Salinas · Monterey County

Schools in Salinas

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Schools around Salinas

50 listed public schools with mapped locations

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School locations, not attendance boundaries. Confirm eligibility with the district.

2025 · school stage

Elementary schools

Salinas’s 35 public elementary schools run from the bottom 1% to the 74th percentile among the 5,721 California elementary schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

See how these schools sit across California
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
16Needs Support
16Developing
3Solid
0Strong
Top row: one dot per Salinas school, in its band colour. Bottom: each dot is 1 in 100 of the 5,721 California public elementary schools we score. All placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests.

Highest in Salinas

Statewide percentile
Context

The average Salinas elementary school had 18 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2024–25; the average California elementary school had 18 in 100.

Show the other 25 elementary schools

The other 25 elementary schools

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

2025 · school stage

Middle schools

Salinas’s 5 public middle schools run from the 9th to the 82nd percentile among the 2,177 California middle schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

See how these schools sit across California
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
1Needs Support
2Developing
1Solid
1Strong
Top row: one dot per Salinas school, in its band colour. Bottom: each dot is 1 in 100 of the 2,177 California public middle schools we score. All placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests.

Middle schools in Salinas

Statewide percentile
Context

The average Salinas middle school had 12 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California middle school had 18 in 100.

2025 · school stage

High schools

Salinas’s 7 public high schools run from the 10th to the 61st percentile among the 1,500 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

See how these schools sit across California
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
2Needs Support
4Developing
1Solid
0Strong
Top row: one dot per Salinas school, in its band colour. Bottom: each dot is 1 in 100 of the 1,500 California public high schools we score. All placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests.

High schools in Salinas

Statewide percentile
Context

The average Salinas high school had 18 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California high school had 23 in 100.

Also in Salinas, not ranked with these schools

  • Mount Toro HighContinuation high school: compared only with other continuation schools
  • El PuenteAlternative school: compared only with other alternative schools
  • Salinas CommunityCourt and community school: students enroll by referral or placement, so we don’t rank it
  • Central Bay High (Continuation)Continuation high school: compared only with other continuation schools

4 private schools in Salinas aren’t shown: they don’t take the state tests, so we don’t score them.

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Before kindergarten

A district outline or ZIP code doesn’t decide which school a child attends. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district. See these schools on the map ›

Common questions

Are the public schools in Salinas good?
Salinas’s 35 public elementary schools run from the bottom 1% to the 74th percentile among the 5,721 California elementary schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 3 Solid, 16 Developing and 16 Needs Support. Salinas’s 5 public middle schools run from the 9th to the 82nd percentile among the 2,177 California middle schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 1 Solid, 2 Developing and 1 Needs Support. Salinas’s 7 public high schools run from the 10th to the 61st percentile among the 1,500 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Solid, 4 Developing and 2 Needs Support. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score; it isn’t a grade. How we score schools.
Which public schools in Salinas rank highest?
Elementary: Lincoln Elementary, 74th percentile statewide (Solid). Middle: San Benancio Middle, 82nd percentile statewide (Strong). High: Salinas High, 61st percentile statewide (Solid). Each level is ranked separately, and a few percentiles apart is a tie. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in Salinas compare with California?
The average Salinas elementary school had 18 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2024–25; the average California elementary school had 18 in 100. The average Salinas middle school had 12 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California middle school had 18 in 100. The average Salinas high school had 18 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California high school had 23 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
Does living in Salinas decide which school my child attends?
No. A city can hold schools from more than one district, and attendance boundaries decide which school serves an address. Confirm the school for your address with the district.
Where do these results come from?
California’s state tests (CAASPP) from spring 2025 and chronic-absence rates for 2024–25, both published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations, not official state ratings. Private schools don’t take the state tests, so we don’t score them. Methodology and limitations.

Sources & methodology

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

Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations, not official state ratings. Use them alongside school visits and questions about your child’s needs.

View CDE data ↗How Scope Scores work →

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