On the Peninsula
San Carlos
On the Peninsula
San Carlos
A well-regarded K-8 district with a distinctive grade structure, feeding two very different Sequoia Union high schools set by the property address.
Quick summary
San Carlos is served by the San Carlos School District, a well-regarded K-8 district with a distinctive structure: lower elementary schools for K-3, two upper elementary bridge schools for grades 4-5, and two middle schools for grades 6-8. Students continue to high school in the Sequoia Union district, attending either Carlmont or Sequoia High by address. The high school assignment matters here, since the two schools differ significantly, so always verify by address.
San Carlos School District (SCSD)
The San Carlos School District serves the city of San Carlos across eight schools, from lower elementary through middle school. Its schools are detailed below by level.
District office: 1200 Industrial Rd, Unit 9, San Carlos, CA 94070
At a glance
Not ranked (see note below)
Lower elementary (K-3)
- Arundel Elementary
- Brittan Acres Elementary
- Heather Elementary
- White Oaks Elementary
Upper elementary (4-5)
- Mariposa Upper Elementary
- Arroyo Upper Elementary
Middle (6-8)
- Central Middle
- Tierra Linda Middle
High school (separate district)
- Carlmont High or Sequoia High, via Sequoia Union High School District
3,342
Students
$2,722,625
Median home price
Test proficiency
Percent proficient or above
Last verified: October 2026. Enrollment from the California Department of Education, 2025-26. Test proficiency from CAASPP, 2025-26 (California Department of Education). CA figures are the California statewide average, all grades, 2025-26. Rank and rating from SchoolDigger. Median home price from MLSListings. Buyers should confirm current figures directly with San Carlos School District, the authoritative source.
Why some San Carlos schools show “not ranked”
San Carlos uses a distinctive grade structure. Its lower elementary schools serve kindergarten through third grade, so they only test third graders, too few tested grades to assign a statewide rank. Science scores are also unavailable at these schools because the state science test (CAST) is only given in grades five, eight, and once in high school, while math and English are tested every year from third through eighth grade. The district's upper elementary and middle schools, which include the tested grades, are ranked normally.
Schools in San Carlos (SCSD)
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.
The San Carlos School District uses a distinctive structure: four lower elementary schools for K-3, two upper elementary schools for grades 4-5, and two middle schools for grades 6-8. Students then attend high school in the Sequoia Union district, shown in the High tab below, at either Carlmont or Sequoia High by address.
Schools are listed by California statewide rank, highest-ranked first.
Address: 200 Arundel Rd, San Carlos, CA 94070
Grades: K-3
Enrollment: 420
Student-teacher ratio: 22.8 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $26,501
Math and English 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. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 2000 Belle Ave, San Carlos, CA 94070
Grades: K-3
Enrollment: 423
Student-teacher ratio: 22.2 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $26,220
Math and English 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. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 2757 Melendy Dr, San Carlos, CA 94070
Grades: K-3
Enrollment: 350
Student-teacher ratio: 18.1 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $32,933
Math and English 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. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 1901 White Oak Way, San Carlos, CA 94070
Grades: K-3
Enrollment: 268
Student-teacher ratio: 22.7 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $29,797
Math and English 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. Ratio and per-pupil spending from SchoolDigger.
Address: 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos, CA 94070
Grades: 4-5
Enrollment: 329
Student-teacher ratio: 23.7 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $19,856
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: 1710 Arroyo Ave, San Carlos, CA 94070
Grades: 4-5
Enrollment: 299
Student-teacher ratio: 22.2 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $21,089
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: 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos, CA 94070
Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 438
Student-teacher ratio: 20.1 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $23,588
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: 757 Cedar St, San Carlos, CA 94070
Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 443
Student-teacher ratio: 22.3 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $21,754
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
Carlmont is the assigned high school for most of San Carlos, generally the central and northern neighborhoods. Both San Carlos high schools are in the Sequoia Union district. Verify by address.
Address: 1400 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont, CA 94002
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 2,385
Student-teacher ratio: 19.6 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $32,538
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
Sequoia serves southern San Carlos and designated option zones, where families may choose between Sequoia and Carlmont. Verify by address.
Address: 1201 Brewster Ave, Redwood City, CA 94062
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1,839
Student-teacher ratio: 17.5 to 1
Per-pupil spending: $37,665
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.
Beyond the ratings
Academic Culture and School Community
Quick summary
San Carlos is known across the Peninsula for strong public schools, sustained in large part by an unusually engaged community. A defining local fact is that the district is one of the lower-funded in the county, and parent and community fundraising helps close the gap. For high school, the assigned campus depends on address and matters a great deal, since the two options differ significantly.
