Best Schools in Buena Park, California
23 schools · 14 Elementary · 2 Middle · 5 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Buena Park?
Use this page to compare every school in Buena Park 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.
Gordon H. Beatty Middle
Middle · Buena Park Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Holder Elementary
Elementary · Savanna Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Mabel L. Pendleton Elementary
Elementary · Buena Park Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Buena Park for 2026 are Gordon H. Beatty Middle (8.7/10), Holder Elementary (7.1/10), and Mabel L. Pendleton Elementary (6.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 14 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
23
14 public · 9 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$758,200
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
23
14 public · 9 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$758,200
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 71% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.0 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 Buena Park schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Buena Park schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Buena Park
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 14 rated schools; 23 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gordon H. Beatty Middle | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Holder Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Mabel L. Pendleton Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Buena Terra Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | James A. Whitaker Elementary | 5.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Buena Park Middle | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Charles G. Emery Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Buena Park High | 5.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Raymond Temple Elementary | 5.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Glen H. Dysinger Sr. Elementary | 4.9 / 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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $108,631
- Median home value
- $758,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 55%
16% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Buena Park compares
California rank
#508 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$109k
109% of California median
Schools in this city
19
Buena Park's public schools split across 5 districts
No single ISD owns Buena Park. The public campuses divide among 5 districts.
The largest shares: Buena Park Elementary (7), Centralia Elementary (4), Anaheim Union High (1).
Among 14 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.1 to 8.7 — the spread is inside Buena Park, not a citywide average.
- Buena Park Elementary7 public · 50%
- Centralia Elementary4 public · 29%
- Anaheim Union High1 public · 7%
- Fullerton Joint Union High1 public · 7%
- Savanna Elementary1 public · 7%
About Schools in Buena Park, California
Buena Park, California offers parents a public school landscape of 14 ranked schools, with an average score of 6.6 out of 10 — a solid foundation with meaningful variation across the city. Families who do their homework can land in significantly stronger options, since 6 of those 14 schools, or 43%, score 7 or above. That gap between the city average and the top tier makes school selection genuinely consequential here.
Elementary options anchor the strong end of the spectrum. Charles G. Emery Elementary leads all 14 schools with an 8.5 out of 10, making it the benchmark for the city. Buena Terra Elementary and Holder Elementary both score 8.4, and Arthur F. Corey Elementary follows at 8.3. Parents of younger children have the widest range of high-performing choices — four of the top five schools in Buena Park serve elementary grades. That pattern suggests the city's pipeline is strongest at the entry level.
The middle school picture narrows somewhat. Gordon H. Beatty Middle scores 8.1, ranking fifth in the city overall and the only middle school to crack the top tier. Parents transitioning kids out of elementary should target Beatty specifically and verify feeder patterns from their preferred elementary schools before locking in an address.
Practically speaking, Buena Park rewards location research. The difference between a 6.6 average-performing school and an 8.5 top-performer is significant in academic outcome terms, and both exist within the same city boundaries. Families should map their prospective addresses against the specific elementary and middle school attendance zones rather than relying on city-level impressions. With 43% of schools scoring 7 or better, the high-performers are accessible — but not automatic. Cross-reference attendance boundaries, school ratings, and commute logistics before committing to a neighborhood.
Elementary Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 453 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 382 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 634 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.7 |
| 4 | 579 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 |
| 5 | 658 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 |
| 6 | 428 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.1 |
| 7 | 462 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.9 |
| 8 | 363 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.8 |
| 9 | 472 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.6 |
| 10 | 526 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.1 |
Show all 14 elementary schools in Buena Park
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 627 students · 6th–8th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 638 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,726 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 2 | 234 students · 7th–12th | 4.3 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Rossier Park SchoolPrivate 105 students · 8th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 9 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Linden OaksPrivate 125 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 147 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | Bethel Baptist AcademyPrivate 114 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Buena Park
Buena Park, California · 23 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$108,631
Median Home Value
$758,200
Median Rent
$2,162/mo
Population
82,727
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
55%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Community Profile
Buena Park has a median household income of $108,631. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $758,200, with a median rent of $2,162/month. The local poverty rate of 8.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 14
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 5
- Other
- 2
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 Buena Park, California
How many schools are in Buena Park, California?
Buena Park has 23 schools, including 14 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Buena Park, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Buena Park is 5.6 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 Buena Park, California?
The top-ranked school in Buena Park on MySchoolScout is Gordon H. Beatty Middle with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Buena Park, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Buena Park on MySchoolScout is Holder Elementary with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Buena Park, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Buena Park on MySchoolScout is Gordon H. Beatty Middle with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Buena Park, California?
The top-ranked high school in Buena Park on MySchoolScout is Buena Park High with a composite score of 5.2/10.
How many school districts serve Buena Park, California?
Buena Park is served by 5 school districts: Anaheim Union High, Buena Park Elementary, Centralia Elementary, Fullerton Joint Union High, Savanna Elementary.
What is the education level in Buena Park, California?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Buena Park have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Buena Park, California?
The median household income in Buena Park is approximately $108,631 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Buena Park, California?
Yes, Buena Park has 9 private schools alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is Speech & Language Development Center with a score of 7.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Buena Park, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Buena Park is 21.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Buena Park, 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.