The reputation of Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) as one of the top districts in the United States is by design, not by chance. In cooperation with a supportive community and dedicated parents, our teachers and staff work diligently to carry out the Board-adopted Strategic Plan and implement a road map that puts students on a direct path to academic achievement.

Mission and Values
We work to enable all students to:

• Strive for academic excellence
• Acquire the knowledge and skills that support learning
• Value creativity and life-long learning
• Demonstrate respect for self and others
• Participate meaningfully in our democratic society and interdependent global community

In order to accomplish our mission:

• We shall attract and nurture a knowledgeable, capable, caring, and inspiring staff, who are provided opportunities to participate in decision-making, and who receive strong educational, environmental, financial, and administrative support.
  
• We shall foster mutual respect, open communication, and partnership among students, staff, families, and the community.

We build our organization around the following values:

• Teamwork and collaboration
• Respectful and caring relationships
• Honesty and integrity
• Continuous improvement and achievement