Best Public Schools in California

Top 50 schools ranked by resource quality score. Based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs & attendance. NCES CCD 2022-23.

99/100
Top Score
N.a. Chaderjian High
64/100
Avg Score (Top 50)
50
Schools Ranked
CA
State
# School Score Grade
1. N.a. Chaderjian High Stockton 99 A+
2. Kaiser Early Childhood Center Oakland 87 A
3. Iovine and Young Center Los Angeles 72 B
4. Justin Elementary Simi Valley 70 B
5. Orange County Classical Academy Orange 69 B-
6. Riverside Virtual Riverside 69 B-
7. Home & Hosp/Transition Support San Diego 69 B-
8. Kipp University Park Stockton 67 B-
9. New Hope Charter Sacramento 67 B-
10. Redlands Eacademy Redlands 67 B-
11. Tulare County Court Visalia 67 B-
12. San Diego Metro Career and Tech San Diego 66 B-
13. Kirby Dorothy Camp City Of Commerce 66 B-
14. Donner Trail Elementary Kingvale 66 B-
15. Vista De Las Cruces Gaviota 65 B-
16. Rancho Learning Center (Alternative) Arcadia 65 B-
17. Academy of Media Arts Los Angeles 64 C+
18. Independence High (Alternative) Alhambra 64 C+
19. Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Sacramento 62 C+
20. Allen (Ella B.) Elementary Bonita 62 C+
21. Mt. Everest Academy San Diego 62 C+
22. California Pacific Charter - Sonoma Guerneville 62 C+
23. The Seed School of Los Angeles County Los Angeles 62 C+
24. Millennium High Alternative Piedmont 62 C+
25. Clovis Community Day Secondary Clovis 62 C+
26. Douglas City Elementary Douglas City 61 C+
27. Bridges Preparatory Academy Compton 61 C+
28. Tamiscal High (Alternative) Larkspur 61 C+
29. Anderson New Technology High Anderson 61 C+
30. Victor Valley Virtual Academy Victorville 61 C+
31. Excel Academy Charter Irvine 60 C+
32. Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary Folsom 60 C+
33. Advanced Learning Academy Santa Ana 60 C+
34. Downey Unified Virtual Acad at Lynn L. Pace Ed Center Bellflower 60 C+
35. California Pacific Charter - San Diego Costa Mesa 60 C+
36. Uncharted Shores Academy Crescent City 60 C+
37. South Hillsborough Hillsborough 60 C+
38. San Diego County Court San Diego 60 C+
39. Cambridge Virtual Academy Anaheim 60 C+
40. Rocklin Academy at Meyers Street Rocklin 60 C+
41. Ralph J. Bunche Continuation High Oakland 60 C+
42. Mountain Oaks San Andreas 59 C
43. Circle of Independent Learning Fremont 59 C
44. American River Collegiate Academy Orangevale 59 C
45. Hayfork High Hayfork 59 C
46. All Tribes Charter Valley Center 59 C
47. Hickman Charter Hickman 58 C
48. Centennial Elementary Bakersfield 58 C
49. Piedmont Middle Piedmont 58 C
50. Independent Study Sojourner Truth Oakland 58 C

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best public schools in California? ▼

The top-rated school in California is N.a. Chaderjian High in Stockton with a quality score of 99/100 (grade A+). Rankings are based on student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, gifted programs, and attendance rates from NCES data.

How are school quality scores calculated? ▼

Quality scores (0-100) are computed from NCES data across 4 metrics: student-teacher ratio (lower is better, national avg ~16:1), counselor availability (ASCA recommends 250:1), gifted program availability, and chronic absenteeism rate (lower is better). This measures school resources, not test scores.

Explore More for California

All Schools → Largest Schools → Absenteeism Data → Highest Spending → National Ranking →

Methodology

Quality scores (0-100) are computed from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 metrics: student-teacher ratio, school counselor availability, gifted program access, and chronic absenteeism rates. Schools must have at least 50 students and data for one or more metrics. This measures resource quality, not test scores. Higher scores indicate smaller class sizes, better counselor access, and lower absenteeism.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.