Shoreview Montessori is a districtwide Montessori magnet, a school of choice enrolled by application and lottery rather than by home address, so buying nearby does not guarantee a spot. Verify with the district.
Address: 1301 Cypress Ave, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 328
Student-teacher ratio: 23.0 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $25,783
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 600 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 482
Student-teacher ratio: 23.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $26,164
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Eligibility
Parkside Montessori is a districtwide Montessori magnet, a school of choice enrolled by application and lottery rather than by home address, so buying nearby does not guarantee a spot. Verify with the district.
Address: 1685 Eisenhower St, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 429
Student-teacher ratio: 21.2 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $24,984
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 2320 Newport St, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 349
Student-teacher ratio: 20.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $24,757
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 2619 Dolores St, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 247
Student-teacher ratio: 18.3 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $34,717
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 2025 Kehoe Ave, San Mateo
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 802
Student-teacher ratio: 19.3 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $23,813
Bayside is a combined K-8 campus, so students stay through 8th grade. It is an address-assigned neighborhood school, and it also hosts the district's Mandarin immersion continuation and a GATE strand that students transfer into from outside the boundary.
Feeder: Serves K-8 directly, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 300 28th Ave, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 197
Student-teacher ratio: 21.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $30,876
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Eligibility
Fiesta Gardens International is the district's Spanish immersion program, a school of choice enrolled by application and lottery rather than by home address. Verify with the district.
Address: 715A Indian Ave, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 417
Student-teacher ratio: 22.0 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $29,472
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 1031 South Delaware St, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 368
Student-teacher ratio: 19.2 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $34,389
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 316 36th Ave, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 434
Student-teacher ratio: 21.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $24,178
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 949 Ocean View Ave, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 357
Student-teacher ratio: 21.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $32,843
Formerly named LEAD Elementary, renamed Cottage Grove for the 2026-27 school year. Same school and location.
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 161 Clark Dr, San Mateo
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 335
Student-teacher ratio: 24.2 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $26,702
Feeder: Continues to middle school in San Mateo-Foster City School District, then high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 425 Barneson Ave, San Mateo
Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 863
Student-teacher ratio: 19.1 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $23,052
Feeder: Continues to high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 600 36th Ave, San Mateo
Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 668
Student-teacher ratio: 17.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $25,193
Feeder: Continues to high school in San Mateo Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Note
San Mateo is served by three high schools in the San Mateo Union High School District, assigned by home address, so verify the assigned school by address.
Address: 900 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,654
Student-teacher ratio: 22.3 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $33,409
Feeder: One of three high schools serving San Mateo by address, in the San Mateo Union High School District.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 3115 Del Monte St, San Mateo
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,517
Student-teacher ratio: 19.3 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $37,679
Feeder: One of three high schools serving San Mateo by address, in the San Mateo Union High School District.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 506 North Delaware St, San Mateo
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,532
Student-teacher ratio: 19.5 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $38,757
Feeder: One of three high schools serving San Mateo by address, in the San Mateo Union High School District.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Beyond the ratings
The San Mateo Schools Story
San Mateo has one of the most varied school pictures on the Peninsula, and the district average hides as much as it reveals. The San Mateo-Foster City School District is large and diverse, serving around ten thousand students who speak some fifty languages across both San Mateo and Foster City. Its overall rating sits in the top 31 percent of California districts, but that number blends two cities and a wide range of schools. Within San Mateo itself, schools run from College Park, which scores better than 97 percent of elementary schools statewide, down to campuses with much lower results. Because of that range, the district average is the wrong thing to shop on. The specific school your address is assigned to is what matters.
What stands out about this district is that it is working on that gap openly rather than hiding it. It has adopted an equity policy and a multi-year plan aimed at its most underserved students, backed by specifics: it tests students in kindergarten through second grade to catch gaps before state testing begins in third grade, and it has expanded eighth-grade algebra from 172 students to 389 through a program built to widen access rather than sort students early. For a buyer, that does not erase the range between schools, but it shows a district measuring the problem honestly and moving on it.
