Best Schools in Irvine, California
106 schools · 62 Elementary · 8 Middle · 29 High · 7 Other
Choosing a school in Irvine?
Use this page to compare every school in Irvine 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.
Irvine International Academy
Elementary · Irvine International Academy District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Alternative Education-san Joaquin High
Other · Irvine Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
New Horizon School Irvine
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Irvine for 2026 are Irvine International Academy (9.9/10), Alternative Education-san Joaquin High (9.0/10), and New Horizon School Irvine (8.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 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
106
48 public · 58 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$1,114,289
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
106
48 public · 58 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$1,114,289
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 9.9/10 despite 23% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.8 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 Irvine schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +12.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Irvine schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Irvine
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 106). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irvine International Academy | 9.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Alternative Education-san Joaquin High | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | New Horizon School Irvine | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Jeffrey Trail Middle | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Vista Verde | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Portola High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Eastwood Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Stonegate Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Lakeside Middle | 7.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Rancho San Joaquin Middle | 7.9 / 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
- 7.0/10
- Median household income
- $132,104
- Median home value
- $1,114,289
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 71%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 43%
57% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Irvine compares
California rank
#163 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.7
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$132k
132% of California median
Schools in this city
61
Education Snapshot
Irvine, CaliforniaIrvine's 106 schools span 5 districts and enroll roughly 49,308 students, with the level mix skewed heavily toward elementary (62 schools) and high school (29 schools, more than three times the 8 middle schools). The MySchoolScout composite averages 7.0/10 across 61 scored schools — 0.7 points above California's state average of 6.3/10. That performance gap tracks with the city's broader economic and educational profile: median household income of $136,330 runs 30% above the California median of $105,206, and 69% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Only 3 of the 106 schools operate as charters, so the strong aggregate score is driven almost entirely by traditional public schools. The alignment between household income, adult educational attainment, and composite rating places Irvine well above the statewide baseline across all three measures.
About Schools in Irvine, California
Irvine's public school system gives parents an unusually strong starting point. The city has 47 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.6 out of 10 — a figure that sits well above most California cities. Fifteen schools, or 32% of the total, score 7 or higher, meaning families have a realistic shot at a high-performing campus regardless of which part of the city they settle in.
At the top, Irvine International Academy leads all public schools with a score of 8.9 out of 10, making it the clear standout at the elementary level. Bonita Canyon Elementary and Orchard Hills both perform strongly as well, scoring 8.2 and 8.0 respectively, while College Park Elementary rounds out the upper tier at 7.9. The concentration of high-scoring elementary schools is a practical advantage for families with younger children — the options are genuine, not just one flagship surrounded by average alternatives. Alternative Education-San Joaquin High also scores 8.2, signaling that non-traditional pathways in Irvine carry academic weight alongside conventional programs.
The Irvine Unified School District serves most of the city and is the engine behind these results. Its consistent performance across multiple school types — traditional elementary, newer planned-community campuses like Orchard Hills, and alternative programs — reflects a district that maintains standards broadly rather than concentrating resources in a few showcase schools. Parents moving to Irvine can generally expect solid baselines across neighborhoods, though the gap between a 6.6 average and the 8.9 top score means school selection still matters.
For practical planning, parents should prioritize confirming attendance boundaries early, since Irvine's master-planned neighborhoods often have dedicated feeder schools. Elementary choices tend to be the most consequential decision, given how many high-scoring options cluster at that level. Families seeking alternatives to neighborhood assignments should look into inter-district options or programs like Irvine International Academy, which may have specific enrollment requirements. With 32% of schools scoring 7 or above, Irvine offers a depth of quality that makes it one of the more parent-friendly cities for school research in Southern California.
Elementary Schools
62 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 372 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.9 |
| 2 | 798 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.1 |
| 3 | 664 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.1 |
| 4 | 1,029 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 |
| 5 | 561 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 |
| 6 | 573 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 |
| 7 | 1,071 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.8 |
| 8 | 475 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.6 |
| 9 | 955 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.6 |
| 10 | 899 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.5 |
Show all 62 elementary schools in Irvine
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,118 students · 7th–8th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | 652 students · 7th–8th | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | 878 students · 7th–8th | 7.9 | ||
| 4 | 553 students · 7th–8th | 7.6 | ||
| 5 | 1,188 students · 7th–8th | 7.4 | ||
| 6 | 668 students · 7th–8th | 6.7 | ||
| 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 | 77 students · 1st–8th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | The Children's School
Private
48 students · 3rd–8th | 5.8 | ||
High Schools
29 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,503 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 | ||
| 2 | 1,951 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 2,226 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 4 | 2,224 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 5 | 2,310 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 6 | 81 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 7 | 111 students · 12th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 22 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 80 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | Fusion Academy Newport Beach
Private
55 students · 6th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 3 | Crean Lutheran High School
Private
982 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
Show all 29 high schools in Irvine
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111 students · Kindergarten–12th | 9.0 | ||
| 2 | 602 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 3 | 967 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.7 | ||
| Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Mardan School
Private
63 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | Pacific Academy
Private
158 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 3 | Macbeth Academy
Private
92 students · 1st–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 4 | Tvt Community Day School
Private
769 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.7 | ||
Schools in Irvine
Irvine, California · 106 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 9 ZIP codes
Median Income
$132,104
Median Home Value
$1,114,289
Median Rent
$2,796/mo
Population
308,406
College Educated
71%
Homeownership
43%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Community Profile
Irvine has a median household income of $132,104. It is a well-educated community where 71% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,114,289, with a median rent of $2,796/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.3%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 62
- Middle
- 8
- High
- 29
- Other
- 7
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 Irvine, California
How many schools are in Irvine, California?
Irvine has 106 schools, including 48 public and 58 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Irvine, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Irvine is 7.0 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 Irvine, California?
The top-ranked school in Irvine on MySchoolScout is Irvine International Academy with a composite score of 9.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Irvine, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Irvine on MySchoolScout is Irvine International Academy with a composite score of 9.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Irvine, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Irvine on MySchoolScout is Jeffrey Trail Middle with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Irvine, California?
The top-ranked high school in Irvine on MySchoolScout is Portola High with a composite score of 8.1/10.
How many school districts serve Irvine, California?
Irvine is served by 5 school districts: Excel Academy Charter District, Excel Academy Charter District, Irvine International Academy District, Tustin Unified, Irvine Unified.
What is the education level in Irvine, California?
According to Census data, 71% of adults in Irvine have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Irvine, California?
The median household income in Irvine is approximately $132,104 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Irvine, California?
Yes, Irvine has 58 private schools alongside 48 public schools. The top-rated private school is New Horizon School Irvine with a score of 8.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Irvine, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Irvine is 18.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Irvine, 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
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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.