3.0 avg / 10

Best Schools in Barstow, California

12 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 11

Private: 1

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 3.0/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

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.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Barstow Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

High · Barstow Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Barstow for 2026 are Barstow Fine Arts Academy (5.5/10), Central High (continuation) (5.0/10), and Barstow High (4.3/10), 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.

Best value · beats the odds

Central High (continuation)

Rates 5.0/10 despite 78% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 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.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Montara Elementary

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 (11 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Barstow Fine Arts Academy	5.5 / 10	Elementary	+1.6	33th
2	Central High (continuation)	5.0 / 10	High	+2.3	24th
3	Barstow High	4.3 / 10	High	+0.9	14th
4	Barstow Stem Academy	2.9 / 10	Middle	-1.3	2th
5	Cameron Elementary	2.4 / 10	Elementary	-0.1	1th
6	Crestline Elementary	2.4 / 10	Elementary	+0.1	1th
7	Lenwood Elementary	2.3 / 10	Elementary	-0.1	1th
8	Montara Elementary	2.2 / 10	Elementary	-0.4	0th
9	Henderson Elementary	2.1 / 10	Elementary	-0.8	0th
10	Skyline North Elementary	2.0 / 10	Elementary	-1.1	0th

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: 3.0/10
Median household income: $59,338
Median home value: $217,500
Bachelor's degree or higher: 11%
Avg commute: 30 min
Owner-occupied homes: 49%

How Barstow compares

California rank

#596 of 597

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-3.3

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$59k

60% of California median

Schools in this city

11

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 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.

With an average rating of 3.0 out of 10, schools in Barstow face significant challenges on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Barstow is Barstow Fine Arts Academy with a composite score of 5.5/10, 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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (12) Elementary (7) Middle (2) High (3)

Filter by Type: All Types (12) Public (11) Private (1)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (12) Academics (11) Growth (11) Diversity (11) Resources (11)

Filter by ZIP: 92311 (12)

Elementary Schools

7 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Barstow Fine Arts Academy 404 students · Kindergarten–5th	404	Kindergarten–5th	5.5
2	Cameron Elementary 493 students · Kindergarten–5th	493	Kindergarten–5th	2.4
3	Crestline Elementary 476 students · Kindergarten–5th	476	Kindergarten–5th	2.4
4	Lenwood Elementary 460 students · Kindergarten–5th	460	Kindergarten–5th	2.3
5	Montara Elementary 456 students · Kindergarten–5th	456	Kindergarten–5th	2.2
6	Henderson Elementary 506 students · Kindergarten–5th	506	Kindergarten–5th	2.1
7	Skyline North Elementary 388 students · Kindergarten–5th	388	Kindergarten–5th	2.0

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Barstow Stem Academy 391 students · 5th–8th	391	5th–8th	2.9
2	Barstow Junior High 703 students · 7th–8th	703	7th–8th	1.6

High Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Central High (continuation) 74 students · 9th–12th	74	9th–12th	5.0
2	Barstow High 1,549 students · 9th–12th	1,549	9th–12th	4.3
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Amory Academic Academy Private 780 students · Kindergarten–12th	780	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated

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: 7
Middle: 2
High: 3

Resources

🔍 Google "Barstow schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Barstow 📊 Niche Barstow Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

Barstow Unified

14 schools · 6,318 students

Nearby Cities

Oro Grance (1 school)

1 mi

Yermo (8 schools)

17 mi

Helendale (4 schools)

21 mi

Apple Valley (18 schools)

29 mi

Newberry Springs (2 schools)

26 mi

Lucerne Valley (6 schools)

32 mi

Oro Grande (5 schools)

31 mi

Victorville (46 schools)

31 mi

Adelanto (12 schools)

32 mi

Covina (1 school)

34 mi

Hesperia (29 schools)

Other Major Cities in California

Top metros statewide by school count.

Los Angeles 928 schools San Jose 335 schools San Francisco 297 schools Sacramento 273 schools Fresno 216 schools

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 rate

Frequently 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 3.0 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 Barstow Fine Arts Academy with a composite score of 5.5/10.

What is the best elementary school in Barstow, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Barstow on MySchoolScout is Barstow Fine Arts Academy with a composite score of 5.5/10.

What is the best middle school in Barstow, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Barstow on MySchoolScout is Barstow Stem Academy with a composite score of 2.9/10.

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 5.0/10.

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 30.5:1. 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.