On the Peninsula
Redwood City
On the Peninsula
Redwood City
Most of Redwood City is served by the Redwood City School District for kindergarten through eighth grade, then by one of three high schools in the Sequoia Union High School District, assigned by address.
Quick summary
Redwood City is served by the Redwood City School District for grades K-8, a large district whose schools range widely, from North Star Academy, one of the top-ranked schools in California, to campuses near the bottom of the state. Because the district varies so much and the city is split among three high schools, Carlmont, Woodside, and Sequoia, your assigned schools depend on your exact address more than in any other city in this guide. The district also runs a School of Choice lottery for specialized programs like language immersion. Always verify your assigned schools by address.
District
Redwood City School District (RCSD)
Serves most of Redwood City for kindergarten through eighth grade. A few schools admit by application rather than by home address, and Redwood Shores is served by a different district; see the notes on each section below.
District office: 750 Bradford St, Redwood City
At a glance
Better than 56% of California districts · top 44%
Redwood City is a large district where school quality and the assigned high school vary significantly by neighborhood, so an address-level check matters more here than the district average.
Elementary
- Redwood City School District (K-8), see the school tabs below.
Middle
- Redwood City School District (K-8), see the school tabs below.
High school (separate district)
- Carlmont, Woodside, or Sequoia High, by address, via the Sequoia Union High School District.
7,428
Students
3 stars
District rating
$2,300,444
Median home price
Test proficiency
Percent proficient or above
Last verified: October 2026. Rank, rating, and percentile from SchoolDigger. Median home price from MLSListings. Test proficiency from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment from the California Department of Education, 2025-26.
Schools in Redwood City
Proficient means the share of students scoring Advanced or Proficient, the two highest of California's four achievement levels. These were called Standard Met and Standard Exceeded before 2025-26.
Schools are listed by California statewide rank, highest-ranked first.
Eligibility
Orion Alternative Elementary is an alternative school of choice with a Mandarin immersion program. Enrollment is by district application rather than by home address. Verify with the district.
Address: 555 Avenue Del Ora, Redwood City
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 549
Student-teacher ratio: 21.7 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $21,206
Feeder: Continues to middle school in Redwood City School District, then high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 3790 Red Oak Way, Redwood City
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 665
Student-teacher ratio: 18.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $20,998
Feeder: Serves K-8 directly, then high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 225 Clifford Ave, Redwood City
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 664
Student-teacher ratio: 20.7 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $18,643
Feeder: Serves K-8 directly, then high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 2498 Massachusetts Ave, Redwood City
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 461
Student-teacher ratio: 19.6 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $22,497
Feeder: Continues to middle school in Redwood City School District, then high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 170 Selby Ln, Atherton
Grades: TK-5
Enrollment: 630
Student-teacher ratio: 25.3 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $21,373
Adelante Selby is a two-way Spanish immersion school of choice, and the immersion pathway continues at Kennedy Middle for grades 6-8.
Feeder: Continues to Kennedy Middle for the immersion pathway, then high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 2223 Vera Ave, Redwood City
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 344
Student-teacher ratio: 19.1 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $22,934
Feeder: Continues to middle school in Redwood City School District, then high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 903 Tenth Ave, Redwood City
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 325
Student-teacher ratio: 21.0 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $25,426
Feeder: Continues to middle school in Redwood City School District, then high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 3600 Middlefield Rd, Menlo Park
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 260
Student-teacher ratio: 20.1 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $28,086
Feeder: Continues to middle school in Redwood City School District, then high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 701 Charter St, Redwood City
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 659
Student-teacher ratio: 20.4 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $20,893
Feeder: Serves K-8 directly, then high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Eligibility
North Star Academy is a district choice and magnet school. Admission is by application and lottery, not by home address, so you cannot be assigned to it by buying a particular house. It shares its campus with McKinley Institute of Technology.
Address: 400 Duane St, Redwood City
Grades: 3-8
Enrollment: 553
Student-teacher ratio: 25.9 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $18,783
Feeder: Continues to high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 2521 Goodwin Ave, Redwood City
Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 788
Student-teacher ratio: 19.9 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $19,980
Kennedy is also where the Adelante Selby Spanish immersion pathway continues for grades 6-8.
