Best Schools in Monterey County, CA
Monterey County, CA has 174 public schools (37 high, 22 middle, 99 elementary) serving 91,189 students. On average they score 29% on state proficiency tests against a projected 31%, so schools in Monterey County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Monterey County, CA
The top high schools in Monterey County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Carmel High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carmel Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 858 Students
2. Pacific Grove High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pacific Grove Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 547 Students
3. Santa Cruz High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1092 Students
4. Paso Robles High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Paso Robles Joint Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2093 Students
5. Salinas High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Salinas Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2567 Students
6. Monterey High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Monterey Peninsula Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1399 Students
7. King City High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
South Monterey County Joint Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1227 Students
8. Rancho San Juan High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Salinas Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1699 Students
9. Alisal High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Salinas Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2852 Students
10. Anzar High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Aromas - San Juan Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 276 Students
Best Middle Schools in Monterey County, CA
The top middle schools in Monterey County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Pacific Grove Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pacific Grove Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 420 Students
2. Carmel Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carmel Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 498 Students
3. San Benancio Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Washington Union Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 240 Students
4. Buena Vista Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Spreckels Union Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 335 Students
5. Shoreline Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Live Oak Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 441 Students
6. Washington Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Salinas Union High • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1067 Students
7. El Sausal Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Salinas Union High • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1035 Students
8. Los Arboles Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Monterey Peninsula Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 396 Students
9. Seaside Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Monterey Peninsula Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 491 Students
10. Gavilan View Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Rita Union Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 587 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Monterey County, CA
The top elementary schools in Monterey County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Carmel River Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carmel Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 386 Students
2. Robert Down Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pacific Grove Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 408 Students
3. Toro Park Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Washington Union Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 3 • 322 Students
4. Captain Cooper Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carmel Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 42 Students
5. Tularcitos Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carmel Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 442 Students
6. Washington Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Washington Union Elementary • Public • Grades 4 - 5 • 172 Students
7. Forest Grove Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pacific Grove Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 387 Students
8. Monterey Bay Charter
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Monterey Bay Charter District • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 474 Students
9. Lagunita Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lagunita Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 76 Students
10. La Mesa
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Monterey Peninsula Unified • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 564 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Monterey County, CA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Monterey County, CA has a total population of 439,035 with 29% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 71%, and 27% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Monterey County, CA
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 Monterey County, CA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
21.08 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
5.01 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
16.07 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Monterey County, CA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Monterey County, CA.
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 Monterey County, CA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Monterey County, CA
How many schools are in Monterey County, CA?
Monterey County, CA has 174 public schools: 37 high schools, 22 middle schools and 99 elementary schools, serving 91,189 students in total.
How do schools in Monterey County perform on state tests?
On average, 174 schools in Monterey County score 29% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 31%, so on average schools in Monterey County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Monterey County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Monterey County, CA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 29%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 39%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 27%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 27%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 31%
- Projected: 27%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 30%
- Projected: 26%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 32%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 22%
- Projected: 26%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 48%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Monterey County
20 places in Monterey County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (20)
- Salinas (56)
- Soledad (11)
- King City (7)
- Seaside (7)
- Greenfield (6)
- Marina (6)
- Monterey (6)
- Carmel (5)
- Pacific Grove (5)
- Castroville (4)
- Gonzales (3)
- Big Sur (2)
- Aromas (1)
- Bradley (1)
- Carmel Valley (1)
- Chualar (1)
- Lockwood (1)
- San Ardo (1)
- San Lucas (1)
- Spreckels (1)
School districts (15)
- Monterey Peninsula Unified (18 schools)
- Salinas City Elementary (15 schools)
- Alisal Union (12 schools)
- Salinas Union High (12 schools)
- Soledad Unified (10 schools)
- North Monterey County Unified (8 schools)
- Carmel Unified (7 schools)
- Santa Rita Union Elementary (6 schools)
- Greenfield Union Elementary (5 schools)
- Pacific Grove Unified (5 schools)
- King City Union (4 schools)
- South Monterey County Joint Union High (4 schools)
- Gonzales Unified (3 schools)
- Monterey County Office of Education (3 schools)
- Washington Union Elementary (3 schools)