Henry Ford Elementary, Redwood City CA

Original Research by School Decision on Henry Ford Elementary

Henry Ford Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Redwood City, a mixed-use community with a walkable downtown core anchored by Courthouse Square and the Caltrain station, surrounded by residential neighborhoods like Emerald Hills and Redwood Shores. The school sits within the Redwood City Elementary School District, which is navigating a period of budget strain tied to the expiration of one-time federal COVID-19 relief funding. That context shapes what families will encounter here.

The school's enrollment is modest for the grade band, drawing a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with meaningful shares of white and Asian students as well. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a community with lower household incomes relative to the broader region. Data on special education and English learner enrollment was not available to assess the school's support infrastructure for those populations.

Academic proficiency at Henry Ford is below the midpoint among districts in San Mateo County. On state assessments administered in 2024-25, third-grade students showed the highest proficiency in mathematics and English language arts, though still not at levels many families might hope for. Performance declines notably in grades four and five, with mathematics proficiency dropping substantially and English language arts falling as well. Science proficiency in fifth grade sits lower still. The school has only one year of assessment data on record, so trend direction cannot be determined. Only one prior school year is available in the state system, limiting what can be inferred about whether the current results represent a shift or continuation of established patterns. A parent interested in understanding the school's trajectory and the reasons behind these proficiency levels may want to speak directly with school leadership.

The district's broader context includes real budget pressures. A parcel tax measure failed at the ballot in June 2026, leaving the district without new local revenue to address its shortfall. The district has responded with cost-cutting moves that affect classroom experience: combined multi-grade classes have increased, teaching positions have been reduced, and elementary schools are shifting to a principal-only administrative structure. These staffing constraints have direct bearing on class sizes, instructional continuity, and support services families may depend on. On the positive side, voters approved a substantial facilities bond in 2022 dedicated to modernizing school buildings, upgrading HVAC systems, adding solar and LED projects, and improving school safety, a multi-year effort that is ongoing.

Redwood City itself is in growth mode, with downtown redevelopment plans advancing transit-oriented housing and mixed-use projects, and the wider housing market remains expensive, though not at the peak of the Bay Area range. The downtown economy has diversified since Oracle's 2020 departure and subsequent layoffs, though technology firms like Electronic Arts, Nintendo, and others remain major employers in Redwood Shores.

For families considering Henry Ford, the essential facts are clear: this is a school serving a lower-income student population with demonstrated academic proficiency below the county average, facing a district under budget pressure that has responded by consolidating staff and combining classes. The facilities are receiving upgrades through the bond measure, which is a concrete investment. Whether this school is right for a family depends on their tolerance for smaller class sizes that may combine grades, their understanding that academic achievement outcomes are modest, and their ability to assess whether the school's particular approach or community feel matches their child's needs. The proximity to a walkable downtown and transit access are neighborhood assets independent of the school itself.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 367%

School 67% · District 52% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 435%

School 35% · District 43% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Grade 529%

School 29% · District 37% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 355%

School 55% · District 47% · ▲ 8 pts above district

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

Grade 446%

School 46% · District 46%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 539%

School 39% · District 48% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Science

Grade 533%

School 33% · District 36% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

This schoolRedwood City Elementary, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income44%Higher-income87%43 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income43%Higher-income56%13 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income31%Higher-income69%38 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income56%Higher-income100%44 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income30%Higher-income50%20 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income24%Higher-income50%26 pp gap