On the Peninsula
Menlo Park
On the Peninsula
Menlo Park
Top-rated public schools, a walkable downtown, and some of the Peninsula's highest home values.
Quick summary
Menlo Park is not served by a single school district. Most of the city is split between two highly rated K-8 districts, Las Lomitas (top 1 percent of California districts) and Menlo Park City (top 3 percent), and which one a home attends depends on its exact address. Homes in the Belle Haven neighborhood, east of Highway 101, are served by the Ravenswood district, which has far fewer resources. Every Menlo Park neighborhood, whatever its elementary district, feeds Menlo-Atherton High in the Sequoia Union district. Because the boundaries do not follow city lines, always verify your assigned schools by exact address.
Menlo Park is served by more than one elementary district, not one. Which schools a given home is assigned to depends on the exact address: broadly, whether it sits west or east of US-101, and within west Menlo Park, which side of the Menlo Park/Atherton border it falls on. Buyers should verify the district at the address level rather than assuming a single Menlo Park rating applies citywide.
How to read the scores: “Proficient” means a student scored Advanced or Proficient, the top two of California's four achievement levels. Every school and district on this page is compared against the same California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26: English 49%, Math 38%, Science 36%.
District 1 of 3
Las Lomitas Elementary School District (LLESD)
Serves west Menlo Park, including Sharon Heights, Stanford Hills, and the Alpine Road area, along with parts of Atherton and unincorporated West Menlo Park. Some streets near the Menlo Park City line fall on either side, so verify by address.
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
$3,950,000
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, the shared high school for all of Menlo Park. See the Menlo-Atherton High section 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)
Serves most of central Menlo Park, including Downtown, Allied Arts, Central Menlo, the Willows, Felton Gables, and Flood Park, along with parts of Atherton. Boundaries follow exact addresses, not neighborhood names, so verify by address.
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
$3,550,000
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
Ravenswood City Elementary School District
Serves East Palo Alto and the Belle Haven area of Menlo Park. Grades K-8.
At a glance
2,432
Enrollment
4
Schools
K-8
Grades
Context
Ravenswood serves East Palo Alto and Belle Haven, communities with far fewer economic resources than the districts nearby. Around 90% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Test scores here sit well below state averages, and that gap reflects differences in community resources and circumstances, not the ability of the students or the commitment of the schools.
Families in this attendance area may be eligible for the Tinsley Voluntary Transfer Program, which allows some students to transfer to higher-resourced districts elsewhere on the Peninsula. Options and eligibility change year to year, so confirm current details directly with the Ravenswood City School District.
Schools in Ravenswood City (RCSD)
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.
Costano Elementary
K-5 · 368 students · East Palo Alto
Belle Haven Elementary
K-5 · 297 students · Menlo Park
Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy
K-5 · 305 students · East Palo Alto
Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle
6-8 · 468 students · East Palo Alto
All Ravenswood schools feed Menlo-Atherton High, the shared high school for Menlo Park.
Last verified: October 2026. 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.
Shared high school
Menlo-Atherton High
Sequoia Union High School District. Grades 9-12.
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.
Shared high school
Menlo-Atherton High serves all of Menlo Park. Students from the Menlo Park City, Las Lomitas, and Ravenswood districts all attend M-A, part of the Sequoia Union High School District.
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
Menlo Park's public schools pair top-tier test scores and high parent involvement in K-8 districts with a diverse, high-achieving environment at Menlo-Atherton High School. Academic pressure runs high within Advanced Placement tracks, and families do best when they help students balance rigorous coursework with wellbeing.
K-8 cohesion, then a bigger high school
The Menlo Park experience splits into two phases. The K-8 years in the Menlo Park City and Las Lomitas districts are intimate and exceptionally well funded, with active parent communities, strong neighborhood ties, and top-tier scores. Then students move to Menlo-Atherton High, a large comprehensive school in the Sequoia Union district serving Menlo Park, Atherton, and parts of East Palo Alto and Redwood City. The high school brings together a much more socioeconomically diverse student body, and a student's experience there depends heavily on course tracking. Honors and AP paths function as high-pressure college-prep pipelines, while the wider campus offers broad social and academic diversity.
Where the pressure comes from
Academic pressure rarely starts in high school. It often surfaces earlier, in middle school, through private tutoring, competitive math pipelines, and carefully built extracurricular resumes. Student wellness and academic stress have drawn significant community and news attention across these Peninsula school communities. In response, local districts have expanded counseling staff and on-campus wellness centers. Self-advocacy still matters: students on high-achievement tracks do best when they and their families set healthy boundaries around outside commitments.
