Best Schools in Arcadia, California
31 schools · 18 Elementary · 3 Middle · 7 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Arcadia?
Use this page to compare every school in Arcadia 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.
Holly Avenue Elementary
Elementary · Arcadia Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Rio Hondo Prep
High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Richard Henry Dana Middle
Middle · Arcadia Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Arcadia for 2026 are Holly Avenue Elementary (8.5/10), Rio Hondo Prep (8.5/10), and Richard Henry Dana Middle (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 20 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
31
12 public · 19 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$1,209,350
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
31
12 public · 19 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$1,209,350
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 47% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.9 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 Arcadia schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Arcadia schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Arcadia
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (20 of 31). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holly Avenue Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Rio Hondo Prep | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Richard Henry Dana Middle | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Longley Way Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Highland Oaks Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Rancho Learning Center (alternative) | 7.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Arcadia Christian School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Rio Hondo Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Barnhart School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 10 | First Avenue Middle | 7.6 / 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
- 7.3/10
- Median household income
- $114,637
- Median home value
- $1,209,350
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 55%
- Avg commute
- 30 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 61%
75% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Arcadia compares
California rank
#103 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.1
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$115k
115% of California median
Schools in this city
20
About Schools in Arcadia, California
Arcadia's public school landscape spans 12 ranked schools with a citywide average score of 7.0 out of 10. The city's performance distribution tilts high: eight of the twelve schools — 67% — score 7.0 or above, and only four fall below that mark. For most families, a solid school assignment is the baseline expectation, not a lucky outcome.
The elementary tier sets the ceiling. Camino Grove Elementary leads all twelve schools with a 9.2 out of 10, more than two points above the citywide average and the city's highest-rated school by a clear margin. Highland Oaks Elementary follows at 8.4, and Holly Avenue Elementary rounds out the top three at 7.9. Families with children still in elementary school have multiple high-scoring options spread across different attendance zones.
Performance holds at the secondary level. Richard Henry Dana Middle School scores 7.5 out of 10, and Arcadia High comes in at 7.4. Both secondary schools land within a tenth of each other and within two points of the top-rated elementary. The compressed range across grade levels suggests the district sustains quality as students move up rather than concentrating it early. That consistency matters for families planning to stay in one attendance zone through graduation.
For parents comparing neighborhoods, Arcadia's practical edge is a high concentration of above-average schools. With 67% of ranked schools scoring 7.0 or higher and a citywide average right at 7.0, the distribution skews toward stronger performance rather than clustering near the middle. Families who place the highest priority on school quality should focus on the Camino Grove zone, where the 9.2 rating sits 2.2 points above the city average and puts it in a separate tier from the rest of Arcadia's schools.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 781 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 | ||
| 2 | 516 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | 635 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 4 | 636 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.7 | ||
| 5 | 652 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.3 | ||
| 6 | 694 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 7 | 562 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 | ||
| Private Schools 11 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Barnhart School
Private
126 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | Holy Angels School
Private
222 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.4 | ||
| 3 | Pearl Preparatory School
Private
155 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.5 | ||
Show all 18 elementary schools in Arcadia
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 670 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 707 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 3 | 684 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,004 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| Private Schools 6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Rio Hondo Prep
Private
140 students · 7th–12th | 8.5 | ||
| 2 | Rio Hondo Preparatory
Private
137 students · 7th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | Excelsior School
Private
81 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 4 | Arcadia College Preparatory
Private
11 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 5 | Arroyo Pacific Academy
Private
133 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | Allais School
Private
19 students · 7th–11th | — | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.8 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Arcadia Christian School
Private
78 students · Pre-K–9th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | Arroyo Pacific Academy
Private
123 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.1 | ||
Schools in Arcadia
Arcadia, California · 31 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$114,637
Median Home Value
$1,209,350
Median Rent
$2,135/mo
Population
65,247
College Educated
55%
Homeownership
61%
Avg Commute
30 min
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Community Profile
Arcadia has a median household income of $114,637. It is a well-educated community where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,209,350, with a median rent of $2,135/month. The local poverty rate of 7.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 18
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 7
- Other
- 3
Resources
School Districts (2)
Nearby Cities
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 Arcadia, California
How many schools are in Arcadia, California?
Arcadia has 31 schools, including 12 public and 19 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Arcadia, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Arcadia is 7.3 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 Arcadia, California?
The top-ranked school in Arcadia on MySchoolScout is Holly Avenue Elementary with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Arcadia, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Arcadia on MySchoolScout is Holly Avenue Elementary with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Arcadia, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Arcadia on MySchoolScout is Richard Henry Dana Middle with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Arcadia, California?
The top-ranked high school in Arcadia on MySchoolScout is Rio Hondo Prep with a composite score of 8.5/10.
How many school districts serve Arcadia, California?
Arcadia is served by 2 school districts: Arcadia Unified, EL Monte City.
What is the education level in Arcadia, California?
According to Census data, 55% of adults in Arcadia have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Arcadia, California?
The median household income in Arcadia is approximately $114,637 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Arcadia, California?
Yes, Arcadia has 19 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Rio Hondo Prep with a score of 8.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Arcadia, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Arcadia is 14.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Arcadia, 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 Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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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.