Best Schools in Carmichael, California
27 schools · 19 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Carmichael?
Use this page to compare every school in Carmichael 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.
Winston Churchill Middle
Middle · San Juan Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Sacramento Adventist Academy
Other. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
California Montessori Project-shingle Springs Campus
Elementary · Ca Montessori Project-shingle Springs Campus Dist. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Carmichael for 2026 are Winston Churchill Middle (7.9/10), Sacramento Adventist Academy (7.9/10), and California Montessori Project-shingle Springs Campus (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 22 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
27
17 public · 10 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$565,600
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
27
17 public · 10 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$565,600
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 7.2/10 despite 57% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 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 Carmichael schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Carmichael schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Carmichael
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (22 of 27). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winston Churchill Middle | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Sacramento Adventist Academy | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | California Montessori Project-shingle Springs Campus | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | California Montessori Project - Elk Grove Campus | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | California Montessori Project-san Juan Campuses | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Visions in Education | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Mary Deterding Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | St John-evangelist School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 9 | EL Rancho School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Del Dayo Elementary | 6.0 / 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
- 5.3/10
- Median household income
- $83,638
- Median home value
- $565,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 36%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 52%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Carmichael compares
California rank
#521 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.0
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$84k
84% of California median
Schools in this city
22
About Schools in Carmichael, California
Carmichael, California gives parents 17 ranked public schools to evaluate, spanning elementary through middle grades with an average score of 5.5 out of 10. That average sits in the middle of the performance range, but the distribution matters more than the mean: 4 schools — 24% of the ranked pool — score 7 or above, giving families with the right fit real access to high-performing options without leaving the area.
The strongest performers are concentrated at the elementary level. California Montessori Project - Elk Grove Campus leads the city at 7.4 out of 10, with two sibling campuses — the San Juan and Shingle Springs locations — both scoring 7.1. All three are project-based Montessori elementary programs, so parents drawn to that model have genuine options. Winston Churchill Middle rounds out the top tier at 7.0, making it the standout choice at the middle school level and a natural continuation for families already in strong elementary programs.
Below the top four, Visions In Education scores 6.2 and represents the alternative-program tier — a charter-style option worth examining for families whose students need a different structure. The remaining schools cluster closer to the city average of 5.5, which means the gap between the top quarter and the rest is meaningful. Parents should look at individual school scores rather than assuming neighborhood assignment will land their child at a high performer.
Practically, Carmichael rewards deliberate school selection. The Montessori pipeline is the clearest path — three campuses scoring 7.1 or higher at the elementary level, feeding into a 7.0-rated middle school nearby. Families not aligned with Montessori should audit scores school by school, since the city average of 5.5 reflects a real spread rather than consistent quality across the board. Check current enrollment windows early; the top-performing programs here draw from a wider catchment than just Carmichael residents.
Elementary Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 530 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 543 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 1,477 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.3 |
| 4 | 616 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.3 |
| 5 | 520 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.0 |
| 6 | 383 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.9 |
| 7 | 319 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.9 |
| 8 | 430 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.8 |
| 9 | 854 students · Kindergarten–8th | 3.3 |
| 10 | 332 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.2 |
Show all 19 elementary schools in Carmichael
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 | 995 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 743 students · 6th–8th | 4.6 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jesuit High SchoolPrivate 976 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | Jesuit High SchoolPrivate 917 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated |
| 3 | Sacramento Adventist AcademyPrivate 388 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7,009 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 2 | 54 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Sacramento Adventist AcademyPrivate 329 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Carmichael
Carmichael, California · 27 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$83,638
Median Home Value
$565,600
Median Rent
$1,549/mo
Population
63,052
College Educated
36%
Homeownership
52%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Community Profile
Carmichael has a median household income of $83,638. It is an area where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $565,600, with a median rent of $1,549/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.0%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 19
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 3
Resources
School Districts (5)
California Montessori Project-San Juan Campuses District
1 school · 1,477 students
California Montessori Project - Elk Grove Campus District
1 school · 543 students
CA Montessori Project-Shingle Springs Campus DIST
1 school · 530 students
Visions In Education District
1 school · 7,009 students
San Juan Unified
68 schools · 38,488 students
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 Carmichael, California
How many schools are in Carmichael, California?
Carmichael has 27 schools, including 17 public and 10 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Carmichael, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Carmichael is 5.3 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 Carmichael, California?
The top-ranked school in Carmichael on MySchoolScout is Winston Churchill Middle with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Carmichael, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Carmichael on MySchoolScout is California Montessori Project-shingle Springs Campus with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Carmichael, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Carmichael on MySchoolScout is Winston Churchill Middle with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Carmichael, California?
The top-ranked high school in Carmichael on MySchoolScout is Jesuit High School with a composite score of 5.4/10.
How many school districts serve Carmichael, California?
Carmichael is served by 5 school districts: California Montessori Project-san Juan Campuses District, California Montessori Project - Elk Grove Campus District, Ca Montessori Project-shingle Springs Campus Dist, Visions in Education District, San Juan Unified.
What is the education level in Carmichael, California?
According to Census data, 36% of adults in Carmichael have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Carmichael, California?
The median household income in Carmichael is approximately $83,638 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Carmichael, California?
Yes, Carmichael has 10 private schools alongside 17 public schools. The top-rated private school is Sacramento Adventist Academy with a score of 7.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Carmichael, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Carmichael is 19.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Carmichael, 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.