4.3 avg / 10

Best Schools in Imperial Beach, California

8 schools · 6 Elementary · 1 High · 1 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 7

Private: 1

Districts: 3

Avg Rating: 4.3/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Imperial Beach?

Use this page to compare every school in Imperial Beach 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.

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

Elementary · South Bay Union. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Imperial Beach for 2026 are Mar Vista Senior High (6.5/10), Bayside Steam Academy (4.2/10), and Sbusd Virtual Academy (4.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 6 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.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Oneonta Elementary

STAAR proficiency rose +3.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Imperial Beach schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Imperial Beach

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (6 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Mar Vista Senior High	6.5 / 10	High	—	52th
2	Bayside Steam Academy	4.2 / 10	Elementary	—	12th
3	Sbusd Virtual Academy	4.2 / 10	Elementary	—	12th
4	Oneonta Elementary	4.0 / 10	Elementary	—	10th
5	Imperial Beach Charter	3.6 / 10	Elementary	—	6th
6	Central Elementary	3.1 / 10	Elementary	—	3th

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: 4.3/10
Median household income: $79,071
Median home value: $811,000
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24%
Avg commute: 28 min
Owner-occupied homes: 31%

How Imperial Beach compares

California rank

#584 of 597

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-2.0

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$79k

79% of California median

Schools in this city

6

About Schools in Imperial Beach, California

Imperial Beach, California is home to 8 schools, including 7 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, , and 1 high school.

With an average rating of 4.3 out of 10, schools in Imperial Beach 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 Imperial Beach is Mar Vista Senior High with a composite score of 6.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Imperial Beach is served by 3 school districts: South Bay Union, Sweetwater Union High, San Diego County Office of Education. These districts collectively serve 41,885 students.

Imperial Beach's community shows 24% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $79,071. The poverty rate in the area is 15.2%.

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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (8) Elementary (6) High (1)

Filter by Type: All Types (8) Public (7) Private (1)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (8) Academics (6) Growth (6) Diversity (6) Resources (6)

Filter by ZIP: 91932 (8)

Elementary Schools

6 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Bayside Steam Academy 382 students · Kindergarten–6th	382	Kindergarten–6th	4.2
2	Sbusd Virtual Academy 65 students · Kindergarten–6th	65	Kindergarten–6th	4.2
3	Oneonta Elementary 397 students · Kindergarten–6th	397	Kindergarten–6th	4.0
4	Imperial Beach Charter 750 students · Kindergarten–8th	750	Kindergarten–8th	3.6
5	Central Elementary 379 students · Kindergarten–6th	379	Kindergarten–6th	3.1
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	St James Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten Private 10 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	10	Pre-K–Kindergarten	—

High Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Mar Vista Senior High 1,266 students · 9th–12th	1,266	9th–12th	6.5

Other Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	San Diego County Special Education 28 students · Kindergarten–12th	28	Kindergarten–12th	—

Schools in Imperial Beach

Imperial Beach, California · 8 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$79,071

Median Home Value

$811,000

Median Rent

$1,914/mo

Population

25,897

College Educated

24%

Homeownership

31%

Avg Commute

28 min

Poverty Rate

15.2%

Community Profile

Imperial Beach has a median household income of $79,071. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $811,000, with a median rent of $1,914/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.2%. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: California
Elementary: 6
High: 1
Other: 1

Resources

🔍 Google "Imperial Beach schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Imperial Beach 📊 Niche Imperial Beach Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (3)

South Bay Union

13 schools · 5,595 students

Sweetwater Union High

29 schools · 35,226 students

San Diego County Office of Education

8 schools · 1,064 students

Nearby Cities

San Ysidro (9 schools)

4 mi

Chula Vista (82 schools)

6 mi

National City (16 schools)

Lemon Grove (9 schools)

12 mi

Spring Valley (18 schools)

13 mi

San Diego (404 schools)

14 mi

La Mesa (41 schools)

14 mi

El Cajon (54 schools)

La Jolla (25 schools)

20 mi

Lakeside (14 schools)

22 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 Imperial Beach, California

How many schools are in Imperial Beach, California?

Imperial Beach has 8 schools, including 7 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Imperial Beach, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Imperial Beach is 4.3 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 Imperial Beach, California?

The top-ranked school in Imperial Beach on MySchoolScout is Mar Vista Senior High with a composite score of 6.5/10.

What is the best elementary school in Imperial Beach, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Imperial Beach on MySchoolScout is Bayside Steam Academy with a composite score of 4.2/10.

What is the best high school in Imperial Beach, California?

The top-ranked high school in Imperial Beach on MySchoolScout is Mar Vista Senior High with a composite score of 6.5/10.

How many school districts serve Imperial Beach, California?

Imperial Beach is served by 3 school districts: South Bay Union, Sweetwater Union High, San Diego County Office of Education.

What is the education level in Imperial Beach, California?

According to Census data, 24% of adults in Imperial Beach have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Imperial Beach, California?

The median household income in Imperial Beach is approximately $79,071 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Imperial Beach, California?

Yes, Imperial Beach has 1 private school alongside 7 public schools.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Imperial Beach, California?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Imperial Beach is 18.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Imperial Beach, 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.