A strong district powered by its community
The San Carlos School District consistently ranks among the stronger districts on the Peninsula, with its two middle schools placing in the top 2 percent of California schools and its upper elementary schools in roughly the top 5 to 7 percent. What makes San Carlos distinctive is how it gets there. The district is one of the lower-funded in San Mateo County, and community support fills much of the gap. The San Carlos Education Foundation raises over 3 million dollars a year, and together with parcel taxes and grants, community funding provides roughly a quarter of the district's budget. That money supports art and music, technology, counseling, and social-emotional programs that state funding alone would not cover.
The distinctive grade structure
San Carlos uses an unusual tiered structure. Children attend a neighborhood lower elementary school for kindergarten through third grade, then move to one of two upper elementary schools for grades four and five, and then one of two middle schools for grades six through eight. Feeder patterns generally pair certain lower schools with a specific upper elementary and middle school, though placement can shift with capacity, so families should verify their pathway with the district.
High school: the assignment matters
For high school, San Carlos students attend the Sequoia Union High School District, and which campus depends on the home's address. Most of San Carlos, generally the central and northern neighborhoods, is assigned to Carlmont High in Belmont, one of the top-ranked high schools in the state, known for extensive Advanced Placement offerings, a biotechnology pathway, and strong performing arts. Southern San Carlos and certain option zones are served by Sequoia High in Redwood City, home to the district's International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alongside traditional AP courses. The two schools differ significantly in profile, so the high school pathway is worth confirming carefully by address.
Additional public school options
Beyond the assigned campuses, San Carlos families can pursue several other public options in the Sequoia Union district. One is Middle College High School on the Cañada College campus, where eleventh and twelfth graders earn college credit. Public charter schools open by lottery include Design Tech High School, known as d.tech, located on Oracle's Redwood Shores campus, and Summit Preparatory and Everest in Redwood City. Availability and admission vary, so confirm current details with each program.
What families say
The perspectives below reflect my own research across public data, local forums, and family reviews rather than verified facts, and are worth reading alongside the verified scores above. Families consistently describe San Carlos as a tight-knit, education-focused community where parent involvement runs high. Many cite the schools as the main reason they moved to the city. Some note that the high school assignment is a significant consideration, and that families pay close attention to which campus their address feeds.
The bigger picture
San Carlos offers a strong public school path from elementary through middle school, backed by a community that invests heavily in its schools, and access to a range of high school options. The right fit depends on the family and, importantly, the specific address. We encourage buyers to verify school assignments and visit schools directly.
This section reflects a mix of public data and community perspectives. School options and policies change over time. We encourage families to verify details directly with each school or district.
Neighborhoods
Where to Look in San Carlos
San Carlos is a consistently strong school district, and its neighborhoods run from flat, walkable pockets near downtown up into wooded western and northeastern hills. Every area below is in the San Carlos School District for K-8, except where noted, and because the district feeds two high schools, your assigned schools depend on your exact address, so always verify.
Howard Park
District and schools
San Carlos School District (K-8): your K-3 elementary → Arroyo or Mariposa (grades 4-5) → Central or Tierra Linda Middle (6-8) → Carlmont or Sequoia High (9-12), by exact address; verify with the district.
Central San Carlos around Burton Park, bordering Laurel Street.
What you'll find
Flat, highly walkable streets of 1940s and 50s ranch homes, updated bungalows, and modern custom rebuilds, steps from downtown.
Price context
$2,925,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want walkability to downtown and a flat, established neighborhood.
Beverly Terrace
District and schools
San Carlos School District (K-8): your K-3 elementary → Arroyo or Mariposa (grades 4-5) → Central or Tierra Linda Middle (6-8) → Carlmont or Sequoia High (9-12), by exact address; verify with the district.
A western hillside neighborhood above Alameda de las Pulgas.
What you'll find
Winding roads, larger lots, and custom multi-level view homes in a wooded, elevated setting.
Price context
$2,850,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want hillside views and larger custom homes.
Alder Manor
District and schools
School assignment is split by address. Part of Alder Manor is San Carlos School District: your K-3 elementary, then Arroyo or Mariposa, then Central or Tierra Linda Middle. A pocket nearer the Redwood City border is a Redwood City School District island, zoned to Clifford School instead. Either way, high school is Carlmont or Sequoia by parcel. Verify carefully by address.
A southwestern San Carlos hillside neighborhood around Eaton Park, between Brittan Avenue and the Redwood City border, above Alameda de las Pulgas.
What you'll find
Larger parcels, multi-level view homes, and quiet streets.
Price context
$2,800,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want a private, wooded hillside setting with larger lots.
