Best Schools in Fair Oaks, California
18 schools · 10 Elementary · 1 Middle · 6 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Fair Oaks?
Use this page to compare every school in Fair Oaks 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.
Sacramento Waldorf School
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
St Mel School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
EL Sereno Alternative Education
High · San Juan Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Fair Oaks for 2026 are Sacramento Waldorf School (8.4/10), St Mel School (7.8/10), and EL Sereno Alternative Education (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 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
18
10 public · 8 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$615,400
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
18
10 public · 8 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$615,400
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.5/10 despite 44% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 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 Fair Oaks schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Fair Oaks schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Fair Oaks
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (15 of 18). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento Waldorf School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | St Mel School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | EL Sereno Alternative Education | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Meraki High | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Earl Legette Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Bella Vista High | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Freedom Christian School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Northridge Elementary | 5.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Orangevale Open K-8 | 5.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Will Rogers Middle | 5.5 / 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
- $111,582
- Median home value
- $615,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 44%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Fair Oaks compares
California rank
#355 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$112k
112% of California median
Schools in this city
15
About Schools in Fair Oaks, California
Fair Oaks, California is home to 18 schools, including 10 public schools and 8 private schools. The city's schools span 10 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 6 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.1 out of 10, schools in Fair Oaks show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Fair Oaks is Sacramento Waldorf School with a composite score of 8.4/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Fair Oaks is served by 1 school district: San Juan Unified. These districts collectively serve 38,488 students.
Fair Oaks's community shows 44% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $111,582. The poverty rate in the area is 8.3%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 548 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 | ||
| 2 | 398 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.6 | ||
| 3 | 585 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 388 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.4 | ||
| Private Schools 6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Mel School
Private
256 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | Freedom Christian School
Private
54 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | Summit Christian School
Private
162 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Summit Christian School
Private
163 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.3 | ||
| 5 | Country Hill Montessori
Private
50 students · Pre-K–3rd | 5.1 | ||
| 6 | Lotus Child Montessori
Private
2 students · Pre-K–TK | — | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 581 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 145 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 82 students · 8th–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 1,926 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 4 | 1,557 students · 9th–12th | 4.2 | ||
| 5 | 20 students · 6th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Jackson Family Homeschool
Private
9 students · 1st–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento Waldorf School
Private
451 students · Kindergarten–12th | 8.4 |
Schools in Fair Oaks
Fair Oaks, California · 18 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$111,582
Median Home Value
$615,400
Median Rent
$1,857/mo
Population
43,783
College Educated
44%
Homeownership
70%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Community Profile
Fair Oaks has a median household income of $111,582. It is a well-educated community where 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $615,400, with a median rent of $1,857/month. The local poverty rate of 8.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 6
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
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 Fair Oaks, California
How many schools are in Fair Oaks, California?
Fair Oaks has 18 schools, including 10 public and 8 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Fair Oaks, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fair Oaks 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 Fair Oaks, California?
The top-ranked school in Fair Oaks on MySchoolScout is Sacramento Waldorf School with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Fair Oaks, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Fair Oaks on MySchoolScout is St Mel School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Fair Oaks, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Fair Oaks on MySchoolScout is Will Rogers Middle with a composite score of 5.5/10.
What is the best high school in Fair Oaks, California?
The top-ranked high school in Fair Oaks on MySchoolScout is EL Sereno Alternative Education with a composite score of 7.5/10.
How many school districts serve Fair Oaks, California?
Fair Oaks is served by 1 school district: San Juan Unified.
What is the education level in Fair Oaks, California?
According to Census data, 44% of adults in Fair Oaks have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Fair Oaks, California?
The median household income in Fair Oaks is approximately $111,582 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Fair Oaks, California?
Yes, Fair Oaks has 8 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Sacramento Waldorf School with a score of 8.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Fair Oaks, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fair Oaks is 15.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Fair Oaks, 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.