All rankings · California
Best California public schools
Eight rankings of California's public schools from the latest NCES + state-assessment data. Unlike most school rankings, this list leads with BeatsExpectations: a demographics-adjusted score that asks how a school performs relative to what its student population would predict, not just in absolute terms.
California schools outperforming demographics
Top schools by BeatsExpectations score. Demographically-adjusted; a +20 here means the school posts 20 more proficiency points than its FRL profile predicts.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richardson PREP HI Middle | San Bernardino | +57.0pp |
| 2 | Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy | Wilmington | +53.8pp |
| 3 | Chin (John Yehall) Elementary | San Francisco | +53.6pp |
| 4 | Willowbrook Middle | Compton | +49.1pp |
| 5 | Hoover Street Elementary | Los Angeles | +45.7pp |
| 6 | Oxford Academy | Cypress | +44.7pp |
| 7 | Sixth Street Prep | Victorville | +44.6pp |
| 8 | Colonel Joseph C. Rodriguez PREP Academy | San Bernardino | +44.2pp |
| 9 | Middle College High | Los Angeles | +43.8pp |
| 10 | Duff Language Magnet Academy | Rosemead | +42.8pp |
| 11 | Hillside Elementary | San Bernardino | +42.3pp |
| 12 | W. A. Kendrick Elementary | Bakersfield | +42.0pp |
| 13 | Manchester Gate | Fresno | +41.7pp |
| 14 | Charles H. Kim Elementary | Los Angeles | +41.3pp |
| 15 | Third Street Elementary | Los Angeles | +40.4pp |
California Title I schools beating the odds
High-poverty schools (60%+ FRL) ranking in the top quartile of their state's proficiency.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy | Wilmington | 94.3% |
| 2 | Chin (John Yehall) Elementary | San Francisco | 88.1% |
| 3 | Richardson PREP HI Middle | San Bernardino | 84.1% |
| 4 | A. G. Cook Elementary | Garden Grove | 80.6% |
| 5 | Sixth Street Prep | Victorville | 79.8% |
| 6 | Manchester Gate | Fresno | 77.4% |
| 7 | Willowbrook Middle | Compton | 75.7% |
| 8 | Sarah McGarvin Intermediate | Westminster | 75.1% |
| 9 | Reedley Middle College High | Reedley | 75.0% |
| 10 | Stockton Early College Academy | Stockton | 74.7% |
| 11 | Eagle Canyon Elementary | Chino Hills | 74.3% |
| 12 | Duff Language Magnet Academy | Rosemead | 73.7% |
| 13 | Monterey Vista Elementary | Monterey Park | 73.7% |
| 14 | Horace Mann Elementary | Glendale | 73.0% |
| 15 | San Onofre Elementary | San Clemente | 72.7% |
California schools by raw proficiency
The traditional ranking: highest combined math + reading proficiency on the state assessment.| # | School | City | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitney (Gretchen) High | Cerritos | 99.2% |
| 2 | Cold Spring Elementary | Santa Barbara | 98.5% |
| 3 | Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter | El Dorado Hills | 97.3% |
| 4 | William Faria Elementary | Cupertino | 95.6% |
| 5 | California Academy of Mathematics and Science | Carson | 95.6% |
| 6 | Murdock-Portal Elementary | San Jose | 95.5% |
| 7 | North Star Academy | Redwood City | 95.2% |
| 8 | Oxford Academy | Cypress | 94.4% |
| 9 | Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy | Wilmington | 94.3% |
| 10 | Covington Elementary | Los Altos | 93.9% |
| 11 | Beach Elementary | Piedmont | 93.6% |
| 12 | Herbert Hoover Elementary | Palo Alto | 93.5% |
| 13 | Elkhorn | Stockton | 93.0% |
| 14 | Lynbrook High | San Jose | 93.0% |
| 15 | Argonaut Elementary | Saratoga | 92.5% |
California schools with the lowest student-teacher ratios
Schools with 200+ students reporting the fewest students per teacher. Excludes virtual.| # | School | City | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berenece Carlson Home Hospital | North Hollywood | 3.9:1 |
| 2 | California School for the Deaf-Fremont | Fremont | 4.3:1 |
| 3 | California School for the Deaf-Riverside | Riverside | 5.3:1 |
| 4 | San Diego County Court | San Diego | 6.7:1 |
| 5 | Kern County Special Education | Bakersfield | 6.8:1 |
| 6 | Monterey County Special Education | Salinas | 6.9:1 |
| 7 | Orange County Special Education | Costa Mesa | 7.0:1 |
| 8 | Santa Clara County Special Education | San Jose | 7.2:1 |
| 9 | Marin County Special Education | San Rafael | 7.4:1 |
| 10 | Hope | Buena Park | 7.7:1 |
| 11 | Gould Educational Center | Madera | 7.8:1 |
| 12 | Riverside County Special Education | Riverside | 8.1:1 |
| 13 | Fresno County Special Education | Fresno | 8.2:1 |
| 14 | Ventura County Special Education | Camarillo | 8.3:1 |
| 15 | Gateway High (Continuation) | Clovis | 8.6:1 |
Fastest-growing California public schools, 2017-2024
