Summary:
The San Mateo Union High district has eight high schools: six comprehensive schools, Peninsula High (Continuation), and The Bridge Academy, which serves grades 10–12 while the others serve grades 9–12. In 2025–2026, the seven schools with test results averaged 61% proficiency in English language arts (ELA), 44% in math, and 45% in science; California’s results were 49%, 38%, and 36%, respectively. Those averages were above the state, but results varied sharply from school to school—the most important finding for families comparing options.
Aragon High led in every tested subject, with 81% ELA, 65% math, and 63% science—2, 2, and 5 points ahead of runner-up Mills High, respectively. At the other end, Peninsula had 10% ELA, 3% math, and 12% science, below California by 39, 36, and 24 points. Capuchino High was the lowest-scoring comprehensive school, at 51% ELA, 24% math, and 35% science; its math and science results were also below state levels. The Bridge Academy has no supplied test scores; its 54 students had reported graduation of 53%, dropout of 28%, and chronic absenteeism of 80%.
Recent proficiency trends are mixed: across the seven tested schools, average ELA fell from 65% to 61% between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, math was essentially unchanged at 44%, and science rose from 43% to 45%. Among comprehensive schools, the ELA lead over the state narrowed from 25 to 20 points, while the science lead stayed about 15 points. SchoolDigger rankings improved for Aragon (95 to 72) and Mills (150 to 99), but worsened for Burlingame (43 to 127) and Capuchino (574 to 839); lower numbers indicate better ranks. The free/reduced lunch eligible measure for 2024–2025 ranged from 13% at Burlingame to 83% at The Bridge; these figures provide context, not an explanation of school results.
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