Best Schools in Lake Havasu City, Arizona
12 schools · 8 Elementary · 1 Middle · 3 High
Choosing a school in Lake Havasu City?
Use this page to compare every school in Lake Havasu City by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Oro Grande Classical Academy
Elementary · Lake Havasu Unified District (4368). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Starline Elementary School
Elementary · Lake Havasu Unified District (4368). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Thunderbolt Middle School
Middle · Lake Havasu Unified District (4368). Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lake Havasu City for 2026 are Oro Grande Classical Academy (8.3/10), Starline Elementary School (7.9/10), and Thunderbolt Middle School (6.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
12
11 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$389,767
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
12
11 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$389,767
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +9.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lake Havasu City schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lake Havasu City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 11 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oro Grande Classical Academy | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Starline Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Thunderbolt Middle School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Telesis Preparatory Academy | 6.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Jamaica Elementary School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Lake Havasu High School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Nautilus Elementary School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Smoketree Elementary School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Havasupai Elementary School | 4.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Telesis Preparatory | 3.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.7/10
- Median household income
- $66,410
- Median home value
- $389,767
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 19%
- Avg commute
- 17 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 74%
17% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lake Havasu City compares
Arizona rank
#72 of 97
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.6
below Arizona avg (6.3)
Median household income
$66k
93% of Arizona median
Schools in this city
12
Lake Havasu Unified District (4368) runs 82% of Lake Havasu City's public schools
Lake Havasu City touches 2 districts, but Lake Havasu Unified District (4368) is the one most addresses actually attend.
Lake Havasu Unified District (4368) accounts for 9 of 11 public schools (82%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 2.
Among 11 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.9 to 8.3 — the spread is inside Lake Havasu City, not a citywide average.
- Lake Havasu Unified District (4368)9 public · 82%
- Telesis Center For Learning Inc. (79218)2 public · 18%
About Schools in Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Lake Havasu City's public school system spans 11 ranked schools, with performance spread across a meaningful range. The city averages 5.6 out of 10, and only 1 school — 9% of the ranked total — clears a 7.0. That split tells the core story: one strong outlier at the top, and a field where most schools cluster near the average.
That outlier is Oro Grande Classical Academy, an elementary school scoring 8.2. It sits more than two full points above the city average — the largest performance gap in the ranked set — and represents the strongest option for families with elementary-age children. Its score alone makes it the logical first school to investigate when you arrive in Lake Havasu City.
The rest of the elementary tier sits close together. Havasupai Elementary scores 5.7, just above the city average, while Smoketree and Starline Elementary each come in at 5.5. The differences between these schools are narrow enough that location, specific programs, and teacher tenure carry more weight than fractional score gaps. At the secondary level, Telesis Preparatory Academy scores 6.0 — the city's top-rated high school — making it the natural anchor for families planning ahead to 9th grade and beyond.
Parents researching Lake Havasu City should go in with calibrated expectations. The system's 5.6 average signals adequate, not exceptional, overall performance. For elementary-age children, securing an Oro Grande spot early is the clearest academic move the data supports. Families outside that zone face a mid-tier elementary field where fit, proximity, and extracurricular programs matter more than ratings that differ by fractions of a point. High school families have Telesis Prep as their highest-rated public option, but state accountability data and campus visits will fill in what a single score cannot. With only 1 of 11 schools clearing the 7-point mark, school selection here rewards active research.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 370 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 625 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | 417 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.9 | ||
| 4 | 303 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.1 | ||
| 5 | 549 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.0 | ||
| 6 | 319 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.6 | ||
| 7 | 292 students · Kindergarten–8th | 3.9 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 112 students · Pre-K–7th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 784 students · 7th–8th | 6.8 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 |
| 2 | 1,618 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
| 3 | 220 students · 6th–12th | 3.9 |
Schools in Lake Havasu City
Lake Havasu City, Arizona · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$66,410
Median Home Value
$389,767
Median Rent
$1,272/mo
Population
61,852
College Educated
19%
Homeownership
74%
Avg Commute
17 min
Poverty Rate
13.9%
Community Profile
Lake Havasu City has a median household income of $66,410. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $389,767, with a median rent of $1,272/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.9%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arizona
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 3
Resources
Other Major Cities in Arizona
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Lake Havasu City, Arizona
How many schools are in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
Lake Havasu City has 12 schools, including 11 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lake Havasu City is 5.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
The top-ranked school in Lake Havasu City on MySchoolScout is Oro Grande Classical Academy with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lake Havasu City on MySchoolScout is Oro Grande Classical Academy with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
The top-ranked middle school in Lake Havasu City on MySchoolScout is Thunderbolt Middle School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
The top-ranked high school in Lake Havasu City on MySchoolScout is Telesis Preparatory Academy with a composite score of 6.1/10.
How many school districts serve Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
Lake Havasu City is served by 2 school districts: Telesis Center for Learning Inc. (79218), Lake Havasu Unified District (4368).
What is the education level in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
According to Census data, 19% of adults in Lake Havasu City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
The median household income in Lake Havasu City is approximately $66,410 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
Yes, Lake Havasu City has 1 private school alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School with a score of 6.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lake Havasu City is 20.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lake Havasu City, Arizona?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Arizona Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.