Schools open in both years with 200+ enrollment in 2017, ranked by % change.| # | School | City | Enrollment Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romero-Cruz Academy | Santa Ana | +290% |
| 2 | Farber School of Independent Studies and Online | Fresno | +273% |
| 3 | School of Extended Educational Options | Pomona | +256% |
| 4 | Portola High | Irvine | +212% |
| 5 | Paso Verde | Sacramento | +185% |
| 6 | Science Academy STEM Magnet | North Hollywood | +163% |
| 7 | San Jacinto Leadership Academy - Magnet | San Jacinto | +163% |
| 8 | Cesar Chavez Language Academy | Santa Rosa | +150% |
| 9 | Orion Alternative | Redwood City | +143% |
| 10 | Compton Early College High | Compton | +135% |
| 11 | Girls Academic Leadership Acad Dr. Michelle King Sch STEM | Los Angeles | +126% |
| 12 | Las Flores High (Alternative) | Sacramento | +119% |
| 13 | Clovis Online Charter | Clovis | +118% |
| 14 | Nile Garden Elementary | Manteca | +118% |
| 15 | Richard Henry Dana Elementary | Dana Point | +115% |
Most racially diverse California public schools
Schools ranked by how balanced their student body is. The largest single racial group's share of enrollment, lowest first.| # | School | City | Max group |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland Elementary | Oakland | 21.0% Asian (79) |
| 2 | The Academy of Alameda | Alameda | 24.0% Asian (153) |
| 3 | Francophone Charter School of Oakland | Oakland | 24.7% White (80) |
| 4 | Regency Park Elementary | Sacramento | 24.9% Hispanic (154) |
| 5 | Edna Brewer Middle | Oakland | 25.0% Hispanic (196) |
| 6 | Oakland School for the Arts | Oakland | 25.7% White (213) |
| 7 | Angelo Rodriguez High | Fairfield | 26.1% Hispanic (552) |
| 8 | El Rincon Elementary | Culver City | 26.2% Hispanic (148) |
| 9 | Montera Middle | Oakland | 26.2% Black (182) |
| 10 | Alameda Community Learning Center | Alameda | 26.5% Asian (96) |
| 11 | Encinal Junior/Senior High | Alameda | 26.7% Asian (342) |
| 12 | Ruby Bridges Elementary | Alameda | 26.9% Asian (123) |
| 13 | Parks (Rosa) Elementary | San Francisco | 27.0% Hispanic (88) |
| 14 | Greer Elementary | Sacramento | 27.0% Hispanic (206) |
| 15 | Oakdale TK-8 | North Highlands | 27.2% Hispanic (152) |
Largest California public schools
Brick-and-mortar schools ranked by total enrollment. Virtual schools excluded.| # | School | City | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highlands Community Charter | Sacramento | 11,713 |
| 2 | River Springs Charter | Temecula | 7,703 |
| 3 | Granada Hills Charter | Granada Hills | 5,927 |
| 4 | Eleanor Roosevelt High | Eastvale | 4,353 |
| 5 | Downey High | Downey | 4,051 |
| 6 | Polytechnic High | Long Beach | 3,890 |
| 7 | Warren (Earl) High | Downey | 3,609 |
| 8 | Santiago High | Corona | 3,577 |
| 9 | Beaumont Senior High | Beaumont | 3,460 |
| 10 | Five Keys Independence HS (SF Sheriff's) | San Francisco | 3,447 |
| 11 | Etiwanda High | Etiwanda | 3,446 |
| 12 | Millikan High | Long Beach | 3,408 |
| 13 | Pittsburg Senior High | Pittsburg | 3,403 |
| 14 | Paramount High | Paramount | 3,400 |
| 15 | Ocean Grove Charter | Boulder Creek | 3,378 |
California schools underperforming demographics
Bottom 10% within state by BeatsExpectations. Not a verdict, a starting question. A school may be in leadership transition or recovering from a demographic shift.| # | School | City | Beats by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desert Junior-Senior High | Edwards | -43.2pp |
| 2 | Happy Camp Union Elementary | Happy Camp | -41.1pp |
| 3 | Ione Junior High | Ione | -41.0pp |
| 4 | Mission Education Center | San Francisco | -40.9pp |
| 5 | San Antonio Elementary | Lockwood | -39.7pp |
| 6 | East Nicolaus High | Nicolaus | -39.7pp |
| 7 | Oakdale Charter | Oakdale | -39.3pp |
| 8 | Delta Charter | Aptos | -38.9pp |
| 9 | New Jerusalem | Tracy | -36.5pp |
| 10 | Irving L. Branch Elementary | Edwards | -36.1pp |
| 11 | Altimira Middle | Sonoma | -36.1pp |
| 12 | Flowery Elementary | Sonoma | -35.3pp |
| 13 | Coronado Elementary | Richmond | -35.3pp |
| 14 | Magnolia Union Elementary | Brawley | -35.2pp |
| 15 | Calaveras High | San Andreas | -34.5pp |
About these rankings
These tables use the most recent NCES Common Core of Data (2024-25) for enrollment, demographics, and staffing, and state-native assessment data (typically 2023-24 or 2024-25) for proficiency. BeatsExpectations is computed via per-state ordinary-least-squares regression of composite proficiency on free-and-reduced-lunch share. Full methodology.
License: CC-BY 4.0. Reproduce these rankings anywhere with attribution to allk12.com. Press contact: [email protected].
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