How to read the California School Dashboard for Sunnyvale schools
California does not grade schools with a single score. The California School Dashboard reports each indicator separately and gives it one of five colors, from Red (lowest) through Orange, Yellow and Green to Blue (highest). The color combines this year's result with the change from last year.
For English language arts (ELA) and math, the Dashboard uses distance from standard: how many points the average student scored above or below the level that meets the state standard on the Smarter Balanced tests. A positive number means the average student scored above standard. For comparison, the statewide figure on the 2025 Dashboard was 8.1 points below standard in ELA and 42.4 points below in math. Figures on this page come from the California Department of Education's 2025 Dashboard data files, all students.
Dashboard results describe students already enrolled, not the quality of a home or street. They also move from year to year, especially at small schools. Use them as one input, then visit the school and read its School Accountability Report Card.
School districts serving Sunnyvale compared
Most Sunnyvale addresses fall into one of four districts. The Sunnyvale School District (TK-8) says it covers 13.75 square miles bounded roughly by El Camino Real, State Route 85, Caribbean Drive and Lawrence Expressway, and enrolls about 5,700 students. Cupertino Union (TK-8) has four schools with Sunnyvale addresses and its district office on South Mary Avenue in Sunnyvale. Fremont Union High School District runs the high schools for much of the city. Santa Clara Unified (TK-12) has four schools with Sunnyvale addresses: Braly, Laurelwood and Ponderosa elementary schools and Peterson Middle.
| District | Grades | 2025 ELA | 2025 math | Other 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale School District | TK-8 | +12.5 (Green) | +5.7 (Green) | Chronic absenteeism 9.5% (Green) |
| Cupertino Union | TK-8 | +84.5 (Blue) | +102.1 (Blue) | Chronic absenteeism 5.6% (Green) |
| Fremont Union High | 9-12 | +93.0 (Green) | +85.4 (Blue) | Graduation rate 95.7% (Blue) |
| Santa Clara Unified | TK-12 | +25.1 (Green) | -5.6 (Green) | Graduation rate 90.9% (Green) |
District averages hide wide gaps between schools, as the tables below show. A Sunnyvale address in one district can sit a few blocks from a school in another, so check every address you are considering.
Sunnyvale high schools
Fremont Union High School District has five comprehensive high schools. According to the district, high school placement is based on the student's primary home address, and it publishes district boundary maps rather than an address search.
Fremont High School (Fremont Union High)
Fremont High is the district's only comprehensive high school with a Sunnyvale address, at 575 W. Fremont Ave. On the 2025 Dashboard it scored 44.9 points above standard in ELA (Green, up 13.7 points) and 11.3 points below standard in math (Green, up 13.0). Its graduation rate was 90.9% (Green). The district's Educational Options Center and adult school share a nearby address at 589 W. Fremont Ave.
Other Fremont Union high schools near Sunnyvale
The district's other four campuses are in Cupertino and San Jose. 2025 results, all students:
| High school | Address | ELA | Math | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homestead High | 21370 Homestead Road, Cupertino | +77.4 (Blue) | +59.0 (Blue) | 96.3% |
| Cupertino High | 10100 Finch Avenue, Cupertino | +111.7 (Green) | +114.9 (Green) | 98.0% |
| Monta Vista High | 21840 McClellan Road, Cupertino | +102.8 (Green) | +128.9 (Green) | 97.5% |
| Lynbrook High | 1280 Johnson Avenue, San Jose | +143.4 (Green) | +165.0 (Blue) | 97.6% |
Which of these serves a given Sunnyvale address depends on the district's boundary map. Do not assume the nearest campus is the assigned one.
Santa Clara Unified high schools for Sunnyvale addresses
Addresses inside Santa Clara Unified's boundary are assigned to that district's schools, not to Fremont Union. Santa Clara Unified's district-wide graduation rate was 90.9% (Green) on the 2025 Dashboard. Use the district's school locator to see the assigned high school for a specific address.
Sunnyvale middle schools
Sunnyvale Middle School (Sunnyvale School District)
The larger of the district's two middle schools, with about 1,000 students tested. It scored 38.8 points above standard in ELA (Green, up 10.2) and 37.9 above in math (Blue, up 13.7). Chronic absenteeism was 11.0% (Yellow). The district lists a Sunnyvale Middle School master plan update among its facilities projects.
Columbia Middle School (Sunnyvale School District)
Columbia scored 35.7 points below standard in ELA (Orange) and 55.9 below in math (Yellow), where it improved by 16.4 points. Chronic absenteeism was 6.9% (Orange, up 1.5 points).
Cupertino Middle School (Cupertino Union)
Cupertino Middle is at 1650 S. Bernardo Avenue in Sunnyvale, despite its name. It scored 77.8 points above standard in ELA (Green) and 92.4 above in math (Blue), with chronic absenteeism of 6.7% (Green).
