GreatSchools Rating
In the know: Get our expert advice on schools
Share with friends! Post your opinion of Kings Mountain Elementary School on Facebook.
Teacher quality
Principal leadership
Parent involvement
King's Mountain is a great small K-5 public school off of Skyline Blvd. in the Redwoods above Half Moon Bay. The wooded site reminds me of a Boy Scout camp. With about 80 students, every teacher knows all the students and vice versa. The Parents Association is very active and hires aides to assist in the classroom as well as music and science. Many of the coastsiders carpool so don't be too concerned with the distance. Everyone is very supportive and approachable.
—Submitted by a parent
I personally went to this school when it was K-6th !!!! yes back in the day and it was awesome then. My children then started off their education there education there as well. What a community effort. A true testament to " it takes a small village to raise a child" Jeanette Bengtsson Beard
Our staff is doing amazing things with hands-on math curriculum, Readers and Writers Workshops, Art-In-Action, FOSS science and Smart Boards. Cooperation and collaboration are in place daily. It's a unique environment where students are happy, learning, and thriving.
—Submitted by a teacher
We love our small school. The teachers and staff have high standards and great love for our kids. Combined with dedicated parent involvement, we are giving our kids the best education possible and the kids enjoy going to school. It's a wonderful community to be part of.
—Submitted by a parent
My husband was sold on buying our home as a direct result of the reputation of this school and that was years before we had children! Now that we have two students in Kings Mountain Elementary School, I see that it is the best choice for elementary education on the coast, including the private options. The school's parent group is very active and sets high expectations for KM school families to support the school through volunteering and fundraising. But this involvement really pays off in the good citizens this school graduates every year; the warm and supporting start we give our children translate to smart and secure kids entering middle school. This school models everything I think elementary education should be: small, supportive, high parent and community involvement, high academic standards, dedicated staff, great spirit, and a cooperative and inclusive atmosphere on the playground.
—Submitted by a parent
Kings Mountain School offers a venue and an opportunity unique to the Kings Mountain area. Children thrive in the environment and become a family of learners. It is a wonderful experience that our children are privileged to experience. Take time to visit Kings Mountain Elementary. You'll be impressed.
High standards, excellent staff fully committed to each and every child, and strong parent and community involvement are reasons we chose KMES for our daughter. Our daughter is thriving and we are very happy here.
—Submitted by a parent
This school is amazing. You would think it was a private school, but it's public. In a beautiful rural area above the Silicon Valley, Kings Mountain School is thriving with an amazing hands on Science program, and strong support from parents, community member and staff. Having heard nothing but good things about this school for years, we moved to the area 6 six years ago so our kids could attend. We're so fortunate to be part of the Kings Mountain School and community.
—Submitted by a parent
Recently relocated from CT schools which were higly rated. KMES is VERY impressive. The teachers have very high standards and the parent involvement is even higher than in CT. We have been very pleased.
—Submitted by a parent
We couldn't be happier with our school. The small size allows our children to thrive. We are so fortunate to have this option available in our district. It kept us in the public realm. The parent involvement is fantastic and one of the main reasons for the school's success.
—Submitted by a parent
Outstanding! This school provides a private school education in the public school system. Class sizes are small, students receive individualized attention and their scores are excellent.
—Submitted by a parent
Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.
The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.
The API reflects year-over-year schools performance based on STAR test score results from spring 2012.
The state average for English Language Arts was 58% in 2012.
16 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 64% in 2012.
16 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for English Language Arts was 48% in 2012.
19 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 69% in 2012.
