California · Public and charter schools · 2025–26 data

California elementary school rankings

William Faria Elementary ranks first by Scope Score among the 5,726 California public and charter elementary schools we score for 2025–26.

ElementaryMiddleHigh school

#1 William Faria ElementaryCupertino

Each dot is one of the top 25 elementary schools.

Where

9of 25

are in Santa Clara County. The 25 schools are in 10 counties.

How high

Top1%

of California elementary schools we score. All 25 are in it.

How you get in

2of 25

are charter schools. Each charter school sets how it admits students.

The ranking

Which 10 elementary schools rank highest?

The list is ordered by Scope Score for 2025–26.

AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined

  1. Rank 1

    William Faria Elementary

    Cupertino · Cupertino Union · Grades K–5

    5% below the standard

    Scope Score 100Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Rank 2

    Herbert Hoover Elementary

    Palo Alto · Palo Alto Unified · Grades K–5

    8% below the standard

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Rank 3

    Golden Elementary

    Placentia · Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Grades K–6

    10% below the standard

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  4. Rank 4

    Montecito Union

    Santa Barbara · Montecito Union Elementary · Grades K–6

    5% below the standard

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  5. Rank 5

    Tustin Memorial Elementary

    Santa Ana · Tustin Unified · Grades K–5

    9% below the standard

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  6. Rank 6

    Murdock-Portal Elementary

    San Jose · Cupertino Union · Grades K–5

    7% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  7. Rank 7

    Bullis CharterCharter

    Los Altos · Santa Clara County Office of Education · Grades K–8 · Check how it admits students.

    7% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  8. Rank 8

    Wagner Ranch Elementary

    Orinda · Orinda Union · Grades K–5

    10% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  9. Rank 9

    Wonderland Avenue Elementary

    Los Angeles · Los Angeles Unified · Grades K–5

    10% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  10. Rank 10

    Cherry Chase Elementary

    Sunnyvale · Sunnyvale · Grades K–5

    14% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

Show schools 11 to 25Hide schools 11 to 25

  1. Rank 11

    Oak Avenue Elementary

    Los Altos · Los Altos Elementary · Grades K–6

    9% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Rank 12

    Millikin Elementary

    Santa Clara · Santa Clara Unified · Grades Pre-K–5

    12% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Rank 13

    College Park Elementary

    San Mateo · San Mateo-Foster City · Grades K–5

    17% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  4. Rank 14

    Pacific Elementary

    Manhattan Beach · Manhattan Beach Unified · Grades K–5

    17% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  5. Rank 15

    Ross Elementary

    Ross · Ross Elementary · Grades K–8

    8% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  6. Rank 16

    Nelson S. Dilworth Elementary

    San Jose · Cupertino Union · Grades K–5

    10% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  7. Rank 17

    John Muir Elementary

    San Jose · Cupertino Union · Grades K–5

    9% below the standard

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  8. Rank 18

    Third Street Elementary

    Los Angeles · Los Angeles Unified · Grades K–5

    8% below the standard

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

  9. Rank 19

    Beechwood Elementary

    Fullerton · Fullerton Elementary · Grades K–8

    16% below the standard

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

  10. Rank 20

    Oak Knoll Elementary

    Menlo Park · Menlo Park City Elementary · Grades Pre-K–5

    16% below the standard

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

  11. Rank 21

    Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion CharterCharter

    El Dorado Hills · Buckeye Union Elementary · Grades K–12 · Check how it admits students.

    1% below the standard

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

  12. Rank 22

    Central Elementary

    Belmont · Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary · Grades K–5

    8% below the standard

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

  13. Rank 23

    La Canada Elementary

    La Canada · La Canada Unified · Grades Pre-K–6

    15% below the standard

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

  14. Rank 24

    Donner Trail Elementary

    Kingvale · Tahoe-Truckee Unified · Grades K–5

    11% below the standard

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

  15. Rank 25

    Country Springs Elementary

    Chino Hills · Chino Valley Unified · Grades Pre-K–6

    11% below the standard

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

What the bars mean

Each bar averages a school’s English and math results across grades 3⁠–⁠5. Those are the grades this level’s score uses. The bar counts tests. Each student takes two tests, so the bar does not count students. “Proficient” does not include “Advanced”. “Below the standard” combines the state’s Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal level (formerly Not met), its two lowest. Each number is rounded to a whole percent. The Scope Score also uses other measures, so the bars do not set the order by themselves. Each school’s profile shows its results by subject, the number of students tested and the sources.

Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), 2025–26, grades 3⁠–⁠5. Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. Two schools can show the same score. The school with the higher result before rounding is listed first. 5,726 elementary schools scored on six measures. Data updated October 15, 2026. Read the methodology.

Browse all 5,726 elementary schools on the map →

Who goes to these schools

Who do the top 25 serve?

At the typical top-25 school, 7 in 100 students come from low-income families. At the typical California elementary school we score, 71 in 100 do.

7in 100

students from low-income families at the typical top-25 school

71in 100

at the typical California elementary school
The figure for each of the 24 schools
  1. William Faria Elementary13 in 100
  2. Herbert Hoover Elementary7 in 100
  3. Golden Elementary24 in 100
  4. Montecito Union5 in 100
  5. Tustin Memorial Elementary23 in 100
  6. Murdock-Portal Elementary9 in 100
  7. Bullis Charter5 in 100
  8. Wagner Ranch Elementary2 in 100
  9. Wonderland Avenue Elementary27 in 100
  10. Cherry Chase Elementary7 in 100
  11. Oak Avenue Elementary3 in 100
  12. Millikin Elementary4 in 100
  13. College Park Elementary14 in 100
  14. Pacific Elementary4 in 100
  15. Ross Elementary1 in 100
  16. Nelson S. Dilworth Elementary20 in 100
  17. John Muir Elementary8 in 100
  18. Third Street Elementary51 in 100
  19. Beechwood Elementary28 in 100
  20. Oak Knoll Elementary6 in 100
  21. Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter9 in 100
  22. Central Elementary5 in 100
  23. La Canada Elementary7 in 100
  24. Donner Trail Elementary5 in 100

Each dot is one of the top 25 schools. A dot’s place shows how many in 100 of the school’s students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. “Typical” is the middle school when schools are put in order by that figure. 1 of the 25 schools has no meals figure and is not shown. A school’s results depend on who enrolls and on what the school does. This chart does not show a cause. Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25.

Further down the list

Which top-scoring elementary schools serve mostly low-income families?

These are the 5 highest-ranked elementary schools where at least 60 in 100 students come from low-income families.

AdvancedProficientBelow the standardThe number on the left is students from low-income families, in every 100

  • Students from low-income families: 64in 100

    Renaissance Arts AcademyCharter

    Los Angeles · Los Angeles Unified · Check how it admits students.

    6% below the standard

    Scope Score 96Strong · 99th percentile

  • Students from low-income families: 85in 100

    Foster Elementary

    Compton · Compton Unified

    22% below the standard

    Scope Score 94Strong · 97th percentile

  • Students from low-income families: 62in 100

    San Diego Global Vision AcademyCharter

    San Diego · San Diego Unified · Check how it admits students.

    23% below the standard

    Scope Score 93Strong · 97th percentile

  • Students from low-income families: 63in 100

    San Onofre Elementary

    San Clemente · Fallbrook Union Elementary

    17% below the standard

    Scope Score 92Strong · 97th percentile

  • Students from low-income families: 65in 100

    A. G. Cook Elementary

    Garden Grove · Garden Grove Unified

    20% below the standard

    Scope Score 90Strong · 94th percentile

2 of these 5 schools are charter schools. Check how each school admits students. A school’s results depend on who enrolls and on what the school does. This list does not show a cause. Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 (students eligible for free or reduced-price meals); California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), 2025–26, grades 3⁠–⁠5.

Near you

Which ranked elementary schools are near you?

Search a city, ZIP code or district to see the schools there.

Use my location

Districts

Which districts have the most elementary schools at the 90th percentile or higher?

Los Angeles Unified has the most, with 47 of its 581 ranked elementary schools (8%).

  1. Los Angeles Unified47 of 581 ranked schools · 1st to 99th percentile
    8%of its schools
  2. San Ramon Valley Unified20 of 22 ranked schools · 87th to 98th percentile
    91%of its schools
  3. Irvine Unified17 of 31 ranked schools · 67th to 99th percentile
    55%of its schools
  4. Poway Unified15 of 26 ranked schools · 55th to 99th percentile
    58%of its schools
  5. San Diego Unified15 of 137 ranked schools · 1st to 98th percentile
    11%of its schools

The count is each district’s ranked elementary schools at the 90th percentile or higher among the California elementary schools we score. A large district can have the most because it has many schools, so each row also shows the count as a share. Each district on this list has at least 3 ranked elementary schools. Source: SchoolScope count from California Department of Education data, 2025–26.

