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Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary

Q: Is Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary a good school?

Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary ranks 917 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

917^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 84% of California elementary schools

Summary

Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary is a public elementary school in San Francisco, California, serving 650 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. This high-performing school consistently outshines the San Francisco Unified School District and the state of California in academic achievement, with exceptional proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science.

Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary excels in supporting diverse student populations, including English Language Learners, low-income students, and homeless students. The school ranks among the top California elementary schools for these subgroups, demonstrating its commitment to equity and inclusion. Despite having a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, the school maintains strong academic performance, suggesting effective strategies in supporting these learners.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Garfield Elementary and Spring Valley Elementary, Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary stands out with significantly higher proficiency rates across all subject areas. The school's increased spending per student and higher student-teacher ratio may contribute to its exceptional academic outcomes, as it suggests a focus on providing additional resources and support for students.

653

Students ?

25.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,463

Per pupil spending ?

82.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

950 Clay St.
San Francisco, CA 94108-1521

(415) 291-7921

District: San Francisco Unified

Students who attend Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Marina Middle
High:	Academy (The)- SF @McAteer
	Asawa (Ruth) SF School of the Arts A Public School
	Balboa High
	Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High
	More...
	Galileo High
	Jordan (June) School for Equity
	Lincoln (Abraham) High
	Lowell High
	Marshall (Thurgood) High
	Mission High
	O'Connell (John) High
	S.F. International High
	Wallenberg (Raoul) Traditional High
	Washington (George) High

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

89.6%

Hispanic:

5.7%

Two or more races:

3.5%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 71st percentile in 2013 → 84th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (64% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 13 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 25 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school64%

District avg48%

California avg41%

917^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 16%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From top 19% (2015) to top 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

20^th of 71Elementary Schools in the San Francisco Unified

679^th of 1,543San Francisco Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	85.1	917 of 5857	84.3%	★★★★☆
2024	82.6	1053 of 5869	82.1%	★★★★☆
2023	87.9	821 of 5859	86.0%	★★★★☆
2022	83.4	1025 of 5883	82.6%	★★★★☆
2019	74.2	1421 of 5789	75.5%	★★★★☆
2018	70.8	1536 of 5662	72.9%	★★★★☆
2017	72.6	1444 of 5692	74.6%	★★★★☆
2016	72.5	1413 of 5614	74.8%	★★★★☆
2015	80.8	1078 of 5611	80.8%	★★★★☆
2013	68.8	1630 of 5530	70.5%	★★★★☆
2012	48.7	2701 of 5390	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	61.9	1911 of 5377	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.9	1727 of 5314	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	62.9	1771 of 5193	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	64.5	1652 of 5113	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	69.9	1379 of 5113	73.0%	★★★★☆
2006	62.3	1651 of 4818	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	54.3	1987 of 4822	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	51.2	2087 of 4809	56.6%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	43.2	814 of 1203	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.4	889 of 1205	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.0	828 of 1190	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.4	871 of 1154	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.8	950 of 1149	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.7	922 of 1071	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	33.1	1345 of 2227	39.6%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	92.0	95 of 3162	97.0%	★★★★★
2023	99.0	29 of 3245	99.1%	★★★★★
2022	89.3	171 of 3311	94.8%	★★★★★
2019	74.6	427 of 3275	87.0%	★★★★☆
2018	53.1	1122 of 3246	65.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	84.2	885 of 5597	84.2%	★★★★☆
2024	80.5	1074 of 5612	80.9%	★★★★☆
2023	86.1	836 of 5609	85.1%	★★★★☆
2022	86.4	801 of 5635	85.8%	★★★★☆
2019	72.5	1388 of 5492	74.7%	★★★★☆
2018	68.1	1592 of 5413	70.6%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	99.4	3 of 364	99.2%	★★★★★
2023	98.5	2 of 335	99.4%	★★★★★
2022	95.1	14 of 356	96.1%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	95.0	179 of 5460	96.7%	★★★★★
2024	92.1	362 of 5517	93.4%	★★★★★
2023	96.6	130 of 5363	97.6%	★★★★★
2022	95.2	177 of 5264	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	88.3	352 of 5173	93.2%	★★★★★
2018	82.9	572 of 5084	88.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	83.5	910 of 5628	83.8%	★★★★☆
2024	82.1	1000 of 5643	82.3%	★★★★☆
2023	87.5	747 of 5638	86.8%	★★★★☆
2022	77.9	1195 of 5663	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	74.0	1349 of 5510	75.5%	★★★★☆
2018	70.9	1451 of 5431	73.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	63.6	704 of 2847	75.3%	★★★★☆
2024	81.4	322 of 2635	87.8%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Homeless (2024)99th percentile+17 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)97th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)97th percentile+12 vs school

Female (2025)84th percentile~ school

Male (2025)84th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)75th percentile-9 vs school

Disabled (2022)40th percentile-43 vs school

Asian (2025)32nd percentile-52 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics69%+32 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy63%+14 vs state

