Palo Alto Unified School District generally places students in neighborhood schools closest to their residence based on the pre-assigned District boundary lines. If a neighborhood school is full, the neighborhood school will assign students to nearest school (that has space) within the District. The following year, overflow students may return to their neighborhood school (on a space available basis) or remain in their current school. Find your neighborhood school with our School Finder.

Our open enrollment policy allows students to attend Choice or Alternative Programs or transfer to another PAUSD school on a space-available basis. If you would like your child to enroll in a choice or alternative program, you must still register your child with the Central Attendance office for your neighborhood school.

Grade Placement

When a student enrolls, in the Palo Alto Unified School District, the Central Attendance Office assigns the student to a grade level based on the student's date of birth.

Elementary Student Grade Placement (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

The assigned Palo Alto school will then review the child's levels of achievement and the student's school documents, as provided, to make the appropriate grade level placement.

Secondary Student Grade Placement (6th Grade to 12th Grade)

The assigned Palo Alto school will match course work with the student's appropriate level of achievement as documented by transcripts, course descriptions, and the student's file, sent by the student's previous school.

Revised  December 2006