Best Schools in Lakeside, California
14 schools · 10 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High
Choosing a school in Lakeside?
Use this page to compare every school in Lakeside 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.
Dream Academy
Elementary · Lakeside Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Barona Indian Charter
Elementary · Barona Indian Charter District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Riverview Elementary
Elementary · Lakeside Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lakeside for 2026 are Dream Academy (9.0/10), Barona Indian Charter (8.2/10), and Riverview Elementary (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 13 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
14
12 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$648,800
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
14
12 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$648,800
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 9.0/10 despite 43% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.0 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 Lakeside schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lakeside schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lakeside
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (13 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dream Academy | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Barona Indian Charter | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Riverview Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Lakeview Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | River Valley Charter | 6.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Tierra Del Sol Middle | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Lakeside Middle | 6.1 / 10 |
| 8 | EL Capitan High | 5.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Lakeside Farms Elementary | 4.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Lemon Crest Elementary | 4.6 / 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
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $103,585
- Median home value
- $648,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
31% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lakeside compares
California rank
#388 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$104k
104% of California median
Schools in this city
13
About Schools in Lakeside, California
Lakeside, California is home to 14 schools, including 12 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Lakeside 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 Lakeside is Dream Academy with a composite score of 9.0/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Lakeside is served by 4 school districts. These districts collectively serve 21,408 students.
Lakeside's community shows 25% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $103,585. The poverty rate in the area is 8.9%.
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.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 77 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.0 | ||
| 2 | 81 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.2 | ||
| 3 | 499 students · 2nd–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 4 | 664 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 | ||
| 5 | 673 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.6 | ||
| 6 | 455 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.6 | ||
| 7 | 437 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.6 | ||
| 8 | 298 students · Kindergarten–1st | 3.5 | ||
| 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 | Learning Academy
Private
34 students · Pre-K–3rd | 4.2 | ||
| 2 | Vba Center for Behavior Change
Private
24 students · Kindergarten–8th | — | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 755 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
| 2 | 677 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 220 students · 7th–12th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 1,830 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 |
Schools in Lakeside
Lakeside, California · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$103,585
Median Home Value
$648,800
Median Rent
$1,908/mo
Population
45,978
College Educated
25%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Community Profile
Lakeside has a median household income of $103,585. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $648,800, with a median rent of $1,908/month. The local poverty rate of 8.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
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 Lakeside, California
How many schools are in Lakeside, California?
Lakeside has 14 schools, including 12 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lakeside, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lakeside is 6.0 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 Lakeside, California?
The top-ranked school in Lakeside on MySchoolScout is Dream Academy with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lakeside, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lakeside on MySchoolScout is Dream Academy with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Lakeside, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Lakeside on MySchoolScout is Tierra Del Sol Middle with a composite score of 6.4/10.
What is the best high school in Lakeside, California?
The top-ranked high school in Lakeside on MySchoolScout is River Valley Charter with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Lakeside, California?
Lakeside is served by 4 school districts: River Valley Charter District, Barona Indian Charter District, Grossmont Union High, Lakeside Union Elementary.
What is the education level in Lakeside, California?
According to Census data, 25% of adults in Lakeside have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lakeside, California?
The median household income in Lakeside is approximately $103,585 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lakeside, California?
Yes, Lakeside has 2 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Learning Academy with a score of 4.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lakeside, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lakeside is 25.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lakeside, 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.