Best Schools in Lodi, California
35 schools · 21 Elementary · 3 Middle · 7 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Lodi?
Use this page to compare every school in Lodi 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.
Vista Oaks Charter
Other · Vista Oaks Charter District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Vinewood Elementary
Elementary · Lodi Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Ellerth E. Larson Elementary
Elementary · Lodi Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lodi for 2026 are Vista Oaks Charter (7.8/10), Vinewood Elementary (7.8/10), and Ellerth E. Larson Elementary (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 27 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
35
22 public · 13 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$496,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
35
22 public · 13 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$496,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.3/10 despite 95% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Lodi schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lodi schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lodi
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (27 of 35). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vista Oaks Charter | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Vinewood Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Ellerth E. Larson Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Heritage Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Millswood Middle | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Point Quest Central Valley | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Lodi Academy | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Lodi Middle | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Lodi High | 6.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Tokay High | 6.3 / 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
- $88,290
- Median home value
- $496,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
26% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lodi compares
California rank
#379 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$88k
89% of California median
Schools in this city
27
About Schools in Lodi, California
Lodi, California has 21 ranked public schools spread across elementary through high school grades. The city sits in San Joaquin County's agricultural corridor, and its public school system reflects a mid-range performance profile common to California's Central Valley. The average score across Lodi's ranked campuses is 5.6 out of 10 — a useful baseline for parents calibrating expectations before digging into individual schools.
Performance is distributed unevenly. Only 2 of Lodi's 21 ranked schools — roughly 10% — score 7 or above. That narrow concentration at the top means the gap between Lodi's strongest and weakest campuses is real and wide. Address matters more in a city with this profile than in one where scores cluster tightly around the mean.
Vinewood Elementary is Lodi's standout at 8.4 out of 10, well above both the city average and the typical California elementary benchmark. It's the clear first-choice target for families with elementary-age children who fall within its attendance zone. Live Oak Elementary (7.1) joins Vinewood in that 7+ tier. George Washington Elementary and Ellerth E. Larson Elementary both score 6.8, forming a second cluster just below the threshold. Vista Oaks Charter (6.7) rounds out the top five and gives families an alternative-pathway option with competitive scores relative to the city field. All five top-performing schools are elementary-level, which tells a clear story: the strongest academic options in Lodi skew toward younger grades.
For parents making decisions, the practical move is to filter by school type and zone early. Families with elementary-age children have the most options above the city average; middle and high school families will find fewer high scorers in the ranked pool. Because only 10% of schools clear the 7-point mark, individual school scores should drive decisions — not neighborhood assumption. Verify current attendance boundaries directly with Lodi Unified, and if Vista Oaks Charter is on your list, check enrollment windows separately since charter timelines differ from district assignment.
Elementary Schools
21 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 561 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.8 |
| 2 | 845 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.6 |
| 3 | 434 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.3 |
| 4 | 563 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.2 |
| 5 | 368 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.2 |
| 6 | 518 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.1 |
| 7 | 321 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.1 |
| 8 | 490 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.0 |
| 9 | 316 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.0 |
| 10 | 326 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.0 |
Show all 21 elementary schools in Lodi
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 | 843 students · 7th–8th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | 922 students · 7th–8th | 6.8 | ||
| 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 | Vcms
Private
81 students · 6th–8th | 3.2 | ||
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,990 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 2,088 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 3 | 127 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 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 | Lodi Academy
Private
76 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 2 | 143 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Life Training Academy
Private
136 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Jim Elliot Christian High School
Private
57 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 948 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 253 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 286 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 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 | Point Quest Central Valley
Private
135 students · 1st–12th | 7.3 | ||
Schools in Lodi
Lodi, California · 35 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$88,290
Median Home Value
$496,700
Median Rent
$1,682/mo
Population
78,542
College Educated
25%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
12.1%
Community Profile
Lodi has a median household income of $88,290. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $496,700, with a median rent of $1,682/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.1%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 21
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 7
- Other
- 4
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 Lodi, California
How many schools are in Lodi, California?
Lodi has 35 schools, including 22 public and 13 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lodi, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lodi 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 Lodi, California?
The top-ranked school in Lodi on MySchoolScout is Vista Oaks Charter with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lodi, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lodi on MySchoolScout is Vinewood Elementary with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Lodi, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Lodi on MySchoolScout is Millswood Middle with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best high school in Lodi, California?
The top-ranked high school in Lodi on MySchoolScout is Lodi Academy with a composite score of 7.2/10.
How many school districts serve Lodi, California?
Lodi is served by 2 school districts: Vista Oaks Charter District, Lodi Unified.
What is the education level in Lodi, California?
According to Census data, 25% of adults in Lodi have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lodi, California?
The median household income in Lodi is approximately $88,290 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lodi, California?
Yes, Lodi has 13 private schools alongside 22 public schools. The top-rated private school is Point Quest Central Valley with a score of 7.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lodi, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lodi is 18.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lodi, 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.