Public path versus local private options
| Feature | Public path (MPCSD / Las Lomitas to M-A) | Local private options (Menlo School, Sacred Heart) |
|---|---|---|
| Campus environment | Neighborhood K-8 leading into a large, socioeconomically diverse high school. | Smaller, highly networked K-12 or 6-12 campuses. |
| College preparation | Deep AP offerings; relies on student self-advocacy given public counselor ratios. | Dedicated college counseling with lower student-to-counselor ratios. |
| Peer culture | Academic intensity is concentrated in advanced-track cohorts. | High-achievement peer standard across the whole student body. |
Navigating the community
The perspectives below reflect my own research across public data, local forums, and family reviews, rather than verified facts, and are worth reading alongside the verified scores above. Families frequently praise passionate teachers, strong opportunities, and excellent college preparation, especially in upper-level courses. Some also note the environment can be competitive, and that students who fall behind may need to advocate for themselves to get support. Academic outcomes depend heavily on course selection, home support, and healthy boundaries. Families who understand the shift from small K-8 schools to a competitive high school are best equipped to help their children balance wellbeing with achievement.
This section reflects a mix of public data and community perspectives. School culture is subjective and changes over time. We encourage families to visit schools directly.
Neighborhoods
Where to Look in Menlo Park
Menlo Park is split across more than one school district, so your assigned elementary and middle schools depend on your exact address, broadly whether a home sits west or east of Highway 101 and, within west Menlo Park, which side of the Las Lomitas and Menlo Park City line it falls on. Every neighborhood, whatever its K-8 district, feeds Menlo-Atherton High in the Sequoia Union district. Always verify by exact address.
Las Lomitas area
Sharon Heights / Stanford Hills
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.
Hillside privacy and mature landscaping, built around the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club, minutes from Sand Hill Road and Interstate 280.
What you'll find
A mix of updated mid-century and larger custom homes on sloping lots, with quiet cul-de-sacs and canyon views.
Price context
$4,500,000
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting privacy, greenery, and a quick Sand Hill Road commute.
County / Alameda Area (West Menlo)
District and schools
Las Lomitas Elementary School District: Las Lomitas Elementary (K-3) → La Entrada Middle (4-8) → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address. This is an unincorporated pocket and some streets near the Menlo Park City line fall the other way, so verify carefully by address.
Classic West Menlo suburban streets, wide and tree-lined, long sought for the schools.
What you'll find
Well-kept ranch homes and remodels on generous lots.
Price context
$3,950,000
Tends to suit
Families prioritizing top-ranked neighborhood schools.
Alpine Road Area
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.
Rustic, wooded edge of town with a semi-rural feel, fast Interstate 280 access, and open-space trails nearby.
What you'll find
Larger lots, mature trees, and a range from original ranches to rebuilt homes.
Price context
$2,225,000
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting space and a quieter setting while keeping top school access.
Menlo Park City area
Felton Gables
District and schools
Menlo Park City School District: your assigned elementary (Oak Knoll, Laurel, or Encinal) → Hillview Middle → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address; verify with the district.
A small, tucked-away enclave of about 80 homes with a tight community feel, bordering Holbrook-Palmer Park.
What you'll find
Well-kept homes on roughly 10,000 square foot lots on quiet streets.
Price context
$6,750,000
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting a quiet, close-knit pocket with generous lots.
Central Menlo
District and schools
Menlo Park City School District: your assigned elementary (Oak Knoll, Laurel, or Encinal) → Hillview Middle → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address; verify with the district.
Gracious and established, close to downtown, featuring some of the city's largest parcels.
What you'll find
Large lots, mature trees, and many luxury rebuilds alongside period homes.
Price context
$6,394,000
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting estate-scale homes near town.
Menlo Oaks
District and schools
Menlo Park City School District: your assigned elementary (Oak Knoll, Laurel, or Encinal) → Hillview Middle → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address. This is unincorporated county land, and select northern and eastern border pockets fall into the Redwood City School District, so confirm district assignments by address.
A rural, un-curbed county pocket with a woodsy, private feel, with no sidewalks or streetlights.
What you'll find
Larger custom homes on half-acre or bigger lots.
Price context
$5,062,509
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting privacy and acreage near town.
Allied Arts / Downtown
District and schools
Menlo Park City School District: your assigned elementary (Oak Knoll, Laurel, or Encinal) → Hillview Middle → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address; verify with the district.
Walkable and full of architectural character, named for the historic Allied Arts Guild, steps from Santa Cruz Avenue and Caltrain.
What you'll find
Charming period homes, bungalows, and tree-lined streets.
Price context
$3,550,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want character architecture and walking access to downtown.
