San Mateo-foster City, CA

Original Research by School Decision on San Mateo-foster City

San Mateo-Foster City School District serves kindergarten through eighth grade across a span of communities on the peninsula south of San Francisco. The district includes over twenty schools, among them Montessori programs and schools with thematic focuses such as the International program at Fiesta Gardens. The student body is diverse: substantial shares identify as Hispanic and Asian, with smaller populations of white students and other backgrounds.

The district's academic performance in state testing sits below the midpoint among San Mateo County's districts. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from the low-to-mid range in third and fourth grades to a higher range by sixth and seventh grade, with stronger performance in the upper middle grades. Math proficiency runs lower across all tested grades, hovering near the midpoint or slightly below. Science proficiency, tested in grades five and eight, comes in below the overall ELA results. One data point from an earlier state assessment showed eighth-grade social studies at a solid level more than a decade ago, though recent results are not available. The pattern across subjects suggests particular need in early math foundations and continued work in science.

A major curricular change took place in spring 2021, when the district eliminated its early-acceleration track in middle school math and moved to a single heterogeneous sixth-grade classroom. This equity-driven shift was contentious among families who had valued the accelerated pathway. The outcome has been an expansion of access to Algebra by eighth grade, which now reaches a considerably larger share of students than before, though students no longer follow a separate advanced track through middle school.

Housing in the district's communities reflects the Bay Area coastal market. Home values are substantial, ranging considerably depending on zip code and specific location, from lower values in central San Mateo to higher ones in Hillsborough and surrounding areas. Rents are correspondingly elevated. For a prospective buyer, the affordability picture is tight, with mortgage and rent costs consuming a substantial share of household income relative to national benchmarks.

The district faces real financial and enrollment headwinds. Enrollment has declined, and the draft budget for 2025-26 projects spending exceeding revenue, with administrative reductions planned. A parcel tax approved in an earlier year is set to expire in 2027-28, and the district is preparing a renewal measure. Beyond that, a new bond measure is being prepared for the June 2026 ballot, which would fund facility improvements and workforce housing projects and would add to property tax bills for homeowners. Current bond proceeds have funded visible work such as renovations at Bowditch Middle School, including a new gymnasium and academic spaces.

Chronic absenteeism in the district sits near the median for the county, neither markedly high nor low. Per-pupil spending falls in the middle-to-upper range among county districts, indicating moderate resource allocation.

Families considering this district should understand that it offers diverse school options and serves a multicultural student population, but that core academic performance in math and science lags its county peers, with particular softness in early elementary grades. The shift to detracked math instruction is a lasting change that reflects the district's equity priorities and eliminates acceleration pathways some families may have sought. The community faces ongoing financial pressure, near-term bond decisions, and a parcel tax renewal timeline that will shape both school resources and tax obligations. A parent may want to look into the specific schools within the district, as performance and program offerings vary by site.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

9,945

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 40%

Black 1%

White 17%

Asian 29%

Two+ 11%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 2%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

27%

—

Gr 3

18%

59%

Gr 4

25%

68%

Gr 5

26%

71%

Gr 6

30%

75%

Gr 7

29%

77%

Gr 8

30%

73%

Math

Gr ALL

23%

—

Gr 3

24%

67%

Gr 4

27%

69%

Gr 5

22%

67%

Gr 6

20%

66%

Gr 7

21%

68%

Gr 8

23%

67%

Science

Gr 5

19%

57%

Gr 8

16%

59%

Gr HS

18%

—

Schools in this District

22 schools are officially reported under this district.

Fiesta Gardens International Elementary

Brewer Island Elementary

Foster City Elementary

George Hall Elementary

Highlands Elementary

LEAD Elementary

Laurel Elementary

College Park Elementary

Meadow Heights Elementary

North Shoreview Montessori

San Mateo Park Elementary

Parkside Montessori

Sunnybrae Elementary

Beresford Elementary

San Mateo-Foster City Special Education Preschool

Bayside Academy

Beach Park Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

52%

Grade 4

50%

Grade 5

47%

Grade 6

48%

Grade 7

49%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

43%

Grade 3

51%

Grade 4

54%

Grade 5

56%

Grade 6

57%

Grade 7

56%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

43%

Grade 5

42%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

63%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$2.21M

Year-over-year change+1.8%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$1.2M to $3.5M

vs. state typical2.85x

vs. national typical6.00x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94062	Emerald Lake Hills	$2.7M	+1.8%	28.7%
94403	San Mateo	$1.8M	+1.6%	18.4%
94402	San Mateo	$2.5M	+3.8%	17.8%
94404	Foster City	$1.8M	-0.8%	15.4%
94401	San Mateo	$1.2M	+0.6%	11.2%
94010	Hillsborough	$3.5M	+5.9%	5.0%
94002	Belmont	$2.4M	+2.3%	2.0%
94019	Half Moon Bay	$1.6M	+1.9%	1.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,542/mo

Year-over-year change+4.6%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$3,079 to $3,913/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94062	Emerald Lake Hills	$3,382	+2.0%	28.7%
94403	San Mateo	$3,579	+3.8%	18.4%
94402	San Mateo	$3,693	+8.0%	17.8%
94404	Foster City	$3,913	+6.8%	15.4%
94401	San Mateo	$3,238	+4.9%	11.2%
94010	Hillsborough	$3,505	+3.3%	5.0%
94002	Belmont	$3,079	+5.3%	2.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$11,155/mo

Home price / national median income26.4x

Annual rent / national median income50.8%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$7,614/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.