Best Schools in Atascadero, California
12 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High
Choosing a school in Atascadero?
Use this page to compare every school in Atascadero 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.
Atascadero Middle
Middle · Atascadero Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Atascadero High
High · Atascadero Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
San Benito Elementary
Elementary · Atascadero Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Atascadero for 2026 are Atascadero Middle (7.5/10), Atascadero High (7.4/10), and San Benito Elementary (7.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 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
9 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$692,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
12
9 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$692,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.5/10 despite 51% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 Atascadero schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +2.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Atascadero schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Atascadero
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atascadero Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Atascadero High | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | San Benito Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Fine Arts Academy | 6.6 / 10 |
| 5 | San Gabriel Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Monterey Road Elementary | 5.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Paloma Creek High | 4.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (ace) | 3.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy | 3.5 / 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
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $89,916
- Median home value
- $692,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 31%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 65%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Atascadero compares
California rank
#486 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.6
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$90k
90% of California median
Schools in this city
11
Atascadero Unified runs Atascadero's public schools
9 public schools. Atascadero Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Atascadero is a Atascadero Unified school (9 of 9).
Among 9 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.5 to 7.5 — the spread is inside Atascadero, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Atascadero, California
Atascadero, California is home to 12 schools, including 9 public schools and 3 private schools. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.8 out of 10, schools in Atascadero 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 Atascadero is Atascadero Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Atascadero is served by 1 school district: Atascadero Unified. These districts collectively serve 4,338 students.
Atascadero's community shows 31% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $89,916. The poverty rate in the area is 9.7%.
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
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 405 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | 359 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 3 | 384 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 4 | 370 students · Kindergarten–5th | 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 | 106 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 70 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 855 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 2 | 221 students · 4th–8th | 6.6 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,114 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | 84 students · 9th–12th | 4.2 | ||
| 3 | 166 students · 9th–12th | 3.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 40 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Atascadero
Atascadero, California · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$89,916
Median Home Value
$692,100
Median Rent
$1,841/mo
Population
33,512
College Educated
31%
Homeownership
65%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
9.7%
Community Profile
Atascadero has a median household income of $89,916. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $692,100, with a median rent of $1,841/month. The local poverty rate of 9.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
Resources
School District
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 Atascadero, California
How many schools are in Atascadero, California?
Atascadero has 12 schools, including 9 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Atascadero, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Atascadero is 5.8 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 Atascadero, California?
The top-ranked school in Atascadero on MySchoolScout is Atascadero Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Atascadero, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Atascadero on MySchoolScout is San Benito Elementary with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Atascadero, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Atascadero on MySchoolScout is Atascadero Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best high school in Atascadero, California?
The top-ranked high school in Atascadero on MySchoolScout is Atascadero High with a composite score of 7.4/10.
How many school districts serve Atascadero, California?
Atascadero is served by 1 school district: Atascadero Unified.
What is the education level in Atascadero, California?
According to Census data, 31% of adults in Atascadero have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Atascadero, California?
The median household income in Atascadero is approximately $89,916 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Atascadero, California?
Yes, Atascadero has 3 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is North County Christian School with a score of 6.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Atascadero, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Atascadero is 21.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Atascadero, 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
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, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.