Research
Dig into California school district research on spending, staffing, and academic results without the usual bureaucratic fog.
Top Affordable-Area Schools
Affordable California housing markets do not usually line up with strong school outcomes, which makes this list unusually narrow.
| School | Home Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Richardson PREP HI Middle | $285k | 86.4% |
| William & Marian Ghidotti High | $563k | 100.0% |
| Union Street Charter | $557k | 85.4% |
| Hayfork High | $280k | 85.0% |
| Riverview STEM Elementary | $458k | 88.5% |
Top Elementary Schools
23 California elementary schools clear 90% reading proficiency.
| School | Low-Income % | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Spring Elementary | 5.9% | 96.2% |
| Arundel Elementary | 11.3% | 95.5% |
| Murdock-Portal Elementary | 8.5% | 94.3% |
| North Hillsborough | 2.6% | 94.0% |
| William Faria Elementary | 12.5% | 93.7% |
Top High Schools
33 California high schools clear 90% reading proficiency.
| School | Low-Income % | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| William & Marian Ghidotti High | 21.3% | 100.0% |
| The High School at Moorpark College | 13.2% | 100.0% |
| Whitney (Gretchen) High | 31.6% | 99.2% |
| California Academy of Mathematics and Science | 37.4% | 98.7% |
| Middle College High | 53.6% | 98.7% |
Top Schools
Most standout high-poverty schools are elementary, but a few middle and high schools break through too.
| School | Low-Income % | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Hoover Street Elementary | 98.2% | 69.8% |
| ICEF Vista Middle Academy | 96.4% | 62.2% |
| Middle College High | 91.1% | 72.4% |
| Hillside Elementary | 90.8% | 74.2% |
| Frank Sparkes Elementary | 92.9% | 71.2% |
Top Elementary Schools
A small number of elementary schools post unusually strong reading results for English learners.
| School | EL % | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Nelson S. Dilworth Elementary | 26.1% | 62.8% |
| Camellia Elementary | 24.9% | 65.6% |
| Blue Hills Elementary | 24.1% | 57.1% |
| Oak Hills Elementary | 8.8% | 70.8% |
| John Muir Elementary | 16.9% | 55.0% |
Top Districts
A small group of districts post unusually strong reading results for low-income students.
| District | Low-Income % | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| San Marino Unified | 12.0% | 81.6% |
| Piedmont City Unified | 4.3% | 74.6% |
| La Canada Unified | 5.1% | 73.6% |
| Scotia Union Elementary | 72.6% | 67.3% |
| Fountain Valley Elementary | 27.9% | 68.9% |
Smallest Ratios
The smallest districts are not always the strongest academically.
| District | Ratio | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Mt. Baldy Joint Elementary | 0.5:1 | 58.3% |
| Ravendale-Termo Elementary | 3.0:1 | 40.0% |
| California School for the Deaf-Fremont ( | 4.2:1 | 11.4% |
| California School for the Blind (State S | 5.3:1 | 22.2% |
| California School for the Deaf-Riverside | 5.4:1 | 4.7% |