The district also offers real choice. Alongside neighborhood schools, it runs theme programs you apply and lottery into: Montessori at North Shoreview and Parkside, Spanish immersion at Fiesta Gardens, and Mandarin immersion at College Park that continues at Bayside. Based on research across public data, local forums, and family reviews, families often choose San Mateo as much for a program fit as for a neighborhood, and they stress two things: the strongest programs are competitive and not guaranteed by where you live, and touring the specific school for an address matters because the range is real. At the high school level the picture is reassuring: San Mateo's three high schools, Aragon, Hillsdale, and San Mateo High, are all strong and closely matched, with Aragon among the top few percent in the state, so the wide elementary range comes back together at strong high schools by ninth grade.
For a buyer, San Mateo offers more variety and more entry points on price than the elite districts nearby: a large district with real program choice, a visible commitment to closing gaps, and three genuinely strong high schools. The trade-off is that the elementary experience depends heavily on two things, the specific school your address feeds and whether you land a seat in a choice program. So the right move here, more than in most cities in this guide, is to verify the exact school for an address, look past the district average, check the choice-program deadlines if a theme school interests you, and visit the campuses you are considering.
This section reflects general research and community perspectives and is not a substitute for visiting schools and confirming current programs, boundaries, and enrollment options with the district.
Neighborhoods
Where to Look in San Mateo
San Mateo is the most varied housing market in this guide, spanning hillside enclaves with reservoir views, classic pre-war central streets, and flat bayfront neighborhoods. Every area below is in the San Mateo-Foster City School District for K-8, except the Highlands, which is unincorporated county land. Because the city feeds three comprehensive high schools, your assigned schools depend on your exact parcel address, so always verify with the district.
San Mateo Park
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
San Mateo's premier historic luxury neighborhood, designed by John McLaren with winding streets and landscaped traffic circles, bordering Burlingame and Hillsborough.
What you'll find
Large custom estates and period architecture on generous lots.
Price context
$4,660,000
Tends to suit
Luxury buyers wanting a prestige address and estate-scale homes.
Baywood (Parrott Park)
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
San Mateo's signature central pre-war neighborhood, tree-lined and walkable to downtown, centered around Baywood Elementary.
What you'll find
Classic period homes, Spanish revival, and traditional residences on established streets.
Price context
$3,500,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want a walkable, prestigious central location.
Aragon
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A prestigious neighborhood of classic 1920s to 1940s Spanish and traditional homes surrounding Aragon High School.
What you'll find
Well-kept period homes on leafy, walkable streets.
Price context
$3,450,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want character homes near a top-ranked high school.
Baywood Park
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
An elevated western-hills neighborhood along Crystal Springs Reservoir, near Highway 92 and Interstate 280.
What you'll find
Custom 1950s to 1970s hillside homes with canyon views and open-space proximity.
Price context
$2,788,750
Tends to suit
Buyers who want hills, nature views, and quick freeway access.
San Mateo Highlands
District and schools
Unincorporated San Mateo County: San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
Home to the largest contiguous tract of Eichler homes Joseph Eichler ever built, over 700 of them in the western hills, constructed between 1956 and 1964.
What you'll find
Iconic Eichler and mid-century post-and-beam architecture on quiet streets.
Price context
$2,750,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want distinctive mid-century modern architecture and a quiet hillside setting.
Hayward Park
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A central San Mateo neighborhood around the historic Hayward Park Caltrain station, bordering downtown and Central Park.
What you'll find
Tree-lined streets of 1920s to 1940s Craftsman bungalows and Spanish revival homes, with the newer Bay Meadows development nearby.
Price context
$2,600,000
Tends to suit
Commuters who want vintage character, level streets, and walking proximity to transit.