Feeder: Continues to high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 400 Duane St, Redwood City
Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 401
Student-teacher ratio: 22.2 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $20,623
McKinley shares its campus with North Star Academy.
Feeder: Continues to high school in Sequoia Union High School District by address.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Note
Redwood City is split among three high schools by home address, so verify the assigned school by address.
Address: 1400 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 2,385
Student-teacher ratio: 19.6 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $32,538
Feeder: One of three high schools serving Redwood City by address, in the Sequoia Union High School District.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Eligibility
Menlo-Atherton is not one of the three high schools assigned within the incorporated city. It serves the unincorporated North Fair Oaks area, which carries Redwood City mailing addresses and the 94063 ZIP code. Verify by address.
Address: 555 Middlefield Rd, Atherton 94027
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 2,152
Student-teacher ratio: 17.9 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $36,894
Feeder: Serves the unincorporated North Fair Oaks area by address, in the Sequoia Union High School District.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 199 Churchill Ave, Woodside
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,694
Student-teacher ratio: 16.3 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $40,030
Feeder: One of three high schools serving Redwood City by address, in the Sequoia Union High School District.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 1201 Brewster Ave, Redwood City
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,839
Student-teacher ratio: 17.5 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $37,665
Feeder: One of three high schools serving Redwood City by address, in the Sequoia Union High School District.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
A separate district
Redwood Shores (Belmont-Redwood Shores School District)
Not part of RCSD
Redwood Shores sits within the city of Redwood City, but it is not served by the Redwood City School District. Homes in Redwood Shores are served by the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District. Children attend either Redwood Shores Elementary for grades K-5 or Sandpiper, a combined K-8 campus. The K-5 track then continues to Ralston Intermediate for grades 6-8, and Redwood Shores students attend Carlmont High for grades 9-12, which is listed in the high school tab above. Always verify the assigned school by address with the district.
Proficient means the share of students scoring Advanced or Proficient, the two highest of California's four achievement levels. These were called Standard Met and Standard Exceeded before 2025-26.
Address: 801 Redwood Shores Pkwy, Redwood City
Grades: K-8
Enrollment: 490
Student-teacher ratio: 22.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $20,455
Sandpiper is a combined K-8 campus, so students stay at one school from kindergarten through 8th grade rather than moving to Ralston Intermediate for middle school.
Feeder: Serves K-8 directly, then Carlmont High.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 225 Shearwater Pkwy, Redwood City
Grades: K-5
Enrollment: 410
Student-teacher ratio: 20.2 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $21,481
Feeder: Continues to Ralston Intermediate (6-8), then Carlmont High.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 2675 Ralston Ave, Belmont
Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 1,099
Student-teacher ratio: 20.0 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $19,741
Feeder: The Belmont-Redwood Shores district middle school. The Redwood Shores K-5 track continues here, then to Carlmont High.
Math, English, and science from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Enrollment and address from California Department of Education. Rank, rating, ratio, and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Neighborhoods
Where to Look in Redwood City
Redwood City is the widest-ranging city in this guide, with neighborhoods running from compact entry-level pockets to established hillside enclaves. Every area below is in the Redwood City School District for K-8, and because the city is split among three high schools, your assigned schools depend on your exact address, so always verify.
Mt. Carmel (High School Acres)
District and schools
Redwood City School District (K-8) → Carlmont, Woodside, or Sequoia High by exact address. Verify with the district.
A historic, highly walkable neighborhood close to downtown Redwood City and Stafford Park.
What you'll find
Well-preserved 1920s to 1940s Spanish revival homes, Craftsman bungalows, and classic period residences on level, tree-lined streets.
Price context
$3,200,000
Tends to suit
Buyers seeking architectural character, walkable flat streets, and quick access to downtown dining and Caltrain.
Emerald Hills (Cordilleras Heights)
District and schools
Redwood City School District (K-8) → Carlmont, Woodside, or Sequoia High by exact address. Verify with the district.
An elevated, wooded neighborhood in Redwood City's western hills.
What you'll find
Winding roads, mature oak canopies, canyon and bay views, and custom homes on varied parcel sizes.
Price context
$2,765,000
Tends to suit
Buyers seeking privacy, scenic views, and a semi-rural foothill feel within minutes of town.
