5.7 avg / 10

Best Schools in EL Centro, California

27 schools · 14 Elementary · 2 Middle · 7 High · 4 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 23

Private: 4

Districts: 5

Avg Rating: 5.7/10

Estimated Scores: 5%

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in EL Centro?

Use this page to compare every school in EL Centro 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 · EL Centro Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Middle · EL Centro Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

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

The short answer

The top-rated schools in EL Centro for 2026 are Mckinley Elementary (7.7/10), Kennedy Middle (7.6/10), and Southwest High (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 21 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

Mckinley Elementary

Rates 7.7/10 despite 88% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 EL Centro schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Kennedy Middle

STAAR proficiency rose +11.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among EL Centro schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in EL Centro

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (21 of 27). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Mckinley Elementary	7.7 / 10	Elementary	+1.9	78th
2	Kennedy Middle	7.6 / 10	Middle	+1.8	76th
3	Southwest High	7.5 / 10	High	+1.7	74th
4	Central Union High	6.9 / 10	High	+1.1	62th
5	Harding Elementary	6.9 / 10	Elementary	+1.1	62th
6	Wilson Jr. High	6.9 / 10	Middle	+1.1	62th
7	Sunflower Elementary	6.8 / 10	Elementary	+1.0	59th
8	Imperial Valley Home School Academy	6.8 / 10	Elementary	+0.9	59th
9	Desert Garden Elementary	6.6 / 10	Elementary	+0.8	55th
10	Meadows Elementary	6.0 / 10	Elementary	+0.1	43th

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: 5.7/10
Median household income: $55,890
Median home value: $286,100
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16%
Avg commute: 23 min
Owner-occupied homes: 52%

How EL Centro compares

California rank

#441 of 597

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.6

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$56k

56% of California median

Schools in this city

22

About Schools in EL Centro, California

El Centro is a mid-sized public school market with 21 ranked schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels. The city averages 6.0 out of 10 across all ranked schools — a score that signals an uneven system where strong and weaker schools sit side by side. School selection here makes a real difference. Parents who research before choosing land in noticeably better territory.

Only 3 of the 21 schools — 14% — score 7 or above, meaning strong options exist but are concentrated rather than spread across the system. Kennedy Middle leads the city at 7.9 out of 10, the highest score among all El Centro public schools. Southwest High and McKinley Elementary both score 7.6, giving parents a viable route through multiple grade levels without leaving the high-performing tier. Central Union High checks in at 6.9 — just below the 7-point mark but still above the city average — and Meadows Elementary rounds out the top five at 6.8.

The spread is worth noting. The gap between the top school (7.9) and the city average (6.0) is nearly two full points — wide for a 21-school system. Importantly, the three schools above 7 cover all three grade levels: one elementary, one middle, one high school. Families with grade-band flexibility can build a continuous arc from elementary through high school entirely within El Centro's top-performing tier, without a significant quality drop at any major transition.

For parents narrowing a school list, the priority choices are clear: Kennedy Middle, Southwest High, and McKinley Elementary sit meaningfully above the city's 6.0 baseline. These three schools represent the top 14% of El Centro's public system. Where attendance zones or enrollment options allow, any of these three schools places students in the strongest segment of the city's public education landscape.

Filter by Level: All Levels (27) Elementary (14) Middle (2) High (7)

Filter by Type: All Types (27) Public (23) Private (4)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (27) Academics (21) Growth (19) Diversity (20) Resources (21)

Filter by ZIP: 92243 (27)

Elementary Schools

14 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Mckinley Elementary 456 students · Kindergarten–6th	456	Kindergarten–6th	7.7
2	Harding Elementary 585 students · Kindergarten–6th	585	Kindergarten–6th	6.9
3	Sunflower Elementary 398 students · Kindergarten–6th	398	Kindergarten–6th	6.8
4	Imperial Valley Home School Academy 134 students · Kindergarten–8th	134	Kindergarten–8th	6.8
5	Desert Garden Elementary 371 students · Kindergarten–6th	371	Kindergarten–6th	6.6
6	Meadows Elementary 370 students · Kindergarten–8th	370	Kindergarten–8th	6.0
7	Mccabe Elementary 1,164 students · Kindergarten–8th	1,164	Kindergarten–8th	5.7
8	De Anza Magnet 492 students · Kindergarten–8th	492	Kindergarten–8th	5.5
9	Booker T. Washington Elementary 356 students · Kindergarten–6th	356	Kindergarten–6th	5.1
10	Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary 415 students · Kindergarten–6th	415	Kindergarten–6th	5.0