Hillsdale / The Lanes (Park Western)
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A classic post-war residential pocket near Hillsdale Shopping Center and Caltrain, where streets ending in "Lane" are known locally as The Lanes.
What you'll find
Solid single-level post-war ranch homes on level lots.
Price context
$2,500,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want a flat, convenient neighborhood near shopping, dining, and transit.
Beresford Park (Beresford Manor)
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A large, popular family neighborhood surrounding Beresford Park and its recreation center, playground, and tennis courts.
What you'll find
Well-maintained mid-century single-family homes on comfortable suburban lots.
Price context
$2,500,000
Tends to suit
Families who want immediate access to parks, recreation, and settled residential streets.
Laurelwood
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A western hillside neighborhood surrounding Laurelwood Park and Sugarloaf Mountain.
What you'll find
1960s to 1980s homes on hillside parcels with open-space trails nearby.
Price context
$2,486,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want hiking trails, hillside topography, and a quiet residential setting.
San Mateo Terrace
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A quiet western foothill neighborhood above Alameda de las Pulgas, between Beresford Park and Laurelwood.
What you'll find
1940s to 1960s hillside single-family homes, many on sloping lots with canyon or bay views.
Price context
$2,400,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want established hillside living and open-space proximity near Beresford Park.
Fiesta Gardens
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A distinctive 1950s mid-century tract community south of Highway 92, known for its tight-knit community life and private neighborhood amenities.
What you'll find
Single-story post-war homes on level streets, anchored by a residents' park, swimming pool, and cabana club, and home to the Fiesta Gardens Spanish immersion school.
Price context
$2,150,000
Tends to suit
Families who want community-oriented streets, neighborhood pool access, and proximity to the immersion school.
Westwood Knolls
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
An established, family-friendly hillside neighborhood in southern San Mateo near the Belmont border.
What you'll find
Mid-century single-family homes on quiet residential streets.
Price context
$2,000,000
Tends to suit
Families who want an established hillside pocket at a more moderate mid-Peninsula price.
Sunnybrae (19th Avenue Park)
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A classic post-war enclave in central-east San Mateo, widely known simply as Sunnybrae.
What you'll find
Level streets of 1940s and 1950s homes, many extensively updated and expanded.
Price context
$1,920,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want a central, flat, established neighborhood at a more accessible price point.
San Mateo Village (Glendale Village)
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A large, established post-war tract neighborhood in southern San Mateo bordering Belmont and Hillsdale.
What you'll find
Flat streets of 1950s single-story homes, many remodeled or expanded, near George Hall Elementary and the Hillsdale Caltrain station.
Price context
$1,805,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want a classic, walkable tract neighborhood with strong commuter convenience.
Downtown San Mateo (Eastern Addition)
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
The historic neighborhood immediately east of downtown San Mateo, formally designated in the MLS as Eastern Addition.
What you'll find
Early-twentieth-century bungalows, Victorian cottages, and vintage homes on compact lots, walkable to downtown shops, dining, and Caltrain.
Price context
$1,722,500
Tends to suit
Buyers who prioritize character architecture and immediate walkability to downtown amenities.
Parkside
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A flat, recreation-oriented neighborhood along the western edge of Marina Lagoon and Seal Slough, south of Third Avenue toward Highway 92.
What you'll find
Single-story post-war homes on level streets, some with private docks on the lagoon, next to Joinville Park and Parkside Aquatic Park.
Price context
$1,654,750
Tends to suit
Buyers who want water access, shoreline park amenities, and relative value on the east side.
North Shoreview (Dore Cavanaugh)
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A flat, established residential neighborhood in northeastern San Mateo near Coyote Point Recreation Area, Poplar Creek Golf Course, and the Bay Trail.
What you'll find
Modest post-war single-family homes on level parcels.
Price context
$1,600,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want level streets, shoreline park access, and an accessible entry point north of Highway 92.
North Central (Bowie Estate)
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
An established, walkable neighborhood just north of downtown San Mateo, bounded by Peninsula Avenue, Delaware Street, and Highway 101.
