The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Long Beach for 2026 are Emerson Parkside Academy (9.0/10), Kettering Elementary (8.8/10), and Prisk Elementary (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 62 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.
- 19.0
- 28.8
- 38.8
- 48.8
- 58.5
- 68.2
- 78.2
- 88.1
- 98.0
- 108.0
All 62 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 62
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Emerson Parkside AcademyLong Beach Unifiedstudents 337student-teacher ratio 19.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 2Kettering ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 349student-teacher ratio 21.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 3Prisk ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 472student-teacher ratio 24.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 4Tincher PreparatoryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 824student-teacher ratio 23.5:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 5Newcomb AcademyLong Beach Unifiedstudents 862student-teacher ratio 24.6:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 6Cubberley K-8Long Beach Unifiedstudents 946student-teacher ratio 22.5:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 7HenryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 816student-teacher ratio 27.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 8Naples ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 306student-teacher ratio 27.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 9Burcham ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 344student-teacher ratio 28.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 10Los Cerritos ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 465student-teacher ratio 31.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 11Gant ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 663student-teacher ratio 27.6:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 12St Cyprian Elementary Schoolstudents 296student-teacher ratio 11.7:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 13Lowell ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 601student-teacher ratio 25.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14Bixby ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 548student-teacher ratio 26.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 15Fremont ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 439student-teacher ratio 29.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 16Lincoln ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 810student-teacher ratio 26.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 17Carver ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 520student-teacher ratio 28.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 18Maple Village Waldorf Schoolstudents 109student-teacher ratio 9.9:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 19Montessori on Elmstudents 60student-teacher ratio 4.0:1grades Pre-K–4th
- 20Mckinley ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 494student-teacher ratio 23.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 21Bethany Lutheran Schoolstudents 217student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 22Oakwood Academystudents 67student-teacher ratio 12.6:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 23St Barnabas Parish Schoolstudents 291student-teacher ratio 15.3:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 24Birney ElementaryLong Beach Unifiedstudents 496student-teacher ratio 22.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 25Lakewood Christian Schoolsstudents 308student-teacher ratio 17.1:1grades Pre-K–8th
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
Emerson Parkside Academy
Long Beach Unified
337 students · 19.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 3% in California
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 8.6
- 2
Kettering Elementary
Long Beach Unified
349 students · 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 5% in California
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 7.1
- 3
Prisk Elementary
Long Beach Unified
472 students · 24.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 5% in California
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 5.2
- 4
Tincher Preparatory
Long Beach Unified
824 students · 23.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 5% in California
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 7.0
- 5
Newcomb Academy
Long Beach Unified
862 students · 24.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 9% in California
- Academics
- 9.2
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 6.0
- 6
Cubberley K-8
Long Beach Unified
946 students · 22.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 13% in California
- Academics
- 8.2
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 7.8
- 7
Henry
Long Beach Unified
816 students · 27.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 13% in California
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 5.4
- 8
Naples Elementary
Long Beach Unified
306 students · 27.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 15% in California
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 4.2
- 9
Burcham Elementary
Long Beach Unified
344 students · 28.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 16% in California
- Academics
- 8.5
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 2.8
- 10
Los Cerritos Elementary
Long Beach Unified
465 students · 31.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 16% in California
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 2.7
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Long Beach, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Emerson Parkside Academy is the top-rated elementary school in Long Beach with a composite score of 9.0/10. 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 81 elementary schools. Of these, 62 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Long Beach?
Among 62 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 123 schools in Long BeachElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings