When families decide to move to the Bay Area, one of the factors that receives utmost consideration is where the best public school districts are located. Fortunately, there are high-ranked school districts sprinkled all across the region. In fact, five public Bay Area high schools were listed among the top 100 in the nation, according to this Mercury News report.

To help narrow down the list for you, Neighborhoods.com has rounded up the Bay Area neighborhoods with top-rated school districts worth checking out. Whether or not you can afford a home here, however, is another story altogether.

Palo Alto

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The Palo Alto Unified School District consistently shows up on statewide and nationwide lists of the best public schools. Niche’s 2018 list of the best school districts listed PAUSD in the number-one slot not only in the region, but the state. The two high schools in the district, Henry M. Gunn High School and Palo Alto High School, are academic powerhouses, consistently sending dozens of students to Ivy League universities every year. 

Los Gatos/Saratoga

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The Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union School District is another stand-out district known for its academic excellence. In fact, Niche ranked Saratoga High School as the fourth best public school in the state of California. The district’s academic climate is said to be “competitive” and “pressured,” according to a Mercury News report, but with highly supportive teachers and stellar college prep.

Mountain View/Los Altos

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Just south of Palo Alto, Mountain View and Los Altos are also offering public school students an excellent education. Boasting high graduation rates and excellent SAT/ACT scores, the Union High School District definitely has an impressive track record. Plus, with NASA, Google, and Facebook located in the vicinity, there are some great opportunities for potential internships and summer programs. 

Pleasanton

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In the East Bay, Pleasanton Unified School District shines as one of the best. Niche ranked it ninth in the state overall and gave it an A+ score in academics, teachers, and college prep. Plus, the district boasts a 96 percent graduation rate.

Albany

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The Albany City Unified School District has just under 4,000 students across its six schools, but don’t be fooled by the district’s small size. The district ranks 12th in Niche’s list of the districts with the best teachers in California. Every year, dozens of graduates are accepted to top-ranked universities and continue their academic excellence in college.

Cupertino

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Don’t be surprised if your child attends this district and starts coming home with straight A’s. The Fremont Union High School District serving Cupertino is known for its academic excellence, which shows in the statistics listed on the Niche ranking. The district has a graduation rate of 96 percent, an average SAT score of 1380, and an average ACT score of 31. 

Larkspur

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The Tamalpais Union High School District prides itself on academic rigor, faculty excellence, and stellar college prep. In fact, Niche gave the district an A+ score in all of these categories. Located in the North Bay around Mount Tamalpais, Larkspur’s high schools have a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1.