Best High Schools
in San Diego, California
We ranked all 101 high schools in San Diego. The top 25 scored between 7.2 and 8.9 out of 10.
Updated for 2026 · Based on NCES and California education data
San Diego's high school landscape spans 53 ranked schools, with performance ranging from solid to standout. Mission Bay High leads the field at 8.9 out of 10, followed closely by King-Chavez Community High at 8.8 and East Village Middle College High at 8.6. The average composite score across the metro sits at 6.5 out of 10 — meaning the top performers pull significantly ahead of the pack. That gap matters when you're comparing options. Nearly half the ranked schools — 23 in total — score 7 or above, giving families a real range of strong choices across the region. Whether you're prioritizing academics, location, or school type, the table below lets you sort by the metrics that matter most to your search. Start with the scores, then dig into the details.
Mission Bay High
King-Chavez Community High
East Village Middle College High
Score Distribution
Where the top 25 schools fall on a 1-10 scale
How We Ranked San Diego's High Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four components: Academic Achievement (50%) measures standardized test performance in math and reading. Student Growth (20%) tracks improvement over time. Equity (15%) evaluates how well a school serves all student groups. Environment (15%) considers class size, spending, and attendance. All scores are computed within California so schools are compared to peers in the same state. See our full methodology.
All 25 Rankings
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mission Bay High San Diego Unified | 8.9 |
| 2 | King-Chavez Community High Charter King-Chavez Community High District | 8.8 |
| 3 | East Village Middle College High San Diego Unified | 8.6 |
| 4 | Henry High San Diego Unified | 8.3 |
| 5 | San Diego Virtual Charter San Diego Virtual District | 8.1 |
| 6 | Scripps Ranch High San Diego Unified | 8.1 |
| 7 | e3 Civic High Charter e3 Civic High District | 8.0 |
| 8 | University City High San Diego Unified | 8.0 |
| 9 | San Diego Metro Career and Tech San Diego Unified | 7.9 |
| 10 | Westview High Poway Unified | 7.7 |
| 11 | Del Norte High Poway Unified | 7.6 |
| 12 | Mira Mesa High San Diego Unified | 7.6 |
| 13 | TRACE San Diego Unified | 7.6 |
| 14 | Urban Corps of San Diego County Charter Charter Mono County Office of Education | 7.6 |
| 15 | High Tech High Charter High Tech High District | 7.5 |
| 16 | School for Entrepreneurship and Technology Charter School for Entrepreneurship and Technology District | 7.5 |
| 17 | FUSION SAN DIEGO SCRIPPS RANCH | 7.5 |
| 18 | COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF SAN DIEGO | 7.5 |
| 19 | High Tech High Chula Vista Charter High Tech High Chula Vista District | 7.3 |
| 20 | Madison High San Diego Unified | 7.3 |
| 21 | Southwest Senior High Sweetwater Union High | 7.3 |
| 22 | BANYAN TREE FOUNDATIONS ACADEMY | 7.3 |
| 23 | COOK EDUCATION CENTER | 7.3 |
| 24 | Mt. Carmel High Poway Unified | 7.2 |
| 25 | Kearny College Connections San Diego Unified | 7.2 |
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and California education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in California. Learn about our methodology.
Map: Top 25 High Schools in San Diego
Pins are color-coded by score: green (7+), yellow (4-6.9), red (below 4). Click a pin for details.
School Spotlights: San Diego's Top 10 High Schools
Choosing the Right High School in San Diego
Rankings identify schools with the strongest measurable outcomes, but the right school for your family depends on more than a number. San Diego's high school landscape is one of the most diverse in California, with 101 schools spanning 69 school districts, plus 21 charter schools offering alternative approaches.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best high school in San Diego, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Mission Bay High is the top-rated high school in San Diego with a composite score of 8.9/10. The score is based on academic performance, student growth, equity, and school environment.
How many high schools are in San Diego, California?
San Diego has 101 high schools, including 21 charter schools. Of these, 65 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in San Diego?
The average composite score for San Diego high schools is 6.5/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in California).
How does MySchoolScout rate high schools?
Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and School Environment (15%). 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.
Are charter schools included in the San Diego high school rankings?
Yes. San Diego has 21 charter high schools, and they are ranked alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.