Cordes (North San Carlos)
District and schools
San Carlos School District (K-8): your K-3 elementary → Arroyo or Mariposa (grades 4-5) → Central or Tierra Linda Middle (6-8) → Carlmont or Sequoia High (9-12), by exact address; verify with the district.
The northern part of San Carlos, running from north of San Carlos Avenue up to the Belmont border, widely known as North San Carlos.
What you'll find
A historic, varied neighborhood that splits into a walkable lower tier near downtown and Caltrain and a view-oriented upper tier in the hills, with a mix of entry-level and upscale homes.
Price context
$2,750,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want relative value close to downtown, with both flat and elevated options.
White Oaks (El Sereno Corte)
District and schools
San Carlos School District (K-8): your K-3 elementary → Arroyo or Mariposa (grades 4-5) → Central or Tierra Linda Middle (6-8) → Carlmont or Sequoia High (9-12), by exact address; verify with the district.
San Carlos's most sought-after flat neighborhood, on the west side near downtown, formally called El Sereno Corte but widely known as White Oaks after its acclaimed elementary school.
What you'll find
Mostly flat, tree-lined streets of restored pre-war bungalows and early ranch homes on medium lots, a short walk to Laurel Street, Burton Park, and Caltrain.
Price context
$2,725,000
Tends to suit
Buyers who want walkability, character homes, and one of the district's most in-demand elementary zones.
Clearfield Park / N Redwood Subdivision
District and schools
San Carlos School District (K-8): your K-3 elementary → Arroyo or Mariposa (grades 4-5) → Central or Tierra Linda Middle (6-8) → Carlmont or Sequoia High (9-12), by exact address; verify with the district.
The flatter northern area of San Carlos near the Redwood City border.
What you'll find
San Carlos's relative entry point, with more modest single-family homes on flat lots, convenient to the freeway and Redwood City.
Price context
$1,675,000
Tends to suit
First-time San Carlos buyers and those wanting an entry point into the district.
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.
Verify before you buy
School assignments in San Carlos depend on your specific address and can change, and the district feeds two high schools, Carlmont and Sequoia. Some border pockets, including part of Alder Manor, are assigned to a different district. Always confirm your assigned schools by exact address with the district before deciding.
FAQ
Common questions
How good are San Carlos schools?
The San Carlos School District is well regarded, with its two middle schools ranking in the top 2 percent of California schools and its upper elementary schools in roughly the top 5 to 7 percent. Its lower elementary schools show as not ranked because they only serve kindergarten through third grade. For high school, most students attend Carlmont High, which ranks among the top few percent statewide.
Which high school will my San Carlos home attend?
It depends on the address. Most of San Carlos, generally the central and northern neighborhoods, is assigned to Carlmont High in Belmont. Southern San Carlos and certain option zones are served by Sequoia High in Redwood City, where families may sometimes choose between the two. Because the two schools differ significantly, always verify the exact assignment with the Sequoia Union High School District.
Why are some San Carlos elementary schools not ranked?
The district's lower elementary schools serve only kindergarten through third grade, so they test just one grade level, too few for a statewide ranking. Their students continue to the upper elementary and middle schools, which are ranked normally.
What is the San Carlos Charter Learning Center?
It is a tuition-free K-8 public charter school, notable as the first charter school in California, open to district students through a separate lottery rather than by address. It is independent of the neighborhood schools.
Why are San Carlos schools so dependent on fundraising?
San Carlos is a state-funded district under California's LCFF formula, rather than a community-funded Basic Aid district, which makes it one of the lower-funded per pupil in San Mateo County. Community support, led by the San Carlos Education Foundation, raises over 3 million dollars a year, which together with parcel taxes and grants provides roughly a quarter of the district's budget to fund art, music, technology, and counseling.
What other high school options do San Carlos families have?
Beyond the assigned Carlmont or Sequoia High, San Carlos families can pursue other Sequoia Union options, including Middle College High School, and public charter schools by lottery such as Design Tech (d.tech), Summit Preparatory, and Everest. Availability varies, so confirm with each program.
Are all San Carlos neighborhoods in the San Carlos School District?
Almost all are, but not every home. Part of Alder Manor, in the city's southwestern corner near the Redwood City border, is a Redwood City School District island: those homes carry a San Carlos address but are zoned to Clifford School for K-8 rather than to San Carlos schools. Other Alder Manor homes stay in the San Carlos School District. Because the boundary runs by parcel, always verify your assigned schools by exact address.
Last verified: October 2026 (reflecting 2025-26 state results).
Sources: SchoolDigger, the California Department of Education, and CAASPP. See the district section above for the specific attribution behind each figure.
