Best Schools in Barstow, California
12 schools · 8 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High
Choosing a school in Barstow?
Use this page to compare every school in Barstow 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.
Cameron Elementary
Elementary · Barstow Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Skyline North Elementary
Elementary · Barstow Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Central High (continuation)
High · Barstow Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Barstow for 2026 are Cameron Elementary (6.8/10), Skyline North Elementary (5.7/10), and Central High (continuation) (5.5/10), 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
4.4
out of 10
Median Home
$217,500
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
12
11 public · 1 private
Avg Score
4.4
out of 10
Median Home
$217,500
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 6.8/10 despite 83% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 Barstow schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Barstow schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Barstow
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 | Cameron Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Skyline North Elementary | 5.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Central High (continuation) | 5.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Montara Elementary | 5.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Barstow High | 5.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Crestline Elementary | 4.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Barstow Fine Arts Academy | 4.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Henderson Elementary | 3.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Lenwood Elementary | 3.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Barstow Junior High | 3.0 / 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
- 4.4/10
- Median household income
- $59,338
- Median home value
- $217,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 11%
- Avg commute
- 30 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 49%
0% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Barstow compares
California rank
#593 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.9
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$59k
60% of California median
Schools in this city
11
Barstow Unified runs Barstow's public schools
11 public schools. Barstow Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Barstow is a Barstow Unified school (11 of 11).
Among 11 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.3 to 6.8 — the spread is inside Barstow, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Barstow, California
Barstow, California is home to 12 schools, including 11 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 4.4 out of 10, schools in Barstow 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 Barstow is Cameron Elementary with a composite score of 6.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Barstow is served by 1 school district: Barstow Unified. These districts collectively serve 6,318 students.
Barstow's community shows 11% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $59,338. The poverty rate in the area is 21.4%.
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
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 493 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | 388 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | 456 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 476 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 5 | 404 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 6 | 506 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.2 | ||
| 7 | 460 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.2 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Hi Desert Christian AcademyPrivate 10 students · 5th–6th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 703 students · 7th–8th | 3.0 |
| 2 | 391 students · 5th–8th | 2.3 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 74 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 |
| 2 | 1,549 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
Schools in Barstow
Barstow, California · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$59,338
Median Home Value
$217,500
Median Rent
$1,081/mo
Population
33,982
College Educated
11%
Homeownership
49%
Avg Commute
30 min
Poverty Rate
21.4%
Community Profile
Barstow has a median household income of $59,338. It is a community where 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $217,500, with a median rent of $1,081/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
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 Barstow, California
How many schools are in Barstow, California?
Barstow has 12 schools, including 11 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Barstow, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Barstow is 4.4 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 Barstow, California?
The top-ranked school in Barstow on MySchoolScout is Cameron Elementary with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Barstow, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Barstow on MySchoolScout is Cameron Elementary with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Barstow, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Barstow on MySchoolScout is Barstow Junior High with a composite score of 3.0/10.
What is the best high school in Barstow, California?
The top-ranked high school in Barstow on MySchoolScout is Central High (continuation) with a composite score of 5.5/10.
How many school districts serve Barstow, California?
Barstow is served by 1 school district: Barstow Unified.
What is the education level in Barstow, California?
According to Census data, 11% of adults in Barstow have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Barstow, California?
The median household income in Barstow is approximately $59,338 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Barstow, California?
Yes, Barstow has 1 private school alongside 11 public schools.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Barstow, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Barstow is 23.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Barstow, 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.