19 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for English Language Arts was 67% in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 71% in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for English Language Arts was 63% in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 65% in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Science was 60% in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 100% |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | n/a |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 100% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 100% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 100% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 100% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 100% |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | n/a |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 100% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 100% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 100% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 100% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 79% |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | n/a |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 75% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 78% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 83% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 79% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | 82% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | 90% |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | n/a |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 83% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 89% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 89% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 89% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | 100% |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | n/a |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | n/a |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | n/a |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | n/a |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | n/a |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | n/a |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | n/a |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | n/a |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | n/a |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | n/a |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | n/a |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | n/a |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | n/a |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | n/a |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | n/a |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | n/a |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | n/a |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | n/a |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | n/a |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | n/a |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
| All Students | n/a |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | n/a |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | n/a |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | n/a |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | n/a |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | n/a |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »
Grade 2
Grade 3
All students
White (not Hispanic)
All students
Non-economically disadvantaged
Students with no reported disability
Fluent-English proficient and English only
Parent education - college graduate
All students
| Ethnicity | This school | State average | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 70% | 28% | ||
| Hispanic or Latino | 10% | 49% | ||
| Asian | 9% | 8% | ||
| Filipino | 9% | 3% | ||
| Multiple or No Response | 2% | 3% | ||
| African American | 1% | 7% | ||
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% | 1% | ||
| Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English language learners 1 | 4% | N/A | 24% |
| Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 2 | 0% | N/A | 52% |
| Language | This school | State average | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 40% | 0% | ||
| Spanish | 40% | 85% | ||
| German | 20% | 0% |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average class size | 19 | N/A | 25 |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average years teaching in district | 8 | N/A | 11 |
| Average years teaching | 11 | N/A | 13 |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full credential | 100% | N/A | 96% |
| Emergency credential or waiver | 0% | N/A | 2% |
Tips for understanding school culture
Apply
Tell parents
more about
your school
Visit
498 Kelly Avenue
Half Moon Bay,
CA 94019
Website: Click here
Phone: (650) 712-7180
To start a new list, click OK. Otherwise click Cancel.
Alvin S. Hatch Elementary School
Half Moon Bay, CA
Sea Crest School
Half Moon Bay, CA
El Granada Elementary School
Half Moon Bay, CA
Wilkinson School & Early Childhood
El Granada, CA
The Wilkinson School
El Granada, CA
Highlands Elementary School
San Mateo, CA
About GreatSchools
Our mission is to inspire and support families to champion their children's education - at school, at home and in their community. We are a national non-profit with offices in San Francisco, Milwaukee, Washington D.C. and Indianapolis.
Find the great schools in California
GreatSchools, Inc. 160 Spear Street, Suite 1020, San Francisco, CA 94105
©1998-2013 GreatSchools Inc. All Rights Reserved. GreatSchools is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
Thank you! You will begin to receive newsletters from us shortly.
Great work! Only one more step. Now we just need you to verify your email address. Please click on the link in the email we just sent you to complete your registration.
Great work! Only one more step. Now we just need you to verify your email address. Please click on the link in the email we just sent you to submit your review.
Please click on the link in the verification email we just sent you to complete your change of email address.
Whoops! It looks like we still need to verify your email. To do so, please click on the link in the email we sent you. Can't find the e-mail? Click the button below and we'll send you a new one.
Thanks for registering. Welcome to GreatSchools, the largest online community committed to improving educational outcomes through parental involvement.
Thanks for verifying your updated email address.
Oops! You haven't verified your email address yet. To do so, please click on the link in the email we sent you. Can't find the email? Click the button below to receive a new one.
Oops! That email verification link has expired. Please click the button below to receive a new one.
Join GreatSchools to participate in the parent community and other discussions on our site.
Your review has been posted to GreatSchools.
Share with friends! Post your opinion of Kings Mountain Elementary School on Facebook.
Welcome to GreatSchools!
For principals and school officials, we offer a special Enhanced School Profile (ESP) which allows you to update and add information about your school, as well as respond to reviews. If you are a school official, click Continue to start.
Please note that it can take up to 48 hours for your comment to be posted to our site. While you're here, we'd like to invite you to fill out a survey on your school's programs, activities, and extracurriculars. It only takes a few minutes and will help parents get a full picture of your school.
Continue to compare the schools you have already selected or Edit schools to change your selection.
Get started now! You have successfully registered and can now start updating your Official School Profile. The information you provide is extremely valuable in helping parents and students learn more about your school, so thanks for taking the time!
Thank you for registering as a school leader. We just need to verify your email address. We've sent you an email - please click on the link in that message to get started editing your school's information!