Show all 14 elementary schools in EL Centro

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Lincoln Elementary Margaret Hedrick Elementary St Mary S School Private St. Marys School Private

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Kennedy Middle 438 students · 7th–8th	438	7th–8th	7.6
2	Wilson Jr. High 641 students · 7th–8th	641	7th–8th	6.9

High Schools

7 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Southwest High 1,842 students · 9th–12th	1,842	9th–12th	7.5
2	Central Union High 1,955 students · 9th–12th	1,955	9th–12th	6.9
3	Desert Oasis High (continuation) 131 students · 9th–12th	131	9th–12th	5.6
4	Imperial Pathways Charter 241 students · 9th–12th	241	9th–12th	5.0
5	Mt. Signal Virtual Academy 71 students · 9th–12th	71	9th–12th	3.2
Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Christian Home Academy Private 8 students · 1st–12th	8	1st–12th	—
2	Calvary Chapel Christian School EL Centro Private 42 students · Kindergarten–12th	42	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated

Other Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Valley Academy 219 students · Kindergarten–12th	219	Kindergarten–12th	5.5
2	Imperial County Special Education 491 students · Kindergarten–12th	491	Kindergarten–12th	3.2
3	Phoenix Rising High 24 students · 9th–10th	24	9th–10th	—
4	Imperial County Juvenile Hall/community 7 students · Kindergarten–12th	7	Kindergarten–12th	—

Schools in EL Centro

EL Centro, California · 27 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$55,890

Median Home Value

$286,100

Median Rent

$992/mo

Population

48,556

College Educated

16%

Homeownership

52%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

20.2%

Community Profile

EL Centro has a median household income of $55,890. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $286,100, with a median rent of $992/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.2%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: California
Elementary: 14
Middle: 2
High: 7
Other: 4

Resources

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

School Districts (5)

Central Union High

5 schools · 4,023 students

El Centro Elementary

13 schools · 5,182 students

McCabe Union Elementary

1 school · 1,164 students

Meadows Union

1 school · 370 students

Imperial County Office of Education

4 schools · 958 students

Nearby Cities

San Diego (1 school)

1 mi

Imperial (10 schools)

4 mi

Heber (2 schools)

4 mi

Calexico (18 schools)

8 mi

Seeley (1 school)

8 mi

Holtville (7 schools)

11 mi

Brawley (13 schools)

14 mi

Westmorland (2 schools)

18 mi

Calipatria (3 schools)

24 mi

Niland (1 school)

32 mi

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 EL Centro, California

How many schools are in EL Centro, California?

EL Centro has 27 schools, including 23 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in EL Centro, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in EL Centro is 5.7 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 EL Centro, California?

The top-ranked school in EL Centro on MySchoolScout is Mckinley Elementary with a composite score of 7.7/10.

What is the best elementary school in EL Centro, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in EL Centro on MySchoolScout is Mckinley Elementary with a composite score of 7.7/10.

What is the best middle school in EL Centro, California?

The top-ranked middle school in EL Centro on MySchoolScout is Kennedy Middle with a composite score of 7.6/10.

What is the best high school in EL Centro, California?

The top-ranked high school in EL Centro on MySchoolScout is Southwest High with a composite score of 7.5/10.

How many school districts serve EL Centro, California?

EL Centro is served by 5 school districts: Central Union High, EL Centro Elementary, Mccabe Union Elementary, Meadows Union, Imperial County Office of Education.

What is the education level in EL Centro, California?

According to Census data, 16% of adults in EL Centro have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in EL Centro, California?

The median household income in EL Centro is approximately $55,890 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in EL Centro, California?

Yes, EL Centro has 4 private schools alongside 23 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary S School with a score of 4.3/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in EL Centro, California?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in EL Centro is 20.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in EL Centro, 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.