Clifford Heights / Palomar Park
District and schools
Redwood City School District (K-8) → Carlmont, Woodside, or Sequoia High by exact address. Verify with the district.
An area that runs from the flatter streets near Clifford School up into the wooded Palomar Park hillside.
What you'll find
A wide mix, from mid-century ranch homes on the flats to larger custom homes on bigger hillside lots, which is why prices here span a broad range.
Price context
$2,687,500
Tends to suit
Buyers who want established residential streets near Clifford School, or secluded hillside living.
Farm Hill
District and schools
Redwood City School District (K-8) → Carlmont, Woodside, or Sequoia High by exact address. Verify with the district.
A peaceful western foothill neighborhood surrounding Stulsaft Park and Cañada College.
What you'll find
Solid single-story mid-century ranch homes on comfortable lots, quiet residential streets, and rolling terrain.
Price context
$2,602,000
Tends to suit
Families looking for quiet suburban streets, park access, and a settled foothill setting.
Horgan Ranch
District and schools
Redwood City School District (K-8) → Carlmont, Woodside, or Sequoia High by exact address. Verify with the district.
A quiet, established residential pocket bordering Atherton between Woodside Road and Selby Lane.
What you'll find
Mid-century single-family homes and updated ranches on level parcels, close to local shopping and dining.
Price context
$2,307,500
Tends to suit
Buyers wanting a flat, convenient location near the Atherton border.
Woodside Plaza (Central Park)
District and schools
Redwood City School District (K-8) → Carlmont, Woodside, or Sequoia High by exact address. Verify with the district.
A central Redwood City neighborhood around Red Morton Community Park and the Woodside Plaza shopping center.
What you'll find
Classic 1950s single-story ranch homes on flat, sidewalk-lined streets with easy access to neighborhood retail and recreation.
Price context
$2,066,500
Tends to suit
Families and buyers seeking a traditional suburban setting with strong everyday convenience and parks.
Centennial (Lenolt)
District and schools
Redwood City School District (K-8) → Carlmont, Woodside, or Sequoia High by exact address. Verify with the district.
A compact, level neighborhood along the Redwood City and San Carlos border between El Camino Real and Veterans Boulevard, known for its alphabetically ordered streets.
What you'll find
A mix of modest mid-century homes, bungalows, and updated residences on level lots, walkable to transit and nearby retail.
Price context
$1,575,000
Tends to suit
Buyers seeking an accessible entry price close to Caltrain, San Carlos, and downtown Redwood City.
North Fair Oaks and Friendly Acres (Dumbarton)
District and schools
Redwood City School District (K-8) by address. High school depends on the parcel: incorporated Redwood City homes feed Sequoia High, while unincorporated North Fair Oaks homes default to Menlo-Atherton High, with a priority option to transfer to Sequoia. Verify by address.
A flat, eastern part of Redwood City along Highway 101, Woodside Road, and Middlefield Road, combining the incorporated Friendly Acres and Redwood Village neighborhoods with the adjacent unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks.
What you'll find
Modest post-war single-family homes, classic cottages, and small multi-unit properties on compact lots, with strong access to commute corridors and local shops.
Price context
$1,393,200
Tends to suit
First-time buyers seeking Redwood City's most accessible single-family entry point and strong transit access.
Price figures show the median sale price of single-family homes in each area over the last 12 completed months, sourced directly from the MLS. Median is used rather than average because it better reflects a typical home in areas with relatively few sales. Where a neighborhood has very few recent sales, a longer window is used for a more stable figure, and Clifford Heights / Palomar Park uses a 24-month window for that reason.
Verify before you buy
School assignments in Redwood City depend on your specific address and can change, and the city is split among three high schools. Always confirm both your assigned elementary and high school with the Redwood City School District and the Sequoia Union High School District before deciding.
Beyond the ratings
The Redwood City Schools Story
Redwood City is the most varied school district in this guide, and understanding that variation is the key to buying here. Unlike the small, uniformly high-ranked districts in Menlo Park, Atherton, or Los Altos, the Redwood City School District is a large PreK-8 district whose schools span an enormous range. The same district contains North Star Academy, ranked among the very top schools in all of California, and neighborhood campuses whose test scores land near the bottom statewide. This performance range reflects differences in program design, grade configuration, and the level of concentrated student need each campus serves, rather than differences in teaching quality. That range is the single most important thing to understand about buying a home here.
