Best Schools in EL Centro, California
26 schools · 13 Elementary · 2 Middle · 7 High · 4 Other
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.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Lincoln Elementary
Elementary · EL Centro Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Wilson Jr. High
Middle · EL Centro Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Booker T. Washington Elementary
Elementary · EL Centro Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in EL Centro for 2026 are Lincoln Elementary (8.7/10), Wilson Jr. High (8.0/10), and Booker T. Washington Elementary (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 20 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
26
23 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$286,100
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
26
23 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$286,100
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 93% 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 EL Centro schools.
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 (Top 10 of 20 rated schools; 26 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Wilson Jr. High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Booker T. Washington Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Mccabe Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Mckinley Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Kennedy Middle | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Southwest High | 6.9 / 10 |
| 8 | De Anza Magnet | 6.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Desert Garden Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Margaret Hedrick Elementary | 6.4 / 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
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $55,890
- Median home value
- $286,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 16%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 52%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How EL Centro compares
California rank
#380 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$56k
56% of California median
Schools in this city
22
EL Centro's public schools split across 5 districts
No single ISD owns EL Centro. The public campuses divide among 5 districts.
The largest shares: EL Centro Elementary (12), Central Union High (5), Imperial County Office of Education (4).
Among 20 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.1 to 8.7 — the spread is inside EL Centro, not a citywide average.
- EL Centro Elementary12 public · 52%
- Central Union High5 public · 22%
- Imperial County Office of Education4 public · 17%
- Mccabe Union Elementary1 public · 4%
- Meadows Union1 public · 4%
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.
Elementary Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 436 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 356 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.7 |
| 3 | 1,164 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.5 |
| 4 | 456 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 492 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 371 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.9 |
| 7 | 460 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.4 |
| 8 | 370 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.3 |
| 9 | 134 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.1 |
| 10 | 415 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.0 |
Show all 13 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.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 641 students · 7th–8th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 438 students · 7th–8th | 7.1 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,842 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 131 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 3 | 241 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 4 | 1,955 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 5 | 71 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Christian Home AcademyPrivate 8 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 39 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 491 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.2 |
| 2 | 219 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.1 |
| 3 | 24 students · 9th–10th | — |
| 4 | 7 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
Schools in EL Centro
EL Centro, California · 26 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
- 13
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 7
- 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 EL Centro, California
How many schools are in EL Centro, California?
EL Centro has 26 schools, including 23 public and 3 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 6.1 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 Lincoln Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in EL Centro, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in EL Centro on MySchoolScout is Lincoln Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best middle school in EL Centro, California?
The top-ranked middle school in EL Centro on MySchoolScout is Wilson Jr. High with a composite score of 8.0/10.
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 6.9/10.
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 3 private schools alongside 23 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary S School with a score of 5.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in EL Centro, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in EL Centro is 20.4:1. 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.
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.