The San Mateo-Foster City School District operates 20 elementary and middle schools with approximately 12,500 students. The district serves a total population of over 100,000 in the cities of San Mateo and Foster City. The district is located on the San Francisco peninsula, 19 miles south of San Francisco just north of the Silicon Valley. Primarily residential, San Mateo and Foster City are community-minded cities with a reputation for excellent elementary and middle schools.