# GreatSchools API

> GreatSchools returns school ratings, profile facts, and nearby school data as a workflow and API.

GreatSchools, also called Great Schools or GS, returns a school's ratings and key facts from its name and city and state. Search schools finds nearby schools and their ratings from a US address, city, or ZIP code, with optional grade and school type filters.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/greatschools
- Handle: `@greatschools`
- Category: [Education](https://fous.com/tools/category/education)
- Source website: https://greatschools.org
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Get school

Operation `get_school`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Get a GreatSchools rating and key facts for a school by name and city and state. Ratings or details not published on the school profile are null.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `school` | string | yes | `"Alameda Elementary School"` | School name, for example Lincoln High School. |
| `location` | string | yes | `"Portland, OR"` | City and two-letter state, for example Portland, OR. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "school",
    "location"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "school": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "School name, for example Lincoln High School.",
      "examples": [
        "Alameda Elementary School",
        "Lincoln High School",
        "Boston Latin School"
      ]
    },
    "location": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "City and two-letter state, for example Portland, OR.",
      "examples": [
        "Portland, OR",
        "Boston, MA"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "school": "Alameda Elementary School",
      "location": "Portland, OR"
    },
    {
      "school": "Lincoln High School",
      "location": "Portland, OR"
    },
    {
      "school": "Boston Latin School",
      "location": "Boston, MA"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `type` | string or null | `"public"` | Public, charter or private school. |
| `phone` | string or null | `"(503) 916-6036"` |  |
| `address` | string or null | `"2732 Northeast Fremont Street, Portland, OR 97212"` |  |
| `website` | string or null | `"http://www.pps.net/schools/alameda"` |  |
| `district` | string or null | `"Portland School District 1j"` |  |
| `school_name` | string | `"Alameda Elementary School"` |  |
| `equity_rating` | integer or null |  |  |
| `grades_served` | string or null | `"K-5"` |  |
| `greatschools_link` | string | `"https://www.greatschools.org/oregon/portland/866-Alameda-Elementary-School/"` |  |
| `number_of_students` | integer or null | `498` |  |
| `test_scores_rating` | integer or null | `10` |  |
| `greatschools_rating` | integer or null | `10` | GreatSchools rating from 1 to 10, if shown. |
| `student_teacher_ratio` | string or null | `"19:1"` | Students per teacher, such as 18:1. |
| `student_progress_rating` | integer or null | `6` |  |
| `college_readiness_rating` | integer or null | `6` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "school": "Alameda Elementary School",
  "location": "Portland, OR"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "type": "public",
  "phone": "(503) 916-6036",
  "address": "2732 Northeast Fremont Street, Portland, OR 97212",
  "website": "http://www.pps.net/schools/alameda",
  "district": "Portland School District 1j",
  "school_name": "Alameda Elementary School",
  "equity_rating": null,
  "grades_served": "K-5",
  "greatschools_link": "https://www.greatschools.org/oregon/portland/866-Alameda-Elementary-School/",
  "number_of_students": 498,
  "test_scores_rating": 10,
  "greatschools_rating": 10,
  "student_teacher_ratio": "19:1",
  "student_progress_rating": 6,
  "college_readiness_rating": null
}
```

### Search schools

Operation `search_schools`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Find GreatSchools schools within 5 miles of a US address, city, or ZIP code. Filter by grade and school type, and sort by distance or rating. Distances are straight-line estimates from the matched location; an unmatched location returns no schools.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `sort` | string | no | `"rating"` | Order results by proximity or GreatSchools rating, for example distance. |
| `location` | string | yes | `"1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA"` | US street address, city and state, or ZIP code, for example 94107. |
| `grade_level` | string | no | `"elementary"` | Grade range to include, for example elementary. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `7` | Maximum schools to return, for example 20. |
| `school_type` | string | no | `"public"` | Type of school to include, for example public. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "location"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "sort": {
      "enum": [
        "distance",
        "rating"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "distance",
      "description": "Order results by proximity or GreatSchools rating, for example distance.",
      "examples": [
        "rating",
        "distance"
      ]
    },
    "location": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 2,
      "description": "US street address, city and state, or ZIP code, for example 94107.",
      "examples": [
        "1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA",
        "94107",
        "Portland, OR"
      ]
    },
    "grade_level": {
      "enum": [
        "any",
        "preschool",
        "elementary",
        "middle",
        "high"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Grade range to include, for example elementary.",
      "examples": [
        "elementary",
        "high"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum schools to return, for example 20.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        7,
        5
      ]
    },
    "school_type": {
      "enum": [
        "any",
        "public",
        "charter",
        "private"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Type of school to include, for example public.",