What you'll find
Early-twentieth-century bungalows, vintage cottages, and mid-century starter homes around San Mateo High School, walkable to downtown and the Burlingame border.
Price context
$1,535,500
Tends to suit
Buyers who want a more accessible price with close walking access to downtown and transit.
South Shoreview
District and schools
San Mateo-Foster City School District (K-8) → Aragon, Hillsdale, or San Mateo High by exact address; verify with the district.
A flat, residential neighborhood on San Mateo's east side near Seal Point Park and the Bay Trail, south of Third Avenue toward Highway 92.
What you'll find
Modest single-family homes on level lots.
Price context
$1,376,944
Tends to suit
First-time San Mateo buyers seeking the city's most accessible single-family entry 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. Median is used rather than average because it better reflects a typical home in areas with relatively few sales.
School District Verification Notice
Elementary school assignments in San Mateo depend strictly on your parcel address, while magnet and language immersion programs require a district application and lottery. High school attendance boundaries split across Aragon, Hillsdale, and San Mateo High. Always verify your specific address with both the San Mateo-Foster City School District and the San Mateo Union High School District before deciding.
FAQ
Common questions
What school districts serve San Mateo?
San Mateo is served by two separate public school districts: the San Mateo-Foster City School District for elementary and middle school (grades TK through 8), and the San Mateo Union High School District for high school (grades 9 through 12). Some neighborhoods, like the San Mateo Highlands, sit in unincorporated county territory but attend these same public school districts.
Which high school will my child attend in San Mateo?
Students residing in San Mateo are zoned by home address to one of three comprehensive high schools: Aragon High, Hillsdale High, or San Mateo High. All three schools deliver strong academic outcomes and college readiness. Aragon is known for high Advanced Placement participation, Hillsdale is organized around small learning communities known as the House system, and San Mateo High is recognized for its dedicated biotechnology program and performing arts. Always verify high school boundaries by exact address.
How does elementary and middle school assignment work in San Mateo?
Every home is assigned to a neighborhood school based on parcel address, where students have attendance priority if registered during the priority window. The district does not permit general open enrollment transfers between neighborhood campuses. In addition, the district runs specialized magnet and language immersion programs that families across the district must apply and lottery into.
Can I get into North Shoreview Montessori, Parkside, or College Park by buying a home nearby?
No. North Shoreview Montessori, Parkside Montessori, and the Mandarin immersion strand at College Park are district-wide choice programs. Admission requires an application and lottery process. While applicants living in the immediate historic neighborhood receive a priority preference for one-third of incoming transitional kindergarten and kindergarten seats, living next door does not guarantee admission.
Why does the elementary district include Foster City?
The San Mateo-Foster City School District was consolidated to serve both municipalities under one administrative system. While tax revenues and district leadership are shared, students are assigned to neighborhood schools based on their home address within their respective city. Living in San Mateo does not provide automatic access to neighborhood elementary or middle schools located in Foster City.
Are San Mateo public schools considered good?
San Mateo has a wide academic distribution at the elementary and middle school levels, ranging from top-ranked magnet and immersion campuses to neighborhood schools working through state equity initiatives. In contrast, the high school landscape is uniformly strong, with Aragon, Hillsdale, and San Mateo High all posting high graduation rates and college-readiness scores. Because of the variation at the lower grade levels, buyers should research the specific school assigned to their address rather than relying on district averages.
Do homes in the San Mateo Highlands attend San Mateo public schools?
Yes. Although the San Mateo Highlands is an unincorporated community governed by San Mateo County rather than the City of San Mateo, residential parcels fall within the San Mateo-Foster City School District for elementary and middle grades, and within the San Mateo Union High School District for high school.
Last verified: October 2026 (reflecting 2025-26 state results).
Sources: SchoolDigger, the California Department of Education, and CAASPP. See each school card above for the specific attribution behind its figures.