Peterson Middle School (Santa Clara Unified)
Marian A. Peterson Middle School is at 1380 Rosalia Avenue, Sunnyvale. It scored 41.8 points above standard in ELA (Green) and 24.1 above in math (Green, up 10.2), with chronic absenteeism of 7.0% (Yellow).
Sunnyvale elementary schools
The Sunnyvale School District runs eight elementary schools and two middle schools. Its 2025 results, all students:
| School | ELA | Math | Chronic absenteeism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Chase Elementary | +93.3 (Blue) | +92.3 (Blue) | 6.3% |
| Cumberland Elementary | +77.2 (Blue) | +69.8 (Blue) | 3.4% |
| Fairwood Elementary | +28.1 (Green) | +21.6 (Blue) | 6.2% |
| Ellis Elementary | +9.2 (Yellow) | +5.4 (Green) | 15.4% |
| Lakewood Elementary | -24.6 (Orange) | -33.8 (Orange) | 11.0% |
| Bishop Elementary | -26.8 (Yellow) | -30.7 (Yellow) | 11.6% |
| San Miguel Elementary | -37.5 (Orange) | -28.1 (Orange) | 9.0% |
| Vargas Elementary | -45.6 (Orange) | -65.3 (Orange) | 11.4% |
| Sunnyvale Middle | +38.8 (Green) | +37.9 (Blue) | 11.0% |
| Columbia Middle | -35.7 (Orange) | -55.9 (Yellow) | 6.9% |
Highest-scoring Sunnyvale School District elementary schools
Cherry Chase (93.3 points above standard in ELA, up 16.0) and Cumberland (77.2 above) were the only two district campuses rated Blue in both subjects. Fairwood was next, at 28.1 above in ELA, and it gained 18.6 points in math.
Sunnyvale elementary schools with the biggest changes
Bishop Elementary rose 21.5 points in ELA and 22.3 in math, moving to Yellow, though its chronic absenteeism rose to 11.6% (Red). Vargas fell 8.0 points in ELA and 10.4 in math, and San Miguel fell 12.1 points in ELA.
Cupertino Union elementary schools with Sunnyvale addresses
Three Cupertino Union elementary schools are in Sunnyvale, all in ZIP 94087. Stocklmeir (592 Dunholme Way) scored 55.8 above standard in ELA and 59.7 in math, both Blue. West Valley (1635 Belleville Way) scored 66.0 and 86.0, both Blue, after gains of 15.9 and 20.6 points. Nimitz (545 E. Cheyenne Drive) scored 22.6 and 14.7, both Green.
Santa Clara Unified elementary schools with Sunnyvale addresses
Santa Clara Unified also runs three elementary schools with Sunnyvale addresses. Laurelwood (1467 Teal Drive, 94087) scored 80.6 above standard in ELA (Blue) and 68.7 in math (Green), though chronic absenteeism was 15.3% (Orange). Ponderosa (804 Ponderosa Avenue, 94086) gained 16.6 points in ELA and 21.6 in math to reach 41.1 and 40.1, both Blue. Braly (675 Gail Avenue, 94086) scored 17.3 and 8.5, both Green.
School choice in Sunnyvale: open enrollment, programs and transfers
Sunnyvale School District open enrollment
Families who live in the district can apply to a school other than their home school. For 2026-27 the window ran February 2 to February 13. The district describes selection as a random process run after resident students are placed, in mid-April. Transportation is not provided, and an approved TK-8 transfer does not need to reapply in later years.
Programs of choice in the Sunnyvale School District
The district lists a two-way Spanish-English dual-language program called Juntos among its programs. Ask the district office, (408) 522-8200, which campus hosts it and how places are allocated.
Transfers between districts serving Sunnyvale
Each of the four districts has its own interdistrict transfer rules. Fremont Union lists interdistrict and employee-privilege transfers among its options. A transfer is never guaranteed, so do not buy a home on the assumption that you will get one.
How to check which schools serve a Sunnyvale address
A listing that names schools is a starting point, not a guarantee. Boundaries change and a street can be split. Check each district yourself.
Sunnyvale School District School Finder
The district's attendance boundaries page links to its School Finder (schfinder.com/sunnyvalesd) and a boundary map PDF. Enter the full address.
Cupertino Union and Santa Clara Unified school locators
Cupertino Union's School Locator is at cusdk8.org/registration/locator. Santa Clara Unified's locator is linked from its enrollment pages. If both tools return a result for different districts, call the districts before you write an offer.
Fremont Union High boundary maps
Fremont Union publishes district boundary maps on its general information pages. Compare the address against the map, then confirm by phone with the enrollment office. For the wider home search, see our Sunnyvale homes guide and Sunnyvale ZIP codes.