Best Public Schools in Zip Code 94947

Zip code 94947 in Novato, CA, served by the Novato Unified district, includes eight public schools covering grades K-12, with four elementary schools, one middle school, two high schools, and one alternative K-12 center, collectively enrolling about 3,200 students.

The schools show a wide range of performance, with Pleasant Valley Elementary standing out as the top performer, boasting high test scores and very low student absenteeism. Sinaloa Middle is also a strong school, consistently ranking well above average. In contrast, Marin Oaks High faces significant challenges, including very low test scores and high chronic absenteeism, despite having the highest per-student funding in the area. The other high school, Novato High, performs solidly above average.

Key takeaways for parents include the notable strength of the middle school and the success of the Nova Education Center alternative program, which has an excellent graduation rate. There is a significant performance gap between the elementary schools, with Lu Sutton Elementary ranking considerably lower than Pleasant Valley. The district's graduation rate is strong, but science scores are a relative weakness across most schools. Chronic absenteeism is a critical factor, with schools having better attendance consistently showing stronger academic results.