Best Schools in Manhattan Beach, California
17 schools · 10 Elementary · 2 Middle · 5 High
Choosing a school in Manhattan Beach?
Use this page to compare every school in Manhattan Beach 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.
Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary
Elementary · Manhattan Beach Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Mira Costa High
High · Manhattan Beach Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Manhattan Beach Middle
Middle · Manhattan Beach Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Manhattan Beach for 2026 are Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary (9.1/10), Mira Costa High (8.7/10), and Manhattan Beach Middle (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 7 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
17
7 public · 10 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$2,000,001
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
17
7 public · 10 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$2,000,001
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +6.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Manhattan Beach schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Manhattan Beach
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (7 rated schools; 17 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Mira Costa High | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Manhattan Beach Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Meadows Avenue Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Opal Robinson Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Grand View Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Pacific Elementary | 5.4 / 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
- $193,904
- Median home value
- $2,000,001
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 79%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
45% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Manhattan Beach compares
California rank
#106 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.7
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$194k
194% of California median
Schools in this city
11
Manhattan Beach Unified runs Manhattan Beach's public schools
7 public schools. Manhattan Beach Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Manhattan Beach is a Manhattan Beach Unified school (7 of 7).
Among 7 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.4 to 9.1 — the spread is inside Manhattan Beach, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach's public school landscape is small and exceptionally consistent. Seven ranked public schools serve the city, and all seven score 7 or higher out of 10 — a floor that few California cities match at this scale. The citywide average sits at 8.1 out of 10, placing Manhattan Beach well above most suburban peers statewide.
Elementary schools carry the strongest ratings and define what makes this city stand out. Meadows Avenue Elementary leads at 9.3 out of 10, the top score in the city. Pacific Elementary follows at 9.1, and Grand View Elementary posts an 8.9. These three schools cluster near the top of the performance range, giving families access to a high-performing elementary option across most attendance zones. Opal Robinson Elementary rounds out the elementary tier at 7.5 — still above statewide averages, and still part of that 100% above-7 sweep that characterizes the entire district.
Manhattan Beach Middle School scores 7.7, solid in absolute terms and well above the California middle school median. It represents the widest gap in the local landscape, nearly 1.6 points behind the city's top elementary. Parents moving children from elementary to middle should expect a modest shift in aggregate scores, though the school remains a strong performer in any broader comparison.
Practically speaking, Manhattan Beach is one of the simpler cities to research in California. With only seven ranked schools and zero weak outliers, parents spend less time avoiding problem zones and more time comparing neighborhoods on other factors. The meaningful school-quality decisions here come down to elementary attendance boundaries — families zoned for Meadows Avenue, Pacific, or Grand View start from a particularly strong position — and whether the single middle school aligns with a child's academic needs. For parents weighing Manhattan Beach against neighboring South Bay cities, the consistency of the public school portfolio is itself the headline: an 8.1 average with a perfect floor is a rare combination at any price point.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 485 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.1 | ||
| 2 | 419 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 | ||
| 3 | 287 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 | ||
| 4 | 519 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 | ||
| 5 | 509 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 | ||
Private Schools5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Manhattan AcademyPrivate 133 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | American Martyrs SchoolPrivate 712 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 10 students · Pre-K–TK | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 15 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Creative KidsPrivate 14 students · Kindergarten–1st | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,123 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Manhattan AcademyPrivate 55 students · 1st–5th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,568 students · 9th–12th | 8.7 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Beach Cities Learning CenterPrivate 31 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Burkestone AcademyPrivate 6 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 23 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Fusion Academy South BayPrivate 40 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California · 17 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$193,904
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Rent
$3,492/mo
Population
34,584
College Educated
79%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Community Profile
Manhattan Beach has a median household income of $193,904. It is a well-educated community where 79% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $2,000,001, with a median rent of $3,492/month. The local poverty rate of 3.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 5
Resources
School District
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 Manhattan Beach, California
How many schools are in Manhattan Beach, California?
Manhattan Beach has 17 schools, including 7 public and 10 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Manhattan Beach, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Manhattan Beach 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 Manhattan Beach, California?
The top-ranked school in Manhattan Beach on MySchoolScout is Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Manhattan Beach, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Manhattan Beach on MySchoolScout is Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Manhattan Beach, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Manhattan Beach on MySchoolScout is Manhattan Beach Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best high school in Manhattan Beach, California?
The top-ranked high school in Manhattan Beach on MySchoolScout is Mira Costa High with a composite score of 8.7/10.
How many school districts serve Manhattan Beach, California?
Manhattan Beach is served by 1 school district: Manhattan Beach Unified.
What is the education level in Manhattan Beach, California?
According to Census data, 79% of adults in Manhattan Beach have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Manhattan Beach, California?
The median household income in Manhattan Beach is approximately $193,904 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Manhattan Beach, California?
Yes, Manhattan Beach has 10 private schools alongside 7 public schools. The top-rated private school is Manhattan Academy with a score of 7.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Manhattan Beach, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Manhattan Beach is 14.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Manhattan Beach, 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.