The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Long Beach for 2026 are Kettering Elementary (7.9/10), Lincoln Elementary (7.8/10), and Newcomb Academy (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 46 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Long Beach spans one of Southern California's largest urban school districts, with 46 ranked elementary schools covering a wide range of performance. Emerson Parkside Academy leads the field at 8.6 out of 10, nearly a full point ahead of second-place Gant Elementary. The average composite score across all ranked schools sits at 5.5 out of 10, meaning the top performers represent a meaningful step above the norm — only 10 schools, or 22% of those ranked, clear the 7-point threshold. That gap matters when you're comparing options. Schools at the top of the table tend to separate on academic proficiency and student growth metrics, so sorting by individual categories can reveal different leaders depending on what you prioritize. Use the table below to filter by score, neighborhood, or school type and zero in on the programs that best fit your child's needs.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 17.9
- 27.8
- 37.8
- 47.4
- 57.4
- 67.3
- 77.3
- 87.3
- 97.2
- 107.2
All 46 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 46
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Kettering ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 349student-teacher ratio 21.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 2Lincoln ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 810student-teacher ratio 26.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 3Newcomb AcademyLong Beach Unifiedstudents 862student-teacher ratio 24.6:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 4Los Cerritos ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 465student-teacher ratio 31.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 5Tincher PreparatoryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 824student-teacher ratio 23.5:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 6Bryant ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 334student-teacher ratio 22.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 7Cubberley K-8Long Beach Unifiedstudents 946student-teacher ratio 22.5:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 8Garfield ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 556student-teacher ratio 25.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 9Muir K-8Long Beach Unifiedstudents 1,046student-teacher ratio 23.8:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 10Chavez ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 307student-teacher ratio 20.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 11Webster ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 497student-teacher ratio 24.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 12Mckinley ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 494student-teacher ratio 23.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 13HudsonLong Beach Unifiedstudents 269student-teacher ratio 20.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14Olivia Nieto Herrera ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 689student-teacher ratio 26.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 15Prisk ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 472student-teacher ratio 24.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 16Mann ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 343student-teacher ratio 24.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 17Powell Academy for SuccessLong Beach Unifiedstudents 777student-teacher ratio 24.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 18Birney ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 496student-teacher ratio 22.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 19Longfellow ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 961student-teacher ratio 30.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 20Whittier ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 554student-teacher ratio 25.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 21Burcham ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 344student-teacher ratio 28.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 22Carver ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 520student-teacher ratio 28.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 23Lafayette ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 849student-teacher ratio 28.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 24Robinson AcademyLong Beach Unifiedstudents 765student-teacher ratio 27.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 25Stevenson ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 479student-teacher ratio 28.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and California education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in California. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Kettering Elementary
Long Beach Unified
349 students · 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 15% in California
- Academics
- 9.4
- Growth
- 7.3
- Environment
- 7.1
- 2
Lincoln Elementary
Long Beach Unified
810 students · 26.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 17% in California
- Academics
- 8.7
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 2.3
- 3
Newcomb Academy
Long Beach Unified
862 students · 24.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 17% in California
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 6.0
- 4
Los Cerritos Elementary
Long Beach Unified
465 students · 31.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 26% in California
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 2.7
- 5
Tincher Preparatory
Long Beach Unified
824 students · 23.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 26% in California
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 6.6
- Environment
- 7.0
- 6
Bryant Elementary
Long Beach Unified
334 students · 22.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 28% in California
- Academics
- 7.9
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 5.3
- 7
Cubberley K-8
Long Beach Unified
946 students · 22.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 28% in California
- Academics
- 8.3
- Growth
- 6.6
- Environment
- 7.8
- 8
Garfield Elementary
Long Beach Unified
556 students · 25.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 28% in California
- Academics
- 8.0
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 3.0
- 9
Muir K-8
Long Beach Unified
1,046 students · 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 30% in California
- Academics
- 7.0
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 5.1
- 10
Chavez Elementary
Long Beach Unified
307 students · 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 30% in California
- Academics
- 6.2
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 4.6
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Long Beach, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Kettering Elementary is the top-rated elementary school in Long Beach with a composite score of 7.9/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Long Beach, California?
Long Beach has 72 elementary schools. Of these, 61 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Long Beach?
Among 61 Long Beach elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.2/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in California).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within California, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in California, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Long Beach2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Long Beach2026 rankings and ratings
- All 116 schools in Long BeachElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings