The top reported proficiency rate is 89% in English language arts. The lowest is 69% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Wade Thomas Elementary
Wade Thomas Elementary sits at 150 Ross Avenue in San Anselmo, a short walk from the town's antique-lined main street and downtown plaza. The school draws its enrollment from a compact, tree-lined community in central Marin County's Ross Valley, where most housing is vintage and Craftsman-era, and the civic rhythm centers on the library, farmers markets, and summer concert series along San Anselmo Avenue.
The school's enrollment of roughly three hundred students spans kindergarten through fifth grade, with a student body that is predominantly white and includes smaller shares of multiracial, Hispanic, and Asian students. The school serves a relatively affluent area; fewer than one in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects San Anselmo's housing market, where median home values and monthly rents are among the highest in the state and mortgage costs consume a substantial portion of household income in the area.
Academic performance, measured by the most recent state assessments, shows strong results across tested subjects and grades. In English language arts, proficiency across all tested grades sits well above the state baseline. Mathematics proficiency is similarly strong, though it declines somewhat across grade levels, with third grade substantially higher than fifth grade. Science proficiency in fifth grade, the only grade tested, is lower than ELA and math but remains solid. When viewed across all tested subjects and grades, Wade Thomas's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to the districts in Marin County, a notably strong positioning.
The state testing data available covers only the current school year, so no trend information is available yet. Only state-tested grades appear in the assessment results; kindergarten through second grade do not take the full CAASPP examination.
Wade Thomas is part of Ross Valley School District, which encompasses the three towns of San Anselmo, Fairfax, and Ross. The district faces a structural budget challenge. After one-time pandemic funding expired and state enrollment protections lapsed, the district encountered what officials describe as a fiscal cliff, with annual deficits projected to grow substantially in coming years. Teachers recently accepted a zero-percent salary increase for the current year in exchange for one-time bonuses and enhanced healthcare. The district receives among the lowest per-pupil funding in Marin County and ranks in the bottom tier statewide, a long-term financial strain that affects class sizes, program breadth, and staff retention that families should monitor.
In May 2025 a local parcel tax measure fell short of the two-thirds voter supermajority required to pass. In June 2026 the district placed a follow-up measure on the ballot with much higher stakes: failure would trigger tiered budget cuts including the closure of two of the district's five elementary schools, elimination of middle-school electives, layoffs of PE teachers, and cuts to counseling positions. That measure outcome shapes the immediate and ongoing funding landscape for this school.
San Anselmo's housing market and the school's proximity to downtown and civic anchors make it a natural fit for families with young children who value walkability and community access. The school environment is small and rooted in a specific, tight-knit neighborhood context. Families considering Wade Thomas should understand both its strong current academic performance and the district's ongoing financial pressures, which remain a significant backdrop to enrollment decisions and family experience over time.
See more original research from School Decision →