Walter Hays Elementary

1525 Middlefield Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301

305 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Walter Hays Elementary School is a highly regarded public school located in the prestigious Palo Alto Unified School District. Serving students from kindergarten through fifth grade, the school is well-known for its strong academic focus, dedicated teaching staff, and a supportive, close-knit community. It is situated in a quiet, residential neighborhood in Palo Alto, providing a safe and nurturing environment that emphasizes both intellectual growth and the development of core values like empathy and responsibility.

Beyond its rigorous curriculum, Walter Hays is recognized for its active parent involvement and a vibrant school culture that offers a variety of enrichment programs. The school benefits from the resources and collaborative spirit typical of the Palo Alto community, consistently ranking among the top-performing elementary schools in California. With a commitment to fostering a lifelong love of learning, the school aims to prepare its diverse student body for success in middle school and beyond by balancing academic excellence with social-emotional development.

305

Total Students

14.9

Full-Time Teachers

20.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

17.0%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Walter Hays Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	71
Hispanic	60
Black	6
Asian	131
Two or More	32
Pacific Islander	5

Asian
131 (43.0%)
White
71 (23.3%)
Hispanic
60 (19.7%)
Two or More
32 (10.5%)
Black
6 (2.0%)
Pacific Islander
5 (1.6%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Palo Alto Unified
Phone:	(650)322-5956
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	305
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	14.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	20.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	47
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	5

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 83

Grade 1 44

Grade 2 45

Grade 3 46

Grade 4 46

Grade 5 41