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CALIFORNIA · 2024–25 CAASPP

California School Rankings

We split "met standard" from "exceeded" for the 5,721 California elementary schools we rank — and score elementary, middle, and high school on separate scales, never blended.

Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024–25·About·Methodology

California has 5,721 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 38.9/100. The top-scoring elementary school is Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter at 97/100. California also ranks 2,177 middle and 1,647 high schools separately — elementary, middle, and high school scores are never combined into one number. Statewide average per-pupil spending is $14,491. Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2024–25, analyzed by SchoolScope.

The record, by scale

Elementary K-5

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avg 38.9/1005,721 ranked elementary schools

Middle 6-8

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avg 38.6/1002,177 ranked middle schools

High School 9-12

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avg 54.0/1001,647 ranked high schools

Each level is scored on its own scale — elementary, middle, and high are never ranked against each other.

What matters for your family?

Start with a priority, then inspect the evidence.

Student supportAttendance, belonging and school climate

What support does my child need?

Look at attendance and school climate alongside academic results. A school visit can help you understand counseling, learning support and how staff respond when a child needs help.

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Advanced courseworkAP, IB and college preparation

Will my child have room to grow?

High school profiles show reported advanced coursework and college readiness when available. Check course access, prerequisites and support directly with the school.

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Arts & enrichmentMusic, arts, sports and more

What will make school feel like a fit?

Ask about the programs your child cares about, including who can join, schedules and any costs. State test scores do not measure the full school experience.

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School sizeEnrollment and classroom context

What setting suits my child?

Use enrollment and reported staffing as a starting point. Ask about actual class sizes for your child’s grade, since schoolwide ratios are not classroom sizes.

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Where the record is filed

AnaheimBakersfieldChula VistaEl CajonFontanaFremontFresnoGarden GroveIrvineLancasterLong BeachLos AngelesModestoMoreno ValleyOaklandOxnardPalmdaleRiversideSacramentoSalinasSan BernardinoSan DiegoSan FranciscoSan JoseSanta AnaSanta RosaStocktonVictorvilleVisaliaWhittier
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Explore all schoolsMap viewMethodology

Per-pupil spending by district

How much California districts spend per student. Statewide average: $14,491. 818 districts with data. Source: NCES F-33 fiscal survey.

Highest spending

#DistrictPer Student
1Sausalito Marin City$62,631
2Montecito Union Elementary$34,024
3Woodside Elementary$33,472
4Shoreline Unified$31,980
5Saint Helena Unified$31,620
6Julian Union High$30,613
7Portola Valley Elementary$29,597
8Eastern Sierra Unified$27,668
9Trona Joint Unified$27,579
10Las Lomitas Elementary$26,855

Lowest spending

#DistrictPer Student
1Liberty Elementary$8,549
2Richmond Elementary$8,739
3Nuestro Elementary$8,876
4Pacific Union Elementary$8,900
5Southside Elementary$9,415
6Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Union Elementary$9,596
7Loomis Union Elementary$9,697
8Lakeside Union$9,726
9Outside Creek Elementary$9,731
10Norris Elementary$9,784

Spending data doesn't account for cost-of-living differences or how efficiently dollars translate to outcomes. See spending efficiency on individual district pages.

NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific
What Scope Scores can't tell you about California

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

How many schools are there in California?
California had 9,947 public schools in the 2025–26 school year, according to the California Department of Education. This public-school total includes charter schools; private schools and child care facilities are separate. SchoolScope’s rankings cover schools with sufficient data. A school serving several grade levels can appear in more than one level ranking, so those ranking counts should not be added together as a statewide school total. CDE Fingertip Facts.
What are the top schools in California?
The leading schools in SchoolScope’s 2024–25 Scope Score lists are elementary: Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter; middle: Elkhorn; high school: Whitney (Gretchen) High. Rankings are separate by level. Review admissions, programs and student support before deciding which school fits your family.
How many schools are ranked in California?
SchoolScope ranks 5,721 elementary schools, 2,177 middle schools, and 1,647 high schools in California using the Scope Score, based on 2024–25 CAASPP data. Elementary, middle, and high school use different formulas and are never combined into one ranking. Schools need sufficient testing data to receive a score.
What is the best school district in California?
SchoolScope doesn't publish one blended "best district" number across all grade levels, because the Scope Score formula differs by level — an elementary school's score and a high school's score aren't measuring the same thing, so averaging a district's schools together mixes two different scales into one misleading figure. See the highest-scoring districts ranked separately: elementary, middle, and high school.
How much does California spend per student?
The statewide average per-pupil spending is $14,491. The highest-spending district is Sausalito Marin City at $62,631 per student. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100). For elementary and middle schools it combines 6 weighted dimensions: exceeded-standard rate (42%), met-or-exceeded rate (23%), grade-to-grade growth (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). High schools use 7 dimensions, led by graduation rate and college readiness. Full methodology.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.