Best Schools in Lake Elsinore, California
26 schools · 13 Elementary · 3 Middle · 6 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Lake Elsinore?
Use this page to compare every school in Lake Elsinore 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.
Tuscany Hills Elementary
Elementary · Lake Elsinore Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Alberhill Elementary
Elementary · Lake Elsinore Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Earl Warren Elementary
Elementary · Lake Elsinore Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lake Elsinore for 2026 are Tuscany Hills Elementary (7.6/10), Alberhill Elementary (7.4/10), and Earl Warren Elementary (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 19 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
26
19 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$510,250
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
26
19 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$510,250
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.4/10 despite 69% 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 Lake Elsinore schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lake Elsinore schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lake Elsinore
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 19 rated schools; 26 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuscany Hills Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Alberhill Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Earl Warren Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Temescal Canyon High | 7.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Rice Canyon Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Julia Lee Performing Arts Academy | 6.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Machado Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Canyon Lake Middle | 5.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Lakeside High | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Elsinore 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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $98,273
- Median home value
- $510,250
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 42 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 72%
19% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lake Elsinore compares
California rank
#506 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$98k
99% of California median
Schools in this city
21
Lake Elsinore Unified runs 89% of Lake Elsinore's public schools
Lake Elsinore touches 3 districts, but Lake Elsinore Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Lake Elsinore Unified accounts for 17 of 19 public schools (89%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 19 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.0 to 7.6 — the spread is inside Lake Elsinore, not a citywide average.
- Lake Elsinore Unified17 public · 89%
- Julia Lee Performing Arts Academy District1 public · 5%
- Menifee Union1 public · 5%
About Schools in Lake Elsinore, California
Lake Elsinore operates 19 ranked public schools through the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, with an average score of 5.5 out of 10 across the system. That midpoint average masks real variation — only 2 schools, or 11% of the district, clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold, so school selection within the city matters more than the district label alone.
The strongest performers are concentrated at the elementary level. Cottonwood Canyon Elementary leads the city at 7.3 out of 10, making it the top-rated public school in Lake Elsinore. Herk Bouris Elementary follows closely at 7.2, and both sit meaningfully above the citywide average. Railroad Canyon Elementary (6.8) and Rice Canyon Elementary (6.1) round out the upper tier of the elementary options. Parents with younger children have the clearest path to above-average schools — the top four rated schools in the city are all elementary campuses.
The picture shifts at the secondary level. Temescal Canyon High School ties Railroad Canyon at 6.8, making it the strongest-rated high school in the ranked set and one of the few secondary campuses that holds its own against the elementary leaders. Parents planning ahead should map their home address to Temescal Canyon's attendance boundary if secondary performance is a priority — it stands out in a district where most secondary campuses fall below the 6.0 mark.
Practically, Lake Elsinore's school landscape rewards early homework. The gap between the top two elementary schools (7.2–7.3) and the citywide average (5.5) is nearly two full points, which signals that geography within the city meaningfully shapes a child's school assignment. Families moving to Lake Elsinore should search by specific elementary attendance zone, not just zip code, and confirm feeder patterns into middle and high school before committing to a neighborhood. With only 2 of 19 schools scoring above 7.0, the higher-rated options are in genuine demand — proximity and enrollment timelines are worth confirming early.
Elementary Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 610 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 491 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 850 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 610 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 5 | 442 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 530 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 |
| 7 | 588 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 |
| 8 | 811 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 |
| 9 | 866 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.0 |
| 10 | 796 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.8 |
Show all 13 elementary schools in Lake Elsinore
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 | 970 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 2 | 937 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
| 3 | 1,064 students · 6th–8th | 3.0 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,248 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | 1,657 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 488 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Zen AcademyPrivate 12 students · 12th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 12 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Sandy PinesPrivate 6 students · 1st–10th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 470 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.8 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Expectations AcademyPrivate 49 students · 1st–11th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | LiberecoPrivate 56 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Lefebvre Family Home SchoolPrivate 9 students · 1st–11th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore, California · 26 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$98,273
Median Home Value
$510,250
Median Rent
$2,145/mo
Population
88,145
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
72%
Avg Commute
42 min
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Community Profile
Lake Elsinore has a median household income of $98,273. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $510,250, with a median rent of $2,145/month. The local poverty rate of 9.4% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 42 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 13
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 6
- Other
- 4
Resources
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 Lake Elsinore, California
How many schools are in Lake Elsinore, California?
Lake Elsinore has 26 schools, including 19 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lake Elsinore, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lake Elsinore is 5.6 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 Lake Elsinore, California?
The top-ranked school in Lake Elsinore on MySchoolScout is Tuscany Hills Elementary with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lake Elsinore, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lake Elsinore on MySchoolScout is Tuscany Hills Elementary with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Lake Elsinore, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Lake Elsinore on MySchoolScout is Canyon Lake Middle with a composite score of 5.9/10.
What is the best high school in Lake Elsinore, California?
The top-ranked high school in Lake Elsinore on MySchoolScout is Temescal Canyon High with a composite score of 7.0/10.
How many school districts serve Lake Elsinore, California?
Lake Elsinore is served by 3 school districts: Lake Elsinore Unified, Julia Lee Performing Arts Academy District, Menifee Union.
What is the education level in Lake Elsinore, California?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Lake Elsinore have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lake Elsinore, California?
The median household income in Lake Elsinore is approximately $98,273 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lake Elsinore, California?
Yes, Lake Elsinore has 7 private schools alongside 19 public schools. The top-rated private school is Expectations Academy with a score of 6.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lake Elsinore, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lake Elsinore is 20.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lake Elsinore, 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 School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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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.