Best Schools in Compton, California
43 schools · 24 Elementary · 7 Middle · 8 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Compton?
Use this page to compare every school in Compton 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.
Tibby Elementary
Elementary · Compton Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Laurel Street Elementary
Elementary · Compton Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Dickison Elementary
Elementary · Compton Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Compton for 2026 are Tibby Elementary (9.2/10), Laurel Street Elementary (9.0/10), and Dickison Elementary (8.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 34 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
43
36 public · 7 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$536,133
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
43
36 public · 7 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$536,133
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.6/10 despite 88% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.5 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 Compton schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +24.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Compton schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Compton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 34 rated schools; 43 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tibby Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Laurel Street Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Dickison Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Whaley Middle | 8.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Foster Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Davis Middle | 8.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Bunche Middle | 8.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Martin Luther King Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Compton Early College High | 8.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Ronald E. Mcnair Elementary | 8.3 / 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
- 7.3/10
- Median household income
- $74,064
- Median home value
- $536,133
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 11%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
64% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Compton compares
California rank
#57 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.9
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$74k
74% of California median
Schools in this city
36
Compton Unified runs 92% of Compton's public schools
Compton touches 4 districts, but Compton Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Compton Unified accounts for 33 of 36 public schools (92%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 34 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.1 to 9.2 — the spread is inside Compton, not a citywide average.
- Compton Unified33 public · 92%
- Bridges Preparatory Academy District1 public · 3%
- Kipp Compton Community District1 public · 3%
- Lifeline Education Charter District1 public · 3%
About Schools in Compton, California
Compton, California has 34 ranked public schools, giving parents a range of options across elementary and high school levels. The city's average school score sits at 6.8 out of 10 — a solid baseline, though performance varies meaningfully from school to school. Notably, 18 of those 34 schools, or 53%, score 7 or higher, meaning more than half the public schools here land in stronger-performing territory. That's a useful starting point for families who may assume the options are uniformly limited.
The top-performing school in Compton is Manuel Dominguez High, rated 8.7 out of 10 — the highest score in the city and a standout by any measure. At the elementary level, the strongest performers cluster tightly: Tibby Elementary scores 8.5, Foster Elementary 8.4, Bursch Elementary 8.3, and Ronald E. McNair Elementary 8.2. That concentration of well-rated elementary schools signals genuine options for parents of younger children. Families with students spanning multiple grade levels may find it possible to stay within high-performing schools from kindergarten through graduation.
The spread between the city's best and its lower-rated schools is real and worth factoring in. With an average of 6.8 and a top score of 8.7, Compton has a meaningful performance gap across its public school landscape. Parents should look carefully at individual school scores rather than assuming district-wide consistency. The 47% of schools that fall below a 7 rating are a reminder that school selection within the city matters more than simply enrolling in the nearest option.
Practically speaking, Compton rewards active research. The data shows that strong schools exist here — Manuel Dominguez High and the top-rated elementaries are competitive on their scores alone. Parents should cross-reference school ratings with their child's grade level, proximity, and any specialized programs a school offers. Visiting schools directly and reviewing current performance data on MySchoolScout will give the clearest picture. The 53% of schools scoring 7 or above means a majority of ranked public schools in Compton are worth a serious look.
Elementary Schools
24 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 586 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 368 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.0 |
| 3 | 682 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.9 |
| 4 | 400 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 |
| 5 | 337 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.6 |
| 6 | 352 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.3 |
| 7 | 358 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.3 |
| 8 | 689 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.2 |
| 9 | 436 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.2 |
| 10 | 352 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 |
Show all 24 elementary schools in Compton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 480 students · 6th–8th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 456 students · 6th–8th | 8.8 |
| 3 | 314 students · 6th–8th | 8.8 |
| 4 | 189 students · 6th–8th | 7.8 |
| 5 | 297 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 6 | 154 students · 7th–8th | 5.2 |
| 7 | 134 students · 6th–8th | 3.1 |
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 560 students · 9th–12th | 8.6 | ||
| 2 | 1,297 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 3 | 968 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 4 | 1,616 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 5 | 251 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 20 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Epiphany AcademyPrivate 21 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Eko Multi-Purpose CenterPrivate 56 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 691 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 31 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.4 |
| 3 | 15 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
| 4 | 1 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
Schools in Compton
Compton, California · 43 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$74,064
Median Home Value
$536,133
Median Rent
$1,547/mo
Population
132,111
College Educated
11%
Homeownership
56%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
16.5%
Community Profile
Compton has a median household income of $74,064. It is a community where 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $536,133, with a median rent of $1,547/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.5%. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 24
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 8
- Other
- 4
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 Compton, California
How many schools are in Compton, California?
Compton has 43 schools, including 36 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Compton, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Compton is 7.3 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 Compton, California?
The top-ranked school in Compton on MySchoolScout is Tibby Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Compton, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Compton on MySchoolScout is Tibby Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Compton, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Compton on MySchoolScout is Whaley Middle with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best high school in Compton, California?
The top-ranked high school in Compton on MySchoolScout is Compton Early College High with a composite score of 8.6/10.
How many school districts serve Compton, California?
Compton is served by 4 school districts: Lifeline Education Charter District, Kipp Compton Community District, Bridges Preparatory Academy District, Compton Unified.
What is the education level in Compton, California?
According to Census data, 11% of adults in Compton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Compton, California?
The median household income in Compton is approximately $74,064 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Compton, California?
Yes, Compton has 7 private schools alongside 36 public schools. The top-rated private school is Our Lady of Victory School with a score of 5.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Compton, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Compton is 21.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Compton, 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.