Science51%+18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary	Public	K-5	950 Clay St.	San Francisco	94108	San Francisco County	San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 291-7921	653	26	25.1	82.2%	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.5%)	37 (5.7%)	585 (89.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.5%)	85.1	917^th of 5857 public elementary schools	84.3%		82.6	1053^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	82.1%	136	50.9		50.9	55.4	62.4	69.6				63.0	70.7	67.3	69.6				69.2							$20,463	$18,670	$1,793
Stockton (Commodore) Children Center	Public	K	1 Trenton St.	San Francisco	94108	San Francisco County	San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(415) 291-7932	22			86.4%	1 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (9.1%)	19 (86.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Lee (Edwin and Anita) Newcomer	Public	K-5	657 Merchant St.	San Francisco	94111	San Francisco County	San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 291-7918	23	1	23.0	82.6%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																	0.0							$53,719	$52,450	$1,269
Parker (Jean) Elementary	Public	K-5	840 Broadway St.	San Francisco	94133	San Francisco County	San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 291-7990	128	6	20.2	75.0%	5 (3.9%)	11 (8.6%)	26 (20.3%)	76 (59.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (7.8%)	64.1	1882^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	67.9%		77.6	1265^th of 5869 public elementary schools	78.4%	617	21.7		21.7	54.6	60.0	52.4				55.3	83.3	38.9	60.9				58.5							$32,608	$30,524	$2,084
Chin (John Yehall) Elementary	Public	K-5	350 Broadway St.	San Francisco	94133	San Francisco County	San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 291-7946	233	11	21.1	75.5%	11 (4.7%)	2 (0.9%)	13 (5.6%)	188 (80.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (8.2%)	93.2	457^th of 5857 public elementary schools	92.2%		97.6	117^th of 5869 public elementary schools	98.0%	340	46.9		46.9	78.6	88.9	83.3				83.7	93.0	78.7	65.3				78.4							$19,360	$17,808	$1,552
Garfield Elementary	Public	K-5	420 Filbert St.	San Francisco	94133	San Francisco County	San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 291-7924	176	12	14.9	53.4%	12 (6.8%)	15 (8.5%)	38 (21.6%)	75 (42.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (20.5%)	61.6	1986^th of 5857 public elementary schools	66.1%		78	1245^th of 5869 public elementary schools	78.8%	741	36.4		36.4	44.4	52.4	56.0				50.7	33.3	66.7	54.2				50.0	93.8			93.8			$23,634	$22,074	$1,560
Spring Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	1451 Jackson St.	San Francisco	94109	San Francisco County	San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 749-3535	234	13	18.7	68.4%	14 (6.0%)	10 (4.3%)	142 (60.7%)	52 (22.2%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.6%)	27.2	4197^th of 5857 public elementary schools	28.3%		36	3439^th of 5869 public elementary schools	41.4%	758	12.9		12.9	30.0	37.1	22.6				30.2	45.5	30.6	13.8				30.6	91.2	94.1	94.1	91.2	91.2	94.1	$18,869	$16,902	$1,967
The New School of San Francisco	Public, Charter	K-8	940 Filbert St	San Francisco	94133	San Francisco County	The New School of San Francisco District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 401-8489	457	23	19.8	35.0%	129 (28.2%)	35 (7.7%)	170 (37.2%)	64 (14.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	55 (12.0%)	82.8	1032^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	82.4%		87.6	834^th of 5869 public elementary schools	85.8%	198	73.1	63.3	67.9	43.5	74.5	76.9	69.8	76.7	72.9	69.8	40.4	68.6	61.5	63.5	68.3	66.1	62.1
Redding Elementary	Public	K-5	1421 Pine St.	San Francisco	94109	San Francisco County	San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 749-3525	240	9	26.6	70.0%	68 (28.3%)	28 (11.7%)	66 (27.5%)	49 (20.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	25 (10.4%)	7.6	5755^th of 5857 public elementary schools	1.7%		32.9	3695^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.0%	2060	3.3		3.3	7.3	23.1	20.0				15.5	9.3	7.4	9.1				8.7	88.5	91.8	93.4	90.2	90.2	91.8	$17,371	$15,784	$1,587
Yick Wo Elementary	Public	K-5	2245 Jones St.	San Francisco	94133	San Francisco County	San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 749-3540	205	10	20.5	44.9%	56 (27.3%)	7 (3.4%)	28 (13.7%)	65 (31.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (23.9%)	85.7	895^th of 5857 public elementary schools	84.7%		87.8	825^th of 5869 public elementary schools	85.9%	70	51.7		51.7	67.7	69.2	66.7				67.8	71.0	68.0	51.7				63.5							$17,556	$15,790	$1,766

Frequently Asked Questions about Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary

Is Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary a good school?

Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary ranks 917^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 653 students attended Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary attend?

Students who attend Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Marina Middle
High : Academy (The)- SF @McAteer
High : Asawa (Ruth) SF School of the Arts A Public School
High : Balboa High
High : Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High
High : Galileo High
High : Jordan (June) School for Equity
High : Lincoln (Abraham) High
High : Lowell High
High : Marshall (Thurgood) High
High : Mission High
High : O'Connell (John) High
High : S.F. International High
High : Wallenberg (Raoul) Traditional High
High : Washington (George) High

What district is Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary in?

San Francisco Unified

What is the racial makeup of Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary?

Students at Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary are 90% Asian, 6% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.