Best Schools in EL Monte, California
32 schools · 22 Elementary · 1 Middle · 7 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in EL Monte?
Use this page to compare every school in EL Monte 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.
Legore Elementary
Elementary · EL Monte City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Gidley Elementary
Elementary · EL Monte City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Durfee Elementary
Elementary · EL Monte City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in EL Monte for 2026 are Legore Elementary (9.3/10), Gidley Elementary (9.2/10), and Durfee Elementary (9.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 27 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
32
26 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$614,667
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
32
26 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$614,667
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 9.0/10 despite 74% 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 EL Monte schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among EL Monte schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in EL Monte
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (27 of 32). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legore Elementary | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Gidley Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Durfee Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Cortada Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Wright Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Potrero Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Wilkerson Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Shirpser Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Arroyo High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 10 | EL Monte High | 8.1 / 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
- 6.9/10
- Median household income
- $65,101
- Median home value
- $614,667
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 14%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 41%
48% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How EL Monte compares
California rank
#172 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.6
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$65k
65% of California median
Schools in this city
27
About Schools in EL Monte, California
El Monte's public school system spans 25 ranked schools, giving families a range of options across elementary, middle, and high school levels. The city's average school score sits at 6.6 out of 10 — a useful baseline when comparing individual campuses. Eleven schools, or 44% of the total, score 7 or higher, meaning nearly half the ranked schools outperform what the average figure might suggest at first glance.
Elementary options lead the city's strongest performers. Rio Vista Elementary tops El Monte's rankings with a 9.3 out of 10, placing it among the highest-rated public elementary schools in the region. Cortada Elementary (8.9), New Lexington Elementary (8.8), Wilkerson Elementary (8.4), and Gidley Elementary (8.3) round out the top five — all earning scores well above the city average. Parents researching elementary placement have several genuinely high-performing campuses to evaluate, which is a meaningful advantage for families with younger children entering the system.
Performance does vary across the city, and the 6.6 average signals that a portion of schools score below that mark. Parents researching middle and high school options should check individual campus scores rather than assuming the strong elementary picture carries across all grade levels. That said, with 11 schools clearing the 7-point threshold, El Monte has more above-average options than a single average figure implies.
Practically speaking, parents comparing El Monte schools should prioritize campus-level data over district-wide summaries. The gap between the city's top school (9.3) and its average (6.6) is wide enough that school choice within the city matters significantly. Families targeting elementary placement are in the strongest position — five campuses score 8.3 or higher, offering real competition among quality options. For middle and high school families, drilling into individual school pages on MySchoolScout will give the clearest picture of where each campus stands relative to El Monte peers and California statewide percentiles.
Elementary Schools
22 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 514 students · Kindergarten–6th | 9.3 |
| 2 | 456 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.2 |
| 3 | 1,089 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.0 |
| 4 | 361 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.8 |
| 5 | 588 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.6 |
| 6 | 596 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.4 |
| 7 | 341 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.4 |
| 8 | 475 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.3 |
| 9 | 298 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.7 |
| 10 | 295 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.0 |
Show all 22 elementary schools in EL Monte
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 576 students · 2nd–8th | 5.4 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,698 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 | ||
| 2 | 1,421 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 | ||
| 3 | 31 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 4 | 1,192 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 5 | 361 students · 10th–12th | 3.5 | ||
| 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 | 57 students · Kindergarten–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 12 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shield of Faith Christian School
Private
41 students · Kindergarten–10th | 7.4 |
| 2 | New Life Christian School
Private
42 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.4 |
Schools in EL Monte
EL Monte, California · 32 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$65,101
Median Home Value
$614,667
Median Rent
$1,664/mo
Population
127,894
College Educated
14%
Homeownership
41%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
18.2%
Community Profile
EL Monte has a median household income of $65,101. It is a community where 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $614,667, with a median rent of $1,664/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.2%. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 22
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 7
- Other
- 2
Resources
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 EL Monte, California
How many schools are in EL Monte, California?
EL Monte has 32 schools, including 26 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in EL Monte, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in EL Monte is 6.9 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 Monte, California?
The top-ranked school in EL Monte on MySchoolScout is Legore Elementary with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in EL Monte, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in EL Monte on MySchoolScout is Legore Elementary with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best middle school in EL Monte, California?
The top-ranked middle school in EL Monte on MySchoolScout is Twin Lakes Elementary with a composite score of 5.4/10.
What is the best high school in EL Monte, California?
The top-ranked high school in EL Monte on MySchoolScout is Arroyo High with a composite score of 8.1/10.
How many school districts serve EL Monte, California?
EL Monte is served by 3 school districts: EL Monte City, EL Monte Union High, Mountain View Elementary.
What is the education level in EL Monte, California?
According to Census data, 14% of adults in EL Monte have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in EL Monte, California?
The median household income in EL Monte is approximately $65,101 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in EL Monte, California?
Yes, EL Monte has 6 private schools alongside 26 public schools. The top-rated private school is Shield of Faith Christian School with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in EL Monte, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in EL Monte is 17.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in EL Monte, 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.