Best Schools in Hanford, California
32 schools · 18 Elementary · 3 Middle · 9 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Hanford?
Use this page to compare every school in Hanford 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.
Kings River-hardwick Elementary
Elementary · Kings River-hardwick Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Jefferson Academy
Elementary · Hanford Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
Elementary · Hanford Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Hanford for 2026 are Kings River-hardwick Elementary (8.3/10), Jefferson Academy (7.7/10), and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary (7.4/10), 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
28 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$288,600
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Schools
32
28 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$288,600
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Rates 7.3/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 Hanford schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Hanford schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Hanford
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 | Kings River-hardwick Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Jefferson Academy | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Joseph M. Simas | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Lakeside Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Woodrow Wilson Junior High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Hanford Community Day | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Mid Valley Alternative Charter | 7.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Monroe Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 10 | John F. Kennedy Junior High | 6.5 / 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
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $64,309
- Median home value
- $288,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 12%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 60%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Hanford compares
California rank
#339 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.1
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$64k
64% of California median
Schools in this city
27
About Schools in Hanford, California
Hanford's public school system spans 26 ranked schools, giving families a meaningful range of options within this Central Valley city. The system averages 6.5 out of 10 across all ranked schools — a mid-tier baseline that masks real variation between campuses. Eight schools, or 31% of the total, score 7 or higher, so strong options exist but require deliberate research to find.
Elementary education is where Hanford performs best. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary leads the city with an 8.7 out of 10, making it the top-ranked public school in Hanford by a clear margin. Lee Richmond Elementary follows at 8.5, and Roosevelt Elementary and Monroe Elementary score 8.3 and 8.2 respectively. These four schools cluster near the top and represent the highest-performing tier in the district. Joseph M. Simas rounds out the top five at 7.4, still comfortably above the city average. Parents with elementary-age children have the strongest concentration of high-scoring schools to choose from.
The 6.5 city average signals that performance drops off more sharply below the top tier. With only 8 of 26 schools clearing the 7-point threshold, roughly two-thirds of Hanford's ranked schools fall at or below average. That gap matters for families who don't have the flexibility to seek out a specific campus. Proximity to a lower-scoring school shouldn't end the conversation — program offerings, class sizes, and individual teacher quality all factor in — but the score spread is wide enough that school selection deserves close attention.
For parents relocating to or within Hanford, the practical takeaway is straightforward. If school performance is a priority, focus your neighborhood search around the attendance zones for MLK Jr., Lee Richmond, Roosevelt, and Monroe elementaries. Check Kings Canyon Unified School District boundary maps early in your housing search, since enrollment is typically address-based. For middle and high school options, drill into individual school pages on MySchoolScout to compare scores directly, as city-level averages won't tell you enough. Hanford offers real academic bright spots — finding them just takes a few extra steps.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 850 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 492 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.7 |
| 3 | 665 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.4 |
| 4 | 511 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.4 |
| 5 | 248 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.3 |
| 6 | 73 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.0 |
| 7 | 621 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 |
| 8 | 577 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.4 |
| 9 | 412 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.2 |
| 10 | 461 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.9 |
Show all 18 elementary schools in Hanford
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 568 students · 7th–8th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 521 students · 7th–8th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 558 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
High Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 39 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | 1,336 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 1,102 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 4 | 55 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 5 | 1,494 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 6 | 152 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 7 | 22 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
| 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 | Golden Grain Academy
Private
18 students · 1st–12th | — | ||
| 2 | New Testament Baptist Schools
Private
24 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,066 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.5 |
| 2 | 341 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.4 |
Schools in Hanford
Hanford, California · 32 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$64,309
Median Home Value
$288,600
Median Rent
$1,102/mo
Population
96,396
College Educated
12%
Homeownership
60%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
17.3%
Community Profile
Hanford has a median household income of $64,309. It is a community where 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $288,600, with a median rent of $1,102/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.3%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 18
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 9
- Other
- 2
Resources
School Districts (8)
Kings Valley Academy II District
1 school · 1,066 students
Hanford Elementary
12 schools · 5,568 students
Hanford Joint Union High
6 schools · 4,180 students
Kings River-Hardwick Union Elementary
1 school · 850 students
Kit Carson Union Elementary
2 schools · 457 students
Lakeside Union Elementary
1 school · 248 students
Pioneer Union Elementary
3 schools · 1,636 students
Kings County Office of Education
3 schools · 363 students
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 Hanford, California
How many schools are in Hanford, California?
Hanford has 32 schools, including 28 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Hanford, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Hanford is 6.2 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 Hanford, California?
The top-ranked school in Hanford on MySchoolScout is Kings River-hardwick Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Hanford, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Hanford on MySchoolScout is Kings River-hardwick Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Hanford, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Hanford on MySchoolScout is Woodrow Wilson Junior High with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best high school in Hanford, California?
The top-ranked high school in Hanford on MySchoolScout is Hanford Community Day with a composite score of 7.1/10.
How many school districts serve Hanford, California?
Hanford is served by 8 school districts: Kings Valley Academy II District, Hanford Elementary, Hanford Joint Union High, Kings River-hardwick Union Elementary, Kit Carson Union Elementary, Lakeside Union Elementary, Pioneer Union Elementary, Kings County Office of Education.
What is the education level in Hanford, California?
According to Census data, 12% of adults in Hanford have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Hanford, California?
The median household income in Hanford is approximately $64,309 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Hanford, California?
Yes, Hanford has 4 private schools alongside 28 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Rose-mccarthy Catholic School with a score of 5.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Hanford, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Hanford is 18.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Hanford, 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.