Novato Charter, Novato CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Novato Charter

Novato Charter is a small charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Novato, a residential city in northern Marin County. The school enrolls a substantially small number of students spread across nine grade levels, with the largest kindergarten cohort and slightly smaller groups in the upper grades. The student body is predominantly white, with meaningful representation from students of two or more races, as well as Hispanic students. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school's special-populations data is not publicly reported.

The school's academic profile shows uneven achievement across grades and subjects. In English language arts, the school demonstrates solid performance in the middle and upper grades, with proficiency notably strong in fifth grade and substantial in grades seven and eight. Third and fourth grade show weaker results, particularly in third grade. In mathematics, the pattern reverses: early elementary grades show softer performance, while seventh and eighth grades pull up substantially. Grade-level data suggests the school's students strengthen in proficiency as they progress into middle school. Science proficiency, measured in grades five and eight only, shows modest attainment in both tested grades.

Across all tested subjects and grades combined, Novato Charter's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint relative to districts in Marin County. The school's proficiency index places it in company with schools serving mixed populations and reflects the variability visible in the grade-by-grade picture.

Because the school serves only elementary and middle grades, no high school graduation rate or college-readiness metrics apply. The school's charter status means it operates independently within the district framework, though the parent district, Novato Unified, faces ongoing questions about funding. Voters in the area approved a property-tax measure in 2023, and another supplemental parcel tax measure was on the June 2026 ballot, materially raising the annual property-tax cost for homeowners choosing to live in this district.

The Novato area itself is predominantly residential, with a restored downtown core along Grant Avenue that supports some pedestrian street life, though most retail is in auto-oriented shopping centers. The city has a defined downtown civic center and is served by SMART commuter rail with three local stations. Housing values in the Novato area are substantial, reflecting Marin County's market position, though growth has been slow relative to state housing targets. A parent considering this school would want to clarify with the school itself what programs distinguish the charter model, what enrollment demand looks like, and how the school addresses the grade-level performance gaps visible in state testing data.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 354%

School 54% · district not reported

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 446%

School 46% · district not reported

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 546%

School 46% · district not reported

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 652%

School 52% · district not reported

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 770%

School 70% · district not reported

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Grade 865%

School 65% · district not reported

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 346%

School 46% · district not reported

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 468%

School 68% · district not reported

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 582%

School 82% · district not reported

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 659%

School 59% · district not reported

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 774%

School 74% · district not reported

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 874%

School 74% · district not reported

▲ 30 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Science

Grade 557%

School 57% · district not reported

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 848%

School 48% · district not reported

▲ 22 pts above state median · even with county median

This schoolDistrict average, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.