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Lu Sutton Elementary

Q: Is Lu Sutton Elementary a good school?

Lu Sutton Elementary ranks 3489 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

3489^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of California elementary schools

Summary

Lu Sutton Elementary is a public K-5 school serving 367 students in the Novato Unified School District, currently ranked in the 40th percentile statewide with academic proficiency rates in English, Math, and Science that are below both district and state averages.

When compared to nearby schools in Novato, Lu Sutton's academic performance is notably lower; for example, Pleasant Valley Elementary and San Ramon Elementary have significantly higher proficiency rates. However, Lu Sutton has made impressive progress in one key area: it has dramatically reduced chronic student absenteeism, cutting the rate by more than half over two years to now perform better than the district average. The school also serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students than some of its higher-performing neighbors, and it spends more per student than several of them, raising questions about how resources are used to support learning.

Important patterns within the school include a significant and persistent achievement gap where female students consistently outperform male students, and a troubling decline in math scores from 3rd to 5th grade. While the school's statewide ranking has fallen over the past decade, its recent success in improving attendance demonstrates that positive change is possible, suggesting targeted interventions could help address its academic challenges.

367

Students ?

21.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,732

Per pupil spending ?

55.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1800 Center Rd.
Novato, CA 94947-2975

(415) 897-3196

District: Novato Unified

Students who attend Lu Sutton Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Sinaloa Middle
High:	San Marin High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

68.4%

White:

22.6%

Two or more races:

5.4%

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Compare Lu Sutton Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 73rd percentile in 2015 → 40th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (34% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 33 percentile points since 2015

!Science scores 14 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school34%

District avg45%

California avg41%

3,489^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 33 pts since 2015

From top 27% (2015) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 8Elementary Schools in the Novato Unified

592^nd of 1,543Novato 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	36.0	3489 of 5857	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.9	3239 of 5869	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.7	4385 of 5859	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	37.0	3309 of 5883	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.9	917 of 1417	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.0	3245 of 5789	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.1	2129 of 5662	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	56.3	2210 of 5692	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	45.0	2776 of 5614	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	69.9	1503 of 5611	73.2%	★★★★☆
2013	56.1	2344 of 5530	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	60.5	2016 of 5390	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	54.4	2330 of 5377	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	48.8	2628 of 5314	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	55.7	2144 of 5193	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	56.9	2004 of 5113	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	60.2	1819 of 5113	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	56.4	1900 of 4818	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	61.2	1692 of 4822	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2004	58.7	1772 of 4809	63.2%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	40.3	1798 of 3162	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.1	2803 of 3245	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.2	1792 of 3311	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.0	381 of 602	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.6	2739 of 3275	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.4	2103 of 3246	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	46.2	2681 of 5597	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.3	2452 of 5612	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	33.0	3496 of 5609	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.7	2765 of 5635	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.4	812 of 1267	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.2	2717 of 5492	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.8	1986 of 5413	63.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	29.9	3761 of 5107	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.6	3773 of 5107	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.4	4759 of 5087	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	27.2	3936 of 5084	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.4	3946 of 4963	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	49.5	2257 of 4830	53.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	36.7	3454 of 5460	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.2	3604 of 5517	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	18.6	4798 of 5363	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.0	3433 of 5264	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.4	827 of 1110	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.6	3824 of 5173	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	53.8	2117 of 5084	58.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	26.3	4170 of 5628	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.4	4057 of 5643	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.6	4939 of 5638	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.0	3707 of 5663	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.1	802 of 1272	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.4	3438 of 5510	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.3	2264 of 5431	58.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	63.1	1014 of 2598	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.1	993 of 2651	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.7	1937 of 2661	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	51.0	1434 of 2726	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.3	1568 of 2834	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.5	1100 of 2737	59.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

White (2025)61st percentile+21 vs school

Female (2025)52nd percentile+12 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)43rd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)37th percentile-4 vs school

Hispanic (2025)26th percentile-14 vs school

Male (2025)26th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy41%-8 vs state

Mathematics31%-6 vs state

Science19%-14 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, April 25, 2011

Great school! They have challenged my daughter and she has made excellent friends there. Close Quote

