Best Schools in Apple Valley, California
19 schools · 12 Elementary · 3 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Apple Valley?
Use this page to compare every school in Apple Valley 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.
Academy for Academic Excellence
Other · Academy for Academic Excellence District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Yucca Loma Elementary
Elementary · Apple Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Desert Knolls Elementary
Elementary · Apple Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Apple Valley for 2026 are Academy for Academic Excellence (6.9/10), Yucca Loma Elementary (6.8/10), and Desert Knolls Elementary (6.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 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
19
15 public · 4 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$378,850
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
19
15 public · 4 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$378,850
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 6.8/10 despite 87% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Apple Valley schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +4.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Apple Valley schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Apple Valley
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 15 rated schools; 19 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academy for Academic Excellence | 6.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Yucca Loma Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Desert Knolls Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Vanguard Preparatory | 6.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Phoenix Academy | 5.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Sandia Elementary | 5.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Apple Valley High | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Rio Vista School of Applied Learning | 4.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Sycamore Rocks Elementary | 4.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Granite Hills High | 4.7 / 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
- 5.3/10
- Median household income
- $69,100
- Median home value
- $378,850
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 20%
- Avg commute
- 41 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 71%
6% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Apple Valley compares
California rank
#554 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.0
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$69k
69% of California median
Schools in this city
17
Apple Valley Unified runs Apple Valley's public schools
15 public schools. Apple Valley Unified is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Apple Valley is a Apple Valley Unified school (14 of 15).
Among 15 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.1 to 6.9 — the spread is inside Apple Valley, not a citywide average.
- Apple Valley Unified14 public · 93%
- Academy For Academic Excellence District1 public · 7%
About Schools in Apple Valley, California
Apple Valley, California is home to 19 schools, including 15 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 12 elementary schools, , and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.3 out of 10, schools in Apple Valley show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Apple Valley is Apple Valley Christian Academy with a composite score of 8.6/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Apple Valley is served by 2 school districts: Apple Valley Unified, Academy for Academic Excellence District. These districts collectively serve 15,252 students.
Apple Valley's community shows 20% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $69,100. The poverty rate in the area is 16.6%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 667 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 584 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 1,174 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.3 |
| 4 | 1,171 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.7 |
| 5 | 884 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.6 |
| 6 | 915 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.8 |
| 7 | 704 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.7 |
| 8 | 1,708 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.6 |
| 9 | 226 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.5 |
| 10 | 761 students · Kindergarten–8th | 3.4 |
Show all 12 elementary schools in Apple Valley
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,163 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 2 | 1,734 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 96 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,496 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 284 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.5 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 113 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 119 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Apple Valley
Apple Valley, California · 19 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$69,100
Median Home Value
$378,850
Median Rent
$1,385/mo
Population
83,068
College Educated
20%
Homeownership
71%
Avg Commute
41 min
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Community Profile
Apple Valley has a median household income of $69,100. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $378,850, with a median rent of $1,385/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.6%. The average commute in the area is 41 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 12
- High
- 3
- Other
- 4
Resources
Other Major Cities in California
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 Apple Valley, California
How many schools are in Apple Valley, California?
Apple Valley has 19 schools, including 15 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Apple Valley, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Apple Valley is 5.3 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 Apple Valley, California?
The top-ranked school in Apple Valley on MySchoolScout is Academy for Academic Excellence with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Apple Valley, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Apple Valley on MySchoolScout is Yucca Loma Elementary with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Apple Valley, California?
The top-ranked high school in Apple Valley on MySchoolScout is Apple Valley High with a composite score of 5.1/10.
How many school districts serve Apple Valley, California?
Apple Valley is served by 2 school districts: Apple Valley Unified, Academy for Academic Excellence District.
What is the education level in Apple Valley, California?
According to Census data, 20% of adults in Apple Valley have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Apple Valley, California?
The median household income in Apple Valley is approximately $69,100 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Apple Valley, California?
Yes, Apple Valley has 4 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Apple Valley Christian Academy with a score of 8.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Apple Valley, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Apple Valley is 21.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Apple Valley, California?
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
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.