The Willows / O'Connor
District and schools
Menlo Park City School District: your assigned elementary (Oak Knoll, Laurel, or Encinal) → Hillview Middle → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address; verify with the district.
A social, family-centered neighborhood near the Meta campus, often regarded as the heart of the community.
What you'll find
Tree-lined streets of mid-century homes on 6,000 to 8,000 square foot lots, many updated and expanded.
Price context
$3,525,000
Tends to suit
Families wanting a walkable, connected neighborhood setting.
Flood Park / Suburban Park
District and schools
Menlo Park City School District: your assigned elementary (Oak Knoll, Laurel, or Encinal) → Hillview Middle → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address. Some border streets near Bay Road and Highway 101 fall into Ravenswood, so verify carefully by address.
An accessible entry into Menlo Park City schools with active neighborhood associations, near the Marsh Manor shopping center.
What you'll find
Mid-century ranch homes on comfortable suburban parcels.
Price context
$2,906,500
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting an MPCSD address at an accessible price point.
Middlefield to El Camino (Linfield Oaks)
District and schools
Menlo Park City School District: your assigned elementary (Oak Knoll, Laurel, or Encinal) → Hillview Middle → Menlo-Atherton High by exact address; verify with the district.
A central, established band of neighborhoods offering convenient access across the city and toward Caltrain.
What you'll find
A mix of updated ranches, newer builds, and residential streets on varied lot sizes.
Price context
$2,862,500
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting a central MPCSD location with varied pricing options.
Ravenswood area
Belle Haven (East of Highway 101)
District and schools
Ravenswood City School District (TK-8) → Menlo-Atherton High (9-12) by exact address; verify with the district.
The primary Menlo Park residential neighborhood east of Highway 101, adjacent to the Meta headquarters, with ongoing civic investment.
What you'll find
Smaller mid-century homes on modest, level lots.
Price context
$1,305,000
Tends to suit
Buyers seeking entry-level pricing and proximity to major tech campuses.
Outside Menlo Park's districts
North Fair Oaks / Fair Oaks Avenue
District and schools
Redwood City School District (K-8) → Sequoia Union High School District by exact address. A Menlo Park mailing address here does not assign homes to Menlo Park schools, so verify by address.
An unincorporated county pocket situated between Menlo Park and Redwood City.
What you'll find
A varied mix of smaller, modest post-war homes at accessible price points.
Price context
$2,200,000
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting relative affordability near the Menlo Park border.
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
School district boundaries in Menlo Park do not follow city limits or postal ZIP codes. Unincorporated county pockets such as West Menlo, Menlo Oaks, and North Fair Oaks, as well as border streets along Highway 101 and Bay Road, frequently cross into neighboring school districts. Always confirm your exact parcel address on the Menlo Park City, Las Lomitas, Ravenswood, and Sequoia Union High School District boundary maps before making an offer.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Menlo-Atherton High School overly stressful?
Academic stress at Menlo-Atherton depends largely on course selection. Students taking multiple AP classes face intense pressure, while standard tracks offer a more balanced experience.
How do local schools support student wellness?
Districts have expanded on-campus wellness centers, counseling staff, and emotional-health initiatives to help offset academic anxiety.
What is the difference between the elementary districts and the high school?
Menlo Park's K-8 districts (Menlo Park City and Las Lomitas) are small, well-funded, and neighborhood-based. Menlo-Atherton High is a larger, more diverse school serving several communities in the Sequoia Union district.
Which district will my Menlo Park home be zoned for?
Menlo Park is split across three districts (Menlo Park City, Las Lomitas, and Ravenswood), and assignment depends on the specific address. Confirm current attendance boundaries with the district before making an offer.
Are Menlo Park schools open to inter-district transfer?
Transfer policies and waitlists vary by district and by year. Confirm directly with each district office.
Which Menlo Park neighborhoods are in the Las Lomitas district?
West Menlo Park areas including Sharon Heights, Stanford Hills, and the Alpine Road area are primarily served by Las Lomitas, the highest-ranked of Menlo Park's districts. Confirm the exact address, since some streets near the boundary fall into Menlo Park City.
Do all Menlo Park neighborhoods feed the same high school?
Yes. Regardless of elementary district, Menlo Park students attend Menlo-Atherton High in the Sequoia Union High School District.
Which Menlo Park areas are more affordable?
Areas east of Highway 101 such as Belle Haven, and unincorporated pockets like North Fair Oaks, tend to be more affordable, though North Fair Oaks is served by the Redwood City School District rather than a Menlo Park district.
Last verified: October 2026 (reflecting 2025-26 state results).
Sources: rank and star rating from SchoolDigger; 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.