Schools Near Lu Sutton Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CSA Spanish Overall (2025)				CSA Spanish Listening (2025)				CSA Spanish Writing (2025)				CSA Spanish Reading (2025)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	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	% Hepatitis B KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Lu Sutton Elementary	Public	K-5	1800 Center Rd.	Novato	94947	Marin County	Novato Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 897-3196	367	17	21.5		83 (22.6%)	7 (1.9%)	251 (68.4%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.4%)	36	3489^th of 5857 public elementary schools	40.4%		38.9	3239^th of 5869 public elementary schools	44.8%	250																	18.8		18.8	36.1	43.3	43.8				40.9	40.6	32.4	16.7				31.2			$27,732	$3,367	$24,365
Rancho Elementary	Public	K-5	1430 Johnson St.	Novato	94947	Marin County	Novato Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 897-3101	387	17	22.7	49.1%	153 (39.5%)	5 (1.3%)	178 (46.0%)	17 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	33 (8.5%)	69.5	1621^st of 5857 public elementary schools	72.3%		80.2	1145^th of 5869 public elementary schools	80.5%	476																	38.0		38.0	57.4	56.9	50.0				54.4	66.2	55.2	45.6				55.1			$25,692	$2,902	$22,790
San Ramon Elementary	Public	K-5	45 San Ramon Way	Novato	94945	Marin County	Novato Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 897-1196	456	21	22.1	30.5%	241 (52.9%)	11 (2.4%)	114 (25.0%)	27 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (13.6%)	84	964^th of 5857 public elementary schools	83.5%		87	865^th of 5869 public elementary schools	85.3%	99																	53.3		53.3	70.3	67.6	65.8				67.9	62.2	63.4	52.6				59.3			$26,018	$2,171	$23,847
Pleasant Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	755 Sutro Ave.	Novato	94947	Marin County	Novato Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 897-5104	464	20	23.2	20.5%	288 (62.1%)	1 (0.2%)	105 (22.6%)	9 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (12.9%)	87.8	786^th of 5857 public elementary schools	86.6%		78.6	1217^th of 5869 public elementary schools	79.3%	431																	51.3		51.3	72.1	62.7	79.0				71.8	73.5	58.2	67.5				66.5	96.5		$25,003	$2,215	$22,788
Olive Elementary	Public	K-5	620 Olive Ave.	Novato	94945	Marin County	Novato Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 897-2131	364	17	21.3	49.5%	144 (39.6%)	10 (2.7%)	153 (42.0%)	10 (2.7%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	44 (12.1%)	54.3	2349^th of 5857 public elementary schools	59.9%		66.4	1762^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	70.0%	587																	40.0		40.0	39.6	54.6	52.5				49.7	31.3	45.5	35.0				37.9			$26,655	$2,844	$23,811
Lynwood Elementary	Public	K-5	1320 Lynwood Dr.	Novato	94947	Marin County	Novato Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 897-4161	260	12	21.6	59.2%	50 (19.2%)	2 (0.8%)	190 (73.1%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.8%)	41.4	3122^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	46.7%		34.6	3555^th of 5869 public elementary schools	39.4%	433	8.6	12.5	5.7	9.1	31.4	22.5	22.9	25.5	14.3	32.5	8.6	19.1	0.0	12.5	2.9	5.5	28.6		28.6	22.9	42.5	42.9				36.4	31.4	47.5	37.1				39.1			$28,690	$2,676	$26,014
Loma Verde Elementary	Public	K-5	399 Alameda de La Loma	Novato	94949	Marin County	Novato Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 883-4681	426	19	22.4	53.1%	134 (31.5%)	12 (2.8%)	208 (48.8%)	21 (4.9%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	47 (11.0%)	54.4	2344^th of 5857 public elementary schools	60.0%		66.9	1734^th of 5869 public elementary schools	70.5%	610																	31.3		31.3	37.9	52.1	48.8				47.0	48.3	44.4	41.7				44.4			$26,165	$2,636	$23,529
Hamilton Tk-8	Public	K-8	5530 Nave Dr.	Novato	94949	Marin County	Novato Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 883-4691	544	26	21.1	82.0%	54 (9.9%)	22 (4.0%)	412 (75.7%)	24 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (5.7%)	22.4	4637^th of 5857 public elementary schools	20.8%		26.5	4250^th of 5869 public elementary schools	27.6%	387																	20.3	29.6	24.8	30.9	26.9	29.8	31.3	42.4	33.3	32.6	33.9	20.8	15.3	16.7	27.1	22.2	22.8			$26,063	$2,425	$23,638
Novato Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	940 C St.	Novato	94949	Marin County	Novato Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 883-4254	269	14	19.7	16.0%	176 (65.4%)	2 (0.7%)	39 (14.5%)	15 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	36 (13.4%)	75.7	1346^th of 5857 public elementary schools	77.0%		69.6	1611^th of 5869 public elementary schools	72.6%	265																	57.1	47.8	52.9	46.2	67.9	82.1	59.3	74.1	73.9	67.3	53.9	46.4	46.4	51.9	70.4	65.2	55.4	89.8	93.9	$13,855	$173	$13,682
Mary E. Silveira Elementary	Public	K-5	375 Blackstone Dr.	San Rafael	94903	Marin County	Miller Creek Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 492-3741	412	17	24.2	26.0%	182 (44.2%)	4 (1.0%)	147 (35.7%)	22 (5.3%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	54 (13.1%)	71.9	1518^th of 5857 public elementary schools	74.1%		70.5	1572^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	73.2%	54																	50.0		50.0	64.6	44.6	63.8				57.8	61.2	45.5	47.1				51.2			$28,461	$1,195	$27,266

Frequently Asked Questions about Lu Sutton Elementary

What schools do graduates of Lu Sutton Elementary attend?

Students who attend Lu Sutton Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sinaloa Middle
High : San Marin High

How many students attend Lu Sutton Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 367 students attended Lu Sutton Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Lu Sutton Elementary?

Students at Lu Sutton Elementary are 68% Hispanic, 23% White, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

Is Lu Sutton Elementary a good school?

Lu Sutton Elementary ranks 3489^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Lu Sutton Elementary in?

Novato Unified

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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.