Best Schools in Castro Valley, California
22 schools · 12 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Castro Valley?
Use this page to compare every school in Castro Valley 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.
Creekside Middle
Middle · Castro Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Jensen Ranch Elementary
Elementary · Castro Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Castro Valley High
High · Castro Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Castro Valley for 2026 are Creekside Middle (8.6/10), Jensen Ranch Elementary (8.3/10), and Castro Valley High (7.1/10), 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
22
15 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$976,300
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
22
15 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$976,300
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.6/10 despite 36% 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 Castro Valley schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Castro Valley schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Castro Valley
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 14 rated schools; 22 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Creekside Middle | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Jensen Ranch Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Castro Valley High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Canyon Middle | 6.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Castro Valley Virtual Academy | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Proctor Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Vannoy Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Chabot Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Castro Valley Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Marshall Elementary | 5.3 / 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
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $125,780
- Median home value
- $976,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
21% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Castro Valley compares
California rank
#419 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$126k
126% of California median
Schools in this city
19
Castro Valley Unified runs Castro Valley's public schools
15 public schools. Castro Valley Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Castro Valley is a Castro Valley Unified school (15 of 15).
Among 14 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.5 to 8.6 — the spread is inside Castro Valley, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Castro Valley, California
Castro Valley's public school system spans 14 ranked schools, averaging 7.1 out of 10 across the city. Nine of those 14 schools — 64 percent — score 7 or above. That consistency sets the tone: parents here aren't choosing between one strong campus and a field of weak alternatives. The performance floor across Castro Valley is notably high, and it holds across school levels.
At the elementary level, the choices are particularly strong. Chabot Elementary leads the city with an 8.6 score, the highest in Castro Valley. Proctor Elementary follows at 8.5. Both score well above the city average and represent the clearest tier-one options for families with younger children. Marshall Elementary and Jensen Ranch Elementary round out the top elementary group at 8.1 and 7.7, giving parents genuine choice without sacrificing quality.
The middle school picture holds up equally well. Creekside Middle scores an 8.1 — matching the performance of the city's best elementary schools. That's a meaningful data point: academic quality doesn't appear to drop at the critical elementary-to-middle transition. Families can expect continuity as students advance through the grades.
The numbers tell a straightforward story for parents running comparisons. A 7.1 city average with 64 percent of schools clearing the 7-point threshold means strong schools aren't concentrated in one pocket of the city — they're spread across it. Parents who can't land their first-choice campus still have solid fallback options. Those focused on elementary years have the widest selection of high scorers, with a clear top two in Chabot and Proctor and two additional schools in the 7.7–8.1 range. Families entering the middle school years have one well-ranked option in Creekside, which performs at par with the city's strongest elementaries.
Elementary Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 381 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 596 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 3 | 502 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 | ||
| 4 | 470 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 | ||
| 5 | 494 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 | ||
| 6 | 495 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 | ||
| 7 | 520 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 | ||
| 8 | 661 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.0 | ||
| 9 | 144 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.7 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 166 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 12 elementary schools in Castro Valley
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 | 749 students · 6th–8th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 1,432 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,842 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | 118 students · 9th–12th | 3.5 | ||
| 3 | 20 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 33 students · 3rd–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 47 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.6 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 30 students · 3rd–11th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 30 students · 3rd–11th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | The Montessori Giving TreePrivate 12 students · Pre-K–10th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Castro Valley
Castro Valley, California · 22 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$125,780
Median Home Value
$976,300
Median Rent
$2,506/mo
Population
45,848
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Community Profile
Castro Valley has a median household income of $125,780. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $976,300, with a median rent of $2,506/month. The local poverty rate of 7.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
- Other
- 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 Castro Valley, California
How many schools are in Castro Valley, California?
Castro Valley has 22 schools, including 15 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Castro Valley, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Castro Valley is 6.0 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 Castro Valley, California?
The top-ranked school in Castro Valley on MySchoolScout is Creekside Middle with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Castro Valley, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Castro Valley on MySchoolScout is Jensen Ranch Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Castro Valley, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Castro Valley on MySchoolScout is Creekside Middle with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best high school in Castro Valley, California?
The top-ranked high school in Castro Valley on MySchoolScout is Castro Valley High with a composite score of 7.1/10.
How many school districts serve Castro Valley, California?
Castro Valley is served by 1 school district: Castro Valley Unified.
What is the education level in Castro Valley, California?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Castro Valley have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Castro Valley, California?
The median household income in Castro Valley is approximately $125,780 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Castro Valley, California?
Yes, Castro Valley has 7 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Our Lady of Grace Catholic School with a score of 8.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Castro Valley, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Castro Valley is 18.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Castro Valley, 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.