Before you decide

How do I turn a ranking into a shortlist?

Three checks before you decide where to move or apply.

  1. Check your optionsConfirm attendance boundaries, eligibility, applications and transportation with the school or district. A place on this list does not guarantee admission.
  2. Compare the recordsOpen school profiles to compare English (reading and writing) and math results, attendance and suspensions. Ask each school what support it gives for your child’s needs.
  3. Ask on a visitHow do you support early readers, and how do families hear about their progress?

Each percentile uses only the state records behind the Scope Score. Class sizes, teacher turnover and student support aren’t in it, so ask about them on a visit. What the data cannot tell you. Methodology and sources.

Questions

Common questions

How are California elementary schools ranked?

Each school’s percentile says what share of California elementary schools it scored higher than; schools are compared only with other elementary schools. The order comes from the Scope Score. From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”). The score is built from six measures:

  • Students scoring Advanced (weighted 42%)
  • Students scoring Proficient or Advanced (weighted 23%)
  • 5th graders compared with the school’s 3rd graders two years earlier, partly different children (weighted 20%)
  • Students chronically absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of school days (weighted 5%)
  • Students suspended (weighted 5%)
  • English learners reaching the top level of the state’s English test (weighted 5%)

See the full methodology.

How many California elementary schools does SchoolScope score?

SchoolScope has Scope Scores for 5,726 California elementary schools using 2025–26 CAASPP results. That count is the regular public and charter schools we score, so it is smaller than the number of schools in the state. Private elementary schools aren’t scored, since they don’t take the state tests.

What is the best elementary school in California?

By Scope Score, William Faria Elementary in Santa Clara County ranks highest among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score for 2025–26 CAASPP, at the 99th percentile. Which school is best for a child still depends on what the family needs: test results, attendance or the feel of the campus can point to different schools.

More questions (3)

What are the top 25 elementary schools in California?

The top 25 scored elementary schools by Scope Score are listed on this page with their city, county, percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score and band. Explore the interactive map to find schools near you and open their full profiles.

What are the worst elementary schools in California?

Every elementary school we score is in the city, ZIP code and district lists, which run down to the lowest percentile, and on the map. Open a profile to read how 5th graders compared with the school’s 3rd graders two years earlier, attendance and suspensions beside the score. Scores track family income and English-learner shares closely, so read those records before judging a school by its place in a list.

Is the Scope Score the same as a GreatSchools or Niche rating?

No. Rating sites weight different inputs in different ways. SchoolScope uses the CDE data year shown on this page, counts students at the top level (“Advanced”) separately from the level below it (“Proficient”), and shows each part of the score with its weight. Compare what each site shows parents.

How do these rankings work?

Why might two families choose different schools from this list?

The order combines six measures. Each family cares about some measures more than others.

A family that wants the most students scoring Advanced may choose one school. A family that wants high attendance may choose another. Both schools can be on this list. Source: CDE 2025–26 CAASPP, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Open a profile to read the subject results, how 5th graders compared with the school’s 3rd graders two years earlier, the results for each student group, and the questions to ask on a visit.

What to look for beyond the overall score

How many students scored at the top level, how one class moves from 3rd to 5th grade, and attendance.

  • The Advanced share. Two schools can both have 80% of students’ tests at Proficient or Advanced. If 60% scored Advanced at one school and 20% at the other, the first school has three times as many tests at the top level.
  • How one class moves from 3rd to 5th grade. The Scope Score compares each school’s 5th graders with its own 3rd graders two years earlier (partly different children), against other elementary schools with enough students in both grades. It describes a direction, never a cause, and it doesn’t follow individual students.
  • Attendance. Chronic absenteeism describes missed school time. Illness, transportation and housing can affect attendance. Ask how the school helps students who miss school catch up.

At the average California elementary school we score, 22% of students’ tests in grades 3⁠–⁠5 scored Advanced in spring 2026. (CDE CAASPP)

Keep reading

Which guides help with the next step?

Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2025–26