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 | +56.7pp |
| 2 | Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy | Wilmington | +50.2pp |
| 3 | Chin (John Yehall) Elementary | San Francisco | +49.4pp |
| 4 | Willowbrook Middle | Compton | +49.3pp |
| 5 | Middle College High | Los Angeles | +47.6pp |
| 6 | Colonel Joseph C. Rodriguez PREP Academy | San Bernardino | +45.7pp |
| 7 | Hoover Street Elementary | Los Angeles | +45.5pp |
| 8 | Oxford Academy | Cypress | +45.2pp |
| 9 | Sixth Street Prep | Victorville | +41.7pp |
| 10 | Manchester Gate | Fresno | +40.2pp |
| 11 | Ethan B. Allen Elementary | Fountain Valley | +40.0pp |
| 12 | Hillside Elementary | San Bernardino | +39.9pp |
| 13 | Duff Language Magnet Academy | Rosemead | +39.8pp |
| 14 | University Preparatory | Victorville | +39.8pp |
| 15 | Third Street Elementary | Los Angeles | +39.6pp |
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 | 91.3% |
| 2 | Richardson PREP HI Middle | San Bernardino | 84.7% |
| 3 | Chin (John Yehall) Elementary | San Francisco | 84.7% |
| 4 | A. G. Cook Elementary | Garden Grove | 81.0% |
| 5 | Sixth Street Prep | Victorville | 77.7% |
| 6 | Willowbrook Middle | Compton | 76.8% |
| 7 | Manchester Gate | Fresno | 76.7% |
| 8 | Stockton Early College Academy | Stockton | 76.2% |
| 9 | University Preparatory | Victorville | 75.6% |
| 10 | Middle College High | Los Angeles | 75.2% |
| 11 | Sarah McGarvin Intermediate | Westminster | 74.9% |
| 12 | Middle College High | San Pablo | 74.5% |
| 13 | La Quinta High | Westminster | 74.0% |
| 14 | Monterey Vista Elementary | Monterey Park | 73.0% |
| 15 | Colonel Joseph C. Rodriguez PREP Academy | San Bernardino | 73.0% |
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 | 98.9% |
| 2 | Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter | El Dorado Hills | 97.5% |
| 3 | Cold Spring Elementary | Santa Barbara | 97.0% |
| 4 | California Academy of Mathematics and Science | Carson | 96.2% |
| 5 | William Faria Elementary | Cupertino | 95.5% |
| 6 | Oxford Academy | Cypress | 95.4% |
| 7 | Murdock-Portal Elementary | San Jose | 95.3% |
| 8 | North Star Academy | Redwood City | 95.0% |
| 9 | Herbert Hoover Elementary | Palo Alto | 92.9% |
| 10 | Lynbrook High | San Jose | 92.7% |
| 11 | Elkhorn | Stockton | 92.7% |
| 12 | Covington Elementary | Los Altos | 92.3% |
| 13 | Arundel Elementary | San Carlos | 91.9% |
| 14 | John Muir Elementary | San Jose | 91.9% |
| 15 | North Hillsborough | Hillsborough | 91.8% |
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 with 200+ students ranked by diversity index: the chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.| # | School | City | Diversity index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland Elementary | Oakland | 80.3% |
| 2 | The Academy of Alameda | Alameda | 79.9% |
| 3 | Alameda Community Learning Center | Alameda | 79.8% |
| 4 | Regency Park Elementary | Sacramento | 79.8% |
| 5 | Edna Brewer Middle | Oakland | 79.7% |
| 6 | Vanden High | Fairfield | 79.7% |
| 7 | Ruby Bridges Elementary | Alameda | 79.4% |
| 8 | Paso Verde | Sacramento | 79.3% |
| 9 | Heron | Sacramento | 79.2% |
| 10 | Oakdale TK-8 | North Highlands | 79.1% |
| 11 | Francophone Charter School of Oakland | Oakland | 78.9% |
| 12 | John Ehrhardt Elementary | Elk Grove | 78.8% |
| 13 | Parks (Rosa) Elementary | San Francisco | 78.7% |
| 14 | Angelo Rodriguez High | Fairfield | 78.7% |
| 15 | Nea Community Learning Center | Alameda | 78.7% |
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 | Happy Camp Union Elementary | Happy Camp | -48.5pp |
| 2 | Desert Junior-Senior High | Edwards | -42.5pp |
| 3 | Ione Junior High | Ione | -41.8pp |
| 4 | Mission Education Center | San Francisco | -41.6pp |
| 5 | Delta Charter | Aptos | -41.3pp |
| 6 | Point Arena High | Point Arena | -38.7pp |
| 7 | East Nicolaus High | Nicolaus | -37.9pp |
| 8 | Potter Valley High | Potter Valley | -37.4pp |
| 9 | Oakdale Charter | Oakdale | -36.9pp |
| 10 | Pleasant Valley Middle | Placerville | -36.3pp |
| 11 | Irving L. Branch Elementary | Edwards | -35.6pp |
| 12 | Manchester Elementary | Manchester | -35.2pp |
| 13 | Magnolia Union Elementary | Brawley | -35.1pp |
| 14 | Willits High | Willits | -35.0pp |
| 15 | Antelope Elementary | Littlerock | -35.0pp |
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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