Belmont-redwood Shores Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Belmont-redwood Shores Elementary

Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary is a small district serving kindergarten through grade eight across several communities in San Mateo County, with an enrollment spread across seven schools. The district sits in a high-cost housing market where median home values in the communities it serves run well above state and national benchmarks. Rental costs also climb steadily; the district is positioned in the lower range for per-pupil spending relative to its county peers, at roughly the bottom quartile, though this reflects a conscious choice rather than scarcity.

In academic performance, the district shows solid proficiency across tested subjects. In English language arts, proficiency runs in the low-to-mid range at third grade, dips slightly in the fourth-grade band, then climbs through the middle grades, reaching strong proficiency by seventh and eighth grade. Math proficiency follows a similar arc, starting in the low-eighties at third grade, dropping to mid-seventies by sixth grade, then recovering in the upper grades. Science results, tested in fifth and eighth grade, sit in the low-to-mid seventies. These patterns suggest students build toward stronger command of content in the later grades, though the dip in sixth-grade math warrants attention as students transition into the middle grades. Chronic absenteeism in the district lands in the top quartile countywide—meaning it is low—which speaks to engagement and family stability.

The student body is diverse by race and ethnicity. Asian students make up the largest group, followed by white students, then Hispanic students and those identifying as two or more races. Together, students of color represent a substantial majority of enrollment. Free and reduced lunch eligibility data was not available, so family income composition cannot be read from the data.

The district is navigating curriculum change. In early 2026, new math materials entered pilot phase at Ralston Intermediate, with final adoption targeted for spring. Because textbook adoptions shape instruction for years, families should understand that the math experience their children receive will reflect transitional instructional materials and possibly shifting approaches tied to California's revised 2023 math framework. This is a concrete opportunity to ask schools which curriculum has been selected and how the transition is being managed for current students.

Funding stability is a decided strength. In 2022, voters approved Measure C, combining and renewing two earlier parcel taxes with a built-in annual cost-of-living adjustment through the early 2030s. This measure locks in ongoing support for core academic programs, small class sizes, libraries, reading specialists, counselors, and art and music instruction. For a family considering a home in one of the district's towns, the parcel tax is a permanent feature of property ownership; it also signals that the community is committed enough to education to tax itself locally on top of state and federal support.

The district operates seven schools across Belmont, Redwood City, Emerald Lake Hills, San Carlos, and Foster City, giving families options within a small system. The combination of solid academic results, low absenteeism, diverse student population, and voter-backed funding creates a stable, if modest, learning environment for elementary and middle grades. A parent evaluating enrollment would benefit from visiting schools, asking about the math curriculum rollout, and understanding whether the peer and instructional environment aligns with their child's needs.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,019

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 14%

Black 1%

White 28%

Asian 38%

Two+ 18%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

47%

—

Gr 3

36%

83%

Gr 4

50%

76%

Gr 5

54%

85%

Gr 6

36%

84%

Gr 7

52%

88%

Gr 8

52%

90%

Math

Gr ALL

41%

—

Gr 3

38%

87%

Gr 4

50%

80%

Gr 5

46%

84%

Gr 6

37%

80%

Gr 7

37%

86%

Gr 8

39%

85%

Science

Gr 5

40%

76%

Gr 8

34%

79%

Gr HS

37%

—

Schools in this District

7 schools are officially reported under this district.

Redwood Shores Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

81%

Grade 3

77%

Grade 4

80%

Grade 5

75%

Grade 6

81%

Grade 7

80%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

77%

Grade 3

73%

Grade 4

81%

Grade 5

79%

Grade 6

85%

Grade 7

86%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

72%

Grade 5

74%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

74%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$2.26M

Year-over-year change+1.4%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$1.8M to $2.7M

vs. state typical2.91x

vs. national typical6.14x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94002	Belmont	$2.4M	+2.3%	52.9%
94065	Redwood City	$1.9M	-1.5%	22.9%
94062	Emerald Lake Hills	$2.7M	+1.8%	10.8%
94070	San Carlos	$2.5M	+3.1%	7.2%
94403	San Mateo	$1.8M	+1.6%	5.4%
94404	Foster City	$1.8M	-0.8%	0.7%
94402	San Mateo	$2.5M	+3.8%	0.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,444/mo

Year-over-year change+5.1%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$3,079 to $4,320/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94002	Belmont	$3,079	+5.3%	52.9%
94065	Redwood City	$3,991	+6.0%	22.9%
94062	Emerald Lake Hills	$3,382	+2.0%	10.8%
94070	San Carlos	$4,320	+6.5%	7.2%
94403	San Mateo	$3,579	+3.8%	5.4%
94404	Foster City	$3,913	+6.8%	0.7%
94402	San Mateo	$3,693	+8.0%	0.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$11,407/mo

Home price / national median income27.0x

Annual rent / national median income49.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$7,963/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.