Best Schools in California
California has a total of 12,844 schools including 3,031 high schools, 2,019 middle schools and 7,046 elementary schools. A total of 6,323,335 students attend California schools. On average, schools in California score 35% on their proficiency tests, and we project an average score of 36% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, schools in California meet expectations.
Best High Schools in California
California has 3,031 high schools with 2,050,051 students. Below are the top high schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, high schools in California score 36% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 42% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, high schools in California underperform expectations.
1. Lynbrook High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fremont Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1741 Students
2. Cupertino High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fremont Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1997 Students
3. California Academy Of Mathematics And Science
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Long Beach Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 672 Students
4. Monta Vista High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fremont Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1751 Students
5. Ridgeview High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kern High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2688 Students
6. Dougherty Valley High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Ramon Valley Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 3255 Students
7. Centennial High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kern High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2175 Students
8. Henry J. Kaiser High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fontana Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1978 Students
9. Science Academy Stem Magnet
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Los Angeles Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 467 Students
10. Frontier High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kern High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2072 Students
Best Middle Schools in California
California has 2,019 middle schools with 1,174,584 students. Below are the top middle schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, middle schools in California score 31% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 32% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, middle schools in California meet expectations.
1. Carmenita Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Abc Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 601 Students
2. Petaluma Accelerated Charter
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Petaluma Joint Union High • Charter • Grades 7 - 8 • 123 Students
3. Elkhorn
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lodi Unified • Public • Grades 4 - 8 • 266 Students
4. Tetzlaff (martin B.) Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Abc Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 534 Students
5. Joaquin Miller Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cupertino Union • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1078 Students
6. La Entrada Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Lomitas Elementary • Public • Grades 4 - 8 • 595 Students
7. John F. Kennedy Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cupertino Union • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 930 Students
8. Redwood Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saratoga Union Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 685 Students
9. Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Palo Alto Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 996 Students
10. Ellen Fletcher Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Palo Alto Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 515 Students
Best Elementary Schools in California
California has 7,046 elementary schools with 2,796,155 students. Below are the top elementary schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, elementary schools in California score 34% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 34% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, elementary schools in California meet expectations.
1. Gonsalves (joe A.) Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Abc Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 569 Students
2. William Faria Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cupertino Union • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 632 Students
3. Oak Grove Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Visalia Unified • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 753 Students
4. Leal (frank C.) Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Abc Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 738 Students
5. Beach Park Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Mateo-foster City • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 240 Students
6. Spencer Valley Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Spencer Valley Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 44 Students
7. Yu Ming Charter
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Yu Ming Charter District • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 766 Students
8. Cold Spring Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cold Spring Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 193 Students
9. Bullis Charter
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bullis Charter District • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 1058 Students
10. White Oaks Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Carlos Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 3 • 255 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in California
State-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
California has a total population of 39,538,223 with 26% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 84%, and 36% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in California
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood California.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
27.48 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.96 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
22.52 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in California.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for California.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit California Internet Health Assessment.
Best Schools in Cities Near California
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual Test Scores: 28%
- Projected Test Scores: 30%
- Teacher Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 31%
- Projected Test Scores: 31%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 40%
- Projected Test Scores: 41%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 37%
- Projected Test Scores: 37%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 44%
- Projected Test Scores: 44%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 39%
- Projected Test Scores: 30%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 27%
- Projected Test Scores: 38%
- Teacher Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 31%
- Projected Test Scores: 33%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 47%
- Projected Test Scores: 46%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 37%
- Projected Test Scores: 39%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations