4.6 avg / 10

Best Schools in Lancaster, California

76 schools · 36 Elementary · 9 Middle · 26 High · 5 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 49

Private: 27

Districts: 15

Avg Rating: 4.6/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Lancaster?

Use this page to compare every school in Lancaster 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 · Antelope Valley Union High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

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

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Lancaster for 2026 are Soar High (students on Academic Rise) (7.5/10), Academy for Advancement of Children With Autism (7.2/10), and Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies (7.0/10), 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.

Best value · beats the odds

Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Rates 7.0/10 despite 94% 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 Lancaster schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Lincoln Elementary

STAAR proficiency rose +11.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lancaster schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Lancaster

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 76). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Soar High (students on Academic Rise)	7.5 / 10	High	+2.7	74th
2	Academy for Advancement of Children With Autism	7.2 / 10	Other	—	79th
3	Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies	7.0 / 10	Elementary	+2.8	64th
4	Grace Lutheran Christian School	6.9 / 10	Elementary	—	71th
5	Noah's Ark - Hope Chapel Christian Academy	6.9 / 10	Elementary	—	68th
6	Antelope Valley Adventist School	6.8 / 10	Elementary	—	67th
7	Phoenix High Community Day	6.5 / 10	High	+2.0	53th
8	John and Jacquelyn Miller Elementary	6.4 / 10	Elementary	+2.0	51th
9	Life Source International Charter	6.2 / 10	Elementary	+1.8	47th
10	Lancaster Baptist School	6.2 / 10	Other	—	46th

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: 4.6/10
Median household income: $75,936
Median home value: $387,000
Bachelor's degree or higher: 19%
Avg commute: 32 min
Owner-occupied homes: 57%

How Lancaster compares

California rank

#573 of 597

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-1.6

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$76k

76% of California median

Schools in this city

55

Education Snapshot

Lancaster, California

Lancaster's public school landscape spans 76 schools across 15 districts, enrolling approximately 40,819 students in a mix of 36 elementary, 9 middle, and 26 high schools. The city's average MySchoolScout composite rating of 4.6/10 — drawn from 55 scored schools — falls 1.7 points below California's state average of 6.3/10. That performance gap aligns with Lancaster's economic profile: the median household income of $76,075 is 28% below the California state median of $105,206, and just 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ten charter schools operate citywide, representing roughly one in eight schools and offering structured alternatives for families. Fifteen separate districts governing 76 schools in one city creates a fragmented structure that can produce sharp rating differences across neighborhoods — making individual school comparisons, not district affiliation, the more reliable lens here.

About Schools in Lancaster, California

Lancaster, California has 47 ranked public schools, giving families a broad field to evaluate. Performance spans a wide range, with an average score of 5.2 out of 10 across the city. That middle-of-the-road average signals real variation between schools — some significantly outperform the city norm, while others fall well below it. Parents benefit from comparing individual schools carefully rather than relying on citywide impressions.

The strongest performers are concentrated at the elementary level. Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies leads all ranked schools with a 7.7 out of 10, and John and Jacquelyn Miller Elementary and Lincoln Elementary follow at 7.4 and 7.1 respectively. Eastside Elementary also clears the 7.0 mark. Only 5 schools — 11% of Lancaster's ranked public schools — score 7 or above, which means high-performing options are available but limited. Antelope Valley High is the standout at the secondary level, earning a 7.0 and representing one of the few upper-grade options matching the city's top elementary tier.

The gap between Lancaster's best and its average matters practically. A score of 7.7 at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies places it well above the 5.2 city average, but families considering that school should note its alternative and virtual model, which suits some learners more than others. For parents prioritizing a traditional classroom setting, Miller Elementary and Lincoln Elementary offer strong scores without that structural trade-off. At the high school level, options with scores comparable to the top elementary schools are scarce, so families planning ahead should factor in that transition early.

Parents researching Lancaster should shortlist the five schools scoring 7 or above, then filter by school type, location, and enrollment requirements. The city's 47 ranked schools provide enough choice to find a fit, but the concentration of high performers in the lower grades means elementary placement decisions carry extra weight. Using individual school scores rather than the city average as a benchmark will give the most accurate picture of what Lancaster's public schools actually offer.

Filter by Level: All Levels (76) Elementary (36) Middle (9) High (26)

Filter by Type: All Types (76) Public (49) Private (27)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (76) Academics (47) Growth (47) Diversity (47) Resources (47)

Filter by ZIP: 93535 (37) 93534 (22) 93536 (17)

Elementary Schools

36 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies 263 students · Kindergarten–8th	263	Kindergarten–8th	7.0
2	John and Jacquelyn Miller Elementary 652 students · Kindergarten–6th	652	Kindergarten–6th	6.4
3	Life Source International Charter 210 students · Kindergarten–8th	210	Kindergarten–8th	6.2
4	Ilead Lancaster Charter 795 students · Kindergarten–8th	795	Kindergarten–8th	6.0
5	Enterprise Elementary 623 students · Kindergarten–6th	623	Kindergarten–6th	5.7
6	Tierra Bonita Elementary 668 students · Kindergarten–6th	668	Kindergarten–6th	5.3
7	West Wind Elementary 777 students · Kindergarten–5th	777	Kindergarten–5th	5.2
8	Eastside Elementary 445 students · Kindergarten–6th	445	Kindergarten–6th	4.9
9	Linda Verde Elementary 638 students · Kindergarten–8th	638	Kindergarten–8th	4.8
10	Lincoln Elementary 702 students · Kindergarten–5th	702	Kindergarten–5th	4.6

Show all 36 elementary schools in Lancaster

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Middle Schools

9 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Joe Walker Middle 818 students · 6th–8th	818	6th–8th	5.7
2	Gifford C. Cole Middle 687 students · 7th–8th	687	7th–8th	4.9
3	Piute Middle 767 students · 6th–8th	767	6th–8th	4.8
4	Fulton and Alsbury Academy of Arts and Engineering 419 students · 6th–8th	419	6th–8th	4.5
5	Amargosa Creek Middle 954 students · 6th–8th	954	6th–8th	4.0
6	New Vista Middle 938 students · 6th–8th	938	6th–8th	3.7
7	Challenger Middle 553 students · 5th–8th	553	5th–8th	3.4
8	Endeavour Middle 780 students · 6th–8th	780	6th–8th	3.3
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	Hope Christian Academy Private 46 students · 1st–5th	46	1st–5th	6.1

High Schools

26 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Soar High (students on Academic Rise) 646 students · 9th–12th	646	9th–12th	7.5
2	Phoenix High Community Day 43 students · 9th–12th	43	9th–12th	6.5
3	Antelope Valley High 1,512 students · 9th–12th	1,512	9th–12th	5.1
4	Mission View Public 261 students · 8th–12th	261	8th–12th	4.9
5	Desert Sands Charter 690 students · 8th–12th	690	8th–12th	4.8
6	Vista Real Charter High 1,327 students · 9th–12th	1,327	9th–12th	4.7
7	Eastside High 2,592 students · 9th–12th	2,592	9th–12th	4.2
8	Lancaster High 2,697 students · 9th–12th	2,697	9th–12th	3.8
9	Assurance Learning Academy 3,111 students · 8th–12th	3,111	8th–12th	3.7
10	Desert Winds Continuation High 623 students · 9th–12th	623	9th–12th	3.7

Show all 26 high schools in Lancaster

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Mission Academy Empower Generations Paraclete High School Private Fabunni Private School Private Holston Academy Private W T Reynolds Academy Private Paraclete High School Private Academy for Advancement of Children With Autism - Av Private Lancaster Baptist School Private League of Angels Learning Center Private Elm/kwa Private Christian School Private Journey Int'l Cultural Steam Academy Private Seton, Inc. Private Anapasec Adventures Private Stanza International Academy Private Stanza International Academy Private

Other Schools

5 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Antelope Valley Learning Academy 1,057 students · Kindergarten–12th	1,057	Kindergarten–12th	3.9
2	Paseo Grande Charter 89 students · Kindergarten–12th	89	Kindergarten–12th	2.4
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	Academy for Advancement of Children With Autism Private 51 students · 2nd–12th	51	2nd–12th	7.2
2	Lancaster Baptist School Private 381 students · Kindergarten–12th	381	Kindergarten–12th	6.2
3	Calvary Chapel Christian School Private 27 students · Kindergarten–11th	27	Kindergarten–11th	—

Schools in Lancaster

Lancaster, California · 76 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes

Median Income

$75,936

Median Home Value

$387,000

Median Rent

$1,703/mo

Population

194,781

College Educated

19%

Homeownership

57%

Avg Commute

32 min

Poverty Rate

15.9%

Community Profile

Lancaster has a median household income of $75,936. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $387,000, with a median rent of $1,703/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.9%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: California
Elementary: 36
Middle: 9
High: 26
Other: 5

Resources

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

School Districts (15)

Mission View Public District

1 school · 261 students

Mission Academy District

1 school · 557 students

Desert Sands Charter District

1 school · 690 students

Antelope Valley Learning Academy District

1 school · 1,057 students

Empower Generations District

1 school · 84 students

iLEAD Lancaster Charter District

1 school · 795 students

Paseo Grande Charter District

1 school · 89 students

Life Source International Charter District

1 school · 210 students

Assurance Learning Academy District

1 school · 3,111 students

Vista Real Charter High District

1 school · 1,327 students

Antelope Valley Union High

13 schools · 21,737 students

Eastside Union Elementary

6 schools · 3,114 students

Lancaster Elementary

24 schools · 13,832 students

Westside Union Elementary

12 schools · 9,138 students

Wilsona Elementary

3 schools · 1,257 students

Nearby Cities

Quartz Hill (6 schools)

Leona Valley (1 school)

9 mi

Palmdale (49 schools)

12 mi

Lake Hughes (1 school)

13 mi

Acton (5 schools)

16 mi

Agua Dulce (1 school)

18 mi

Littlerock (4 schools)

Pearblossom (1 school)

23 mi

Canyon Country (12 schools)

25 mi

Saugus (8 schools)

27 mi

Santa Clarita (14 schools)

28 mi

Other Major Cities in California

Top metros statewide by school count.

Los Angeles 928 schools San Diego 412 schools San Jose 335 schools San Francisco 297 schools Sacramento 273 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 Lancaster, California

How many schools are in Lancaster, California?

Lancaster has 76 schools, including 49 public and 27 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Lancaster, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lancaster is 4.6 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 Lancaster, California?

The top-ranked school in Lancaster on MySchoolScout is Soar High (students on Academic Rise) with a composite score of 7.5/10.

What is the best elementary school in Lancaster, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Lancaster on MySchoolScout is Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies with a composite score of 7.0/10.

What is the best middle school in Lancaster, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Lancaster on MySchoolScout is Hope Christian Academy with a composite score of 6.1/10.

What is the best high school in Lancaster, California?

The top-ranked high school in Lancaster on MySchoolScout is Soar High (students on Academic Rise) with a composite score of 7.5/10.

How many school districts serve Lancaster, California?

Lancaster is served by 15 school districts: Mission View Public District, Mission Academy District, Desert Sands Charter District, Antelope Valley Learning Academy District, Empower Generations District, Ilead Lancaster Charter District, Paseo Grande Charter District, Life Source International Charter District, Assurance Learning Academy District, Vista Real Charter High District, Antelope Valley Union High, Eastside Union Elementary, Lancaster Elementary, Westside Union Elementary, Wilsona Elementary.

What is the education level in Lancaster, California?

According to Census data, 19% of adults in Lancaster have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Lancaster, California?

The median household income in Lancaster is approximately $75,936 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Lancaster, California?

Yes, Lancaster has 27 private schools alongside 49 public schools. The top-rated private school is Academy for Advancement of Children With Autism with a score of 7.2/10.

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

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lancaster is 19.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lancaster, 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.