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Monterey County

California · Public K-12

Public K-12 schools in Monterey County number 153 per the most recent NCES data, averaging about 483 students per campus. That works out to 93 elementary, 20 middle, and 33 high schools.

7-year change in Monterey County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
73,728
-6,056 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
138
-2 (-1%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
10%
was 13%
% Hispanic
83%
was 79%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
3%
was 3%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
437,613
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
153
36 districts
Enrollment
73,845
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$97,230
Above California avg
Free/reduced lunch
76.3%
Above California avg
Elementary
93
38,653 students
Middle
20
11,677 students
High
33
22,762 students
Combined / other
7
753 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Salinas Union High
15,703 students · 36 districts in Monterey County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Monterey County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
36%
Hispanic
62%
Black
2%
Asian
6%
Two or more
16%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
10%
Hispanic
83%
Black
1%
Asian
3%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
28.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.2%
civilian labor
Median age
36
25.7% under 18

Test scores in Monterey County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 107 schools ranked. California state average: 47.6%.

See all 107 schools in Monterey County ranked by score →

All schools (153)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Buena Vista MiddleSalinasMiddle06-08321·
Boronda ElementarySalinasElementaryKG-06288·
Monterey County Special EducationSalinasCombinedKG-12274·
San Benancio MiddleSalinasMiddle06-08261·
Monterey County Home CharterSalinasCombinedKG-12255·
Chualar ElementaryChualarElementaryKG-08234·
Mount Toro HighSalinasHigh09-12204·
Oasis Charter PublicSalinasElementaryKG-06193·
Learning for Life CharterMarinaHigh07-12160·
Washington ElementarySalinasElementary04-05154·
San Antonio ElementaryLockwoodElementaryKG-08134·
Mission ElementarySoledadElementaryKG-08130·
Portola-Butler Continuation HighKing CityHigh09-12115·
Central Coast HighSeasideHigh09-12103·
Big Sur CharterMontereyCombinedKG-12101·
Salinas CommunitySalinasHigh07-12101·
Salinas City Virtual AcademySalinasElementaryKG-0699·
North Monterey County Center for Independent StudySalinasHigh07-1296·
Pinnacle Coastal Valley HighKing CityHigh09-1277·
San Ardo ElementarySan ArdoElementaryKG-0876·
San Lucas ElementarySan LucasElementaryKG-0872·
Lagunita ElementarySalinasElementaryKG-0662·
Soledad Virtual AcademySoledadCombinedKG-1262·
Open Door CharterSalinasHigh09-1255·
Bradley ElementaryBradleyElementaryKG-0854·
Open Door CharterSalinasHigh09-1253·
Wellington M. Smith Jr.SalinasCombined04-1250·
Captain Cooper ElementaryBig SurElementaryKG-0547·
Pinnacles HighSoledadHigh09-1241·
Graves ElementarySalinasElementaryKG-0832·
Central Bay High (Continuation)SalinasHigh09-1223·
Alisal Virtual AcademySalinasElementary01-0622·
Carr Lake Community DaySalinasHigh07-1218·
Community High (Continuation)Pacific GroveHigh09-1212·
Soledad Transition CenterSoledadHigh12-1212·
Pacific Valley (K-12)Big SurCombinedKG-1211·
Parkfield ElementarySan MiguelElementaryKG-0611·
Carmel Valley HighCarmelHigh09-1210·
Monterey Peninsula UNF SCH DIST COM Day MIDSeasideMiddle06-083·
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Community DaySeasideHigh09-123·
Carmel Child Development CenterCarmelElementaryKG-KG0·
Mission Trails ROPSalinasHigh09-120·
Phoenix Academy Community DayKing CityMiddle05-080·
Apple Pie PreschoolBig SurElementaryM-M··
Buckhorn Early Learning CenterSalinasElementaryM-M··
Cachagua Children's CenterCarmel ValleyElementaryM-M··
Marina Children's CenterMarinaElementaryM-M··
SEASIDE CHILDREN'S CENTERSeasideElementaryM-M··
Santa Rita Pre-KSalinasElementaryM-M··
Soledad Preschool CenterSoledadElementaryM-M··
Special Education PreschoolKing CityElementaryM-M··
Toro PreschoolSalinasElementaryM-M··
Walter ColtonMontereyCombinedM-M··

Cities in Monterey County

Salinas67 schoolsSeaside12 schoolsSoledad12 schoolsKing City9 schoolsMarina7 schoolsGreenfield6 schoolsMonterey6 schoolsPacific Grove6 schoolsCarmel5 schoolsCastroville4 schoolsBig Sur3 schoolsGonzales3 schoolsWatsonville3 schoolsCarmel Valley2 schoolsAromas1 schoolBradley1 schoolChualar1 schoolLockwood1 schoolSan Ardo1 schoolSan Lucas1 schoolSan Miguel1 schoolSpreckels1 school

About Monterey County

Monterey County is a high-population county of about 437,613 residents in California. Its public-school system serves approximately 73,845 students across 153 schools.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $97,230 a year, about 28% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 10%. That income level is 9% meaningfully above the California median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Monterey County is built around 93 elementary schools (38,653 students), 20 middle schools (11,677), 33 high schools (22,762), and 7 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Monterey County is Salinas Union High, which alone enrolls about 15,703 students.

Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Monterey County has shrank 8% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 79,784 students to 73,728. The school count fell from 140 to 138 across the same 7-year window. The Hispanic share of public-school enrollment rose from 79% to 83%.

On this page, the community for Monterey County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Monterey County?
Monterey County, California has 153 public K-12 schools serving approximately 73,845 students.
How many high schools are in Monterey County?
Monterey County, California has 33 public high schools, serving approximately 22,762 students.
How many middle schools are in Monterey County?
Monterey County, California has 20 public middle schools, serving approximately 11,677 students.
How many elementary schools are in Monterey County?
Monterey County, California has 93 public elementary schools, serving approximately 38,653 students.
What is the largest school district in Monterey County?
Salinas Union High is the largest school district in Monterey County, serving approximately 15,703 students. The county contains 36 school districts overall.
How many people live in Monterey County?
Monterey County has roughly 437,613 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Monterey County?
Median household income in Monterey County is $97,230, above the California average of $89,387. About 9.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Monterey County?
Approximately 28.2% of adults 25 and older in Monterey County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Monterey County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 76.3% of students in Monterey County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the California county average of 60.6%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Monterey County schools?
Across Monterey County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 21.8 to 1.

Monterey County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data