5.9 avg / 10

Best Schools in Imperial, California

10 schools · 4 Elementary · 1 Middle · 5 High

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 6

Private: 4

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 5.9/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Imperial?

Use this page to compare every school in Imperial 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.

Elementary · Imperial Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Imperial for 2026 are Imperial Cross Elementary (8.0/10), Ben Hulse Elementary (7.3/10), and T. L. Waggoner Elementary (6.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 7 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

Imperial Cross Elementary

STAAR proficiency rose +12.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Imperial schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Imperial

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (7 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Imperial Cross Elementary	8.0 / 10	Elementary	—	84th
2	Ben Hulse Elementary	7.3 / 10	Elementary	—	69th
3	T. L. Waggoner Elementary	6.5 / 10	Elementary	—	53th
4	Frank M. Wright Middle	6.4 / 10	Middle	—	51th
5	Imperial High	5.3 / 10	High	—	29th
6	Faith Academy	4.6 / 10	Elementary	—	7th
7	Imperial Ave. Holbrook High	3.1 / 10	High	—	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: 5.9/10
Median household income: $83,709
Median home value: $350,100
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17%
Avg commute: 19 min
Owner-occupied homes: 67%

How Imperial compares

California rank

#400 of 597

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.4

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$84k

84% of California median

Schools in this city

7

About Schools in Imperial, California

Imperial, California is home to 10 schools, including 6 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 5 high schools.

With an average rating of 5.9 out of 10, schools in Imperial 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 is Imperial Cross Elementary with a composite score of 8.0/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Imperial is served by 1 school district: Imperial Unified. These districts collectively serve 4,672 students.

Imperial's community shows 17% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $83,709. The poverty rate in the area is 13.3%.

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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (10) Elementary (4) Middle (1) High (5)

Filter by Type: All Types (10) Public (6) Private (4)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (10) Academics (6) Growth (6) Diversity (6) Resources (6)

Filter by ZIP: 92251 (10)

Elementary Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Imperial Cross Elementary 748 students · Kindergarten–5th	748	Kindergarten–5th	8.0
2	Ben Hulse Elementary 826 students · Kindergarten–5th	826	Kindergarten–5th	7.3
3	T. L. Waggoner Elementary 594 students · Kindergarten–5th	594	Kindergarten–5th	6.5
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	Faith Academy Private 86 students · Kindergarten–8th	86	Kindergarten–8th	4.6

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Frank M. Wright Middle 1,077 students · 6th–8th	1,077	6th–8th	6.4

High Schools

5 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Imperial High 1,378 students · 9th–12th	1,378	9th–12th	5.3
2	Imperial Ave. Holbrook High 49 students · 9th–12th	49	9th–12th	3.1
Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Vanguard Academy of Imperial Valley Private 10 students · 2nd–10th	10	2nd–10th	—
2	Valley Christian Heritage School Private 7 students · 8th–12th	7	8th–12th	—
3	Valley Christian Heritage School Private 13 students · 6th–12th	13	6th–12th	—

Schools in Imperial

Imperial, California · 10 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$83,709

Median Home Value

$350,100

Median Rent

$1,378/mo

Population

27,197

College Educated

17%

Homeownership

67%

Avg Commute

19 min

Poverty Rate

13.3%

Community Profile

Imperial has a median household income of $83,709. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $350,100, with a median rent of $1,378/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.3%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: California
Elementary: 4
Middle: 1
High: 5

Resources

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

School District

Imperial Unified

6 schools · 4,672 students

Nearby Cities

San Diego (1 school)

3 mi

El Centro (27 schools)

Calexico (18 schools)

12 mi

Holtville (7 schools)

11 mi

Westmorland (2 schools)

14 mi

Calipatria (3 schools)

20 mi

Niland (1 school)

28 mi

Salton City (2 schools)

39 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, California

How many schools are in Imperial, California?

Imperial has 10 schools, including 6 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Imperial, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Imperial is 5.9 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 Imperial, California?

The top-ranked school in Imperial on MySchoolScout is Imperial Cross Elementary with a composite score of 8.0/10.

What is the best elementary school in Imperial, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Imperial on MySchoolScout is Imperial Cross Elementary with a composite score of 8.0/10.

What is the best middle school in Imperial, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Imperial on MySchoolScout is Frank M. Wright Middle with a composite score of 6.4/10.

What is the best high school in Imperial, California?

The top-ranked high school in Imperial on MySchoolScout is Imperial High with a composite score of 5.3/10.

How many school districts serve Imperial, California?

Imperial is served by 1 school district: Imperial Unified.

What is the education level in Imperial, California?

According to Census data, 17% of adults in Imperial have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Imperial, California?

The median household income in Imperial is approximately $83,709 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Imperial, California?

Yes, Imperial has 4 private schools alongside 6 public schools. The top-rated private school is Faith Academy with a score of 4.6/10.

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

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Imperial is 19.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Imperial, 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.