      "examples": [
        "public",
        "charter"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "sort": "rating",
      "location": "1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA",
      "grade_level": "elementary",
      "max_results": 7,
      "school_type": "public"
    },
    {
      "location": "94107"
    },
    {
      "sort": "distance",
      "location": "Portland, OR",
      "grade_level": "high",
      "max_results": 5,
      "school_type": "public"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `schools` | array |  |  |
| `schools[].type` | string or null | `"Public"` |  |
| `schools[].address` | string or null | `"1250 Waller Street, San Francisco, CA 94117"` |  |
| `schools[].school_name` | string | `"Chinese Immersion School At Deavila"` |  |
| `schools[].grades_served` | string or null | `"K-5"` |  |
| `schools[].distance_miles` | number or null | `1.52` | Straight-line distance from the matched location, in miles. |
| `schools[].greatschools_link` | string | `"https://www.greatschools.org/california/san-francisco/25096-Chinese-Immersion-School-At-Deavila/"` |  |
| `schools[].number_of_students` | integer or null | `407` |  |
| `schools[].greatschools_rating` | integer or null | `10` | GreatSchools rating, 1 to 10, or null if unrated. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "sort": "rating",
  "location": "1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA",
  "grade_level": "elementary",
  "max_results": 7,
  "school_type": "public"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "schools": [
    {
      "type": "Public",
      "address": "1250 Waller Street, San Francisco, CA 94117",
      "school_name": "Chinese Immersion School At Deavila",
      "grades_served": "K-5",
      "distance_miles": 1.52,
      "greatschools_link": "https://www.greatschools.org/california/san-francisco/25096-Chinese-Immersion-School-At-Deavila/",
      "number_of_students": 407,
      "greatschools_rating": 10
    },
    {
      "type": "Public",
      "address": "3630 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94123",
      "school_name": "Lilienthal (Claire) Elementary School",
      "grades_served": "K-8",
      "distance_miles": 2.08,
      "greatschools_link": "https://www.greatschools.org/california/san-francisco/6394-Lilienthal-Claire-Elementary-School/",
      "number_of_students": 673,
      "greatschools_rating": 10
    },
    {
      "type": "Public",
      "address": "251 6th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118",
      "school_name": "Peabody (George) Elementary School",
      "grades_served": "K-5",
      "distance_miles": 2.52,
      "greatschools_link": "https://www.greatschools.org/california/san-francisco/6421-Peabody-George-Elementary-School/",
      "number_of_students": 269,
      "greatschools_rating": 10
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@greatschools",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_school",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "school": "Alameda Elementary School",
    "location": "Portland, OR"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@greatschools\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_school\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"school\": \"Alameda Elementary School\",\n    \"location\": \"Portland, OR\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@greatschools",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_school",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "school": "Alameda Elementary School",
    "location": "Portland, OR"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/greatschools`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `get_school`: Get school. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `search_schools`: Search schools. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-greatschools https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/greatschools --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Compare school ratings and key facts by location.
- Find nearby schools by grade level and type.
- Sort nearby school options by distance or rating.
- Review enrollment, grade range, and student-teacher ratios.
- Identify schools with ratings for equity, progress, or college readiness.

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this GreatSchools tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a GreatSchools account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from greatschools.org when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### What is a school's GreatSchools rating?

Use Get school with the school name and city and state to retrieve its GreatSchools rating, if shown.

### Which schools are near a location?

Use Search schools with a US address, city and state, or ZIP code to find schools within 5 miles.

### How many students attend a school?

Get school returns the number of students for a named school and location; Search schools includes student counts for nearby results.

## Related

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- [Goodreads API](https://fous.com/tools/goodreads.md): Goodreads returns public book searches, matched-book details with variable editions, popular or newest reviews, author books by popularity or date, and up to 100 quotes.
- [Realtor.com API](https://fous.com/tools/realtor-com.md): Realtor.com returns home listings for sale, rent, or recently sold, property details and estimates, and local agent profiles; some fields or sold prices may be missing.
- [Apartments.com API](https://fous.com/tools/apartments-com.md): Apartments.com returns U.S. apartments and homes matching location and optional filters, plus community details; rent and availability may be missing or change.
- [Zillow API](https://fous.com/tools/zillow.md): Zillow provides homes for sale, rental listings, home details, estimates, and housing market figures; rental details, history, schools, estimates, and market figures may be missing or reflect different reporting dates.
- [All Education tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/education)