More than anywhere else in this guide, your address is what determines your schools. Assignment is by home address through the district's school locator, with a seat at your neighborhood school if space is available. On top of that, the district runs a School of Choice process, a separate annual application and lottery for specialized programs at non-neighborhood schools, which is how families across the district can apply for options like North Star, Orion's Mandarin immersion, and the Adelante Selby Spanish immersion pathway regardless of where they live. Because two homes a few blocks apart can feed different elementary schools, and because Redwood City is split among three different high schools, verifying both your elementary and your high school assignment by exact address matters more here than in any other city on this guide.
The campuses serving the highest-need neighborhoods operate as community schools, pairing classroom teaching with wraparound support like tutoring, social-emotional learning, and on-campus mental health counseling. Much of that is backed by the Redwood City Education Foundation, which since 1983 has focused its resources on the district's most under-resourced schools, filling gaps that state funding and local fundraising leave behind. The district also reports recent progress on attendance, school climate, and English-learner growth. Based on research across public data, local forums, and family reviews, families who look closely find genuinely strong choices here, from North Star and the dual-immersion pathways to well-regarded K-8 schools like Roy Cloud and Clifford, and they consistently stress that judging a campus by a single state test score misses the fuller picture, so touring in person is worth the time.
For a buyer, Redwood City offers something the elite districts nearby do not: more variety, more entry points on price, and genuine standout programs if you seek them out. But that variety cuts both ways, and a single district average does not capture the experience of any one campus. More than anywhere else in this guide, the right move is to verify the exact schools your address feeds, both elementary and high school, check the School of Choice deadlines if a specialized program interests you, look past any single ranking, and visit the campuses you are considering before you decide.
This section reflects general research and community perspectives and is not a substitute for visiting schools and confirming current programs, boundaries, and enrollment options with the district.
FAQ
Common questions
What school district serves Redwood City?
Most of Redwood City is served by the Redwood City School District for grades K-8, and by the Sequoia Union High School District for high school. Some areas fall in different districts, including Redwood Shores, so always confirm by address.
Which high school will my Redwood City home be assigned to?
Redwood City is split among three Sequoia Union high schools, Carlmont, Woodside, and Sequoia, and the assignment depends on your exact address. Because the three differ, it is worth confirming your assigned school with the district before you buy. One exception worth knowing: homes in the unincorporated North Fair Oaks area, which carry Redwood City mailing addresses and the 94063 ZIP code, are assigned by default to Menlo-Atherton High, also in the Sequoia Union High School District, rather than to Carlmont, Woodside, or Sequoia. It is one more reason to verify the exact high school by address.
Are Redwood City schools good?
It depends heavily on the specific school. The district spans an unusually wide range, from North Star Academy, one of the highest-ranked schools in California, to campuses near the bottom of the state. That is why your address matters more in Redwood City than in most nearby cities, and why it is worth looking at the individual school rather than the district average.
How does school assignment work in Redwood City?
Every home is assigned to a neighborhood school by address, with a seat if space is available. Separately, the district runs a School of Choice process, an application and lottery for specialized programs at non-neighborhood schools, so families can apply to those regardless of where they live.
What is North Star Academy and can I get in by buying a house nearby?
North Star Academy is a district choice school for grades 3-8, ranked among the very top schools in the state. You cannot be assigned to it by living at a particular address. Admission works in two steps: students first take a cognitive assessment, the CogAT, and must qualify, and only qualified students then enter the random School of Choice lottery. So buying a nearby home does not guarantee a spot.
What language immersion options does Redwood City have?
The district offers immersion through School of Choice, including Orion's Mandarin immersion and the Adelante Selby Spanish immersion pathway, which continues at Kennedy Middle for grades 6-8. Both are choice programs you apply to rather than being assigned by address.
Is Redwood Shores part of the Redwood City School District?
No. Redwood Shores sits within Redwood City but is served by the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, and its students attend Carlmont High. Those schools are covered in the separate Redwood Shores section on this page.
Last verified: October 2026 (reflecting 2025-26 state results).
Sources: SchoolDigger, the California Department of Education, and CAASPP. See each school card above for the specific attribution behind its figures.
