Best Schools in Montclair, California
12 schools · 8 Elementary · 3 Middle · 1 High
Choosing a school in Montclair?
Use this page to compare every school in Montclair 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.
Serrano Middle
Middle · Ontario-montclair. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Montera Elementary
Elementary · Ontario-montclair. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Buena Vista Arts-integrated
Elementary · Ontario-montclair. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Montclair for 2026 are Serrano Middle (8.7/10), Montera Elementary (8.3/10), and Buena Vista Arts-integrated (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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
12
11 public · 1 private
Avg Score
7.6
out of 10
Median Home
$559,350
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
12
11 public · 1 private
Avg Score
7.6
out of 10
Median Home
$559,350
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 93% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 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 Montclair schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +18.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Montclair schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Montclair
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (12 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serrano Middle | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Montera Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Buena Vista Arts-integrated | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Vernon Middle | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Kingsley Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Monte Vista Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Ramona Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Montclair High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Moreno Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | International Montessori School | 7.0 / 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
- 7.6/10
- Median household income
- $76,958
- Median home value
- $559,350
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 20%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
83% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Montclair compares
California rank
#73 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.3
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$77k
77% of California median
Schools in this city
12
About Schools in Montclair, California
Montclair, California is home to 12 schools, including 11 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high school.
With an average rating of 7.6 out of 10, schools in Montclair perform strongly 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 Montclair is Serrano Middle with a composite score of 8.7/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Montclair is served by 2 school districts: Chaffey Joint Union High, Ontario-Montclair. These districts collectively serve 40,572 students.
Montclair's community shows 20% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $76,958. The poverty rate in the area is 14.7%.
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
8 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 565 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 353 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 492 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 555 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 |
| 5 | 569 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.4 |
| 6 | 435 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.2 |
| 7 | 449 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.7 |
| 8 | 449 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.2 |
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 623 students · 7th–8th | 8.7 | ||
| 2 | 590 students · 7th–8th | 8.1 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 37 students · 1st–7th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,605 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 |
Schools in Montclair
Montclair, California · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$76,958
Median Home Value
$559,350
Median Rent
$1,760/mo
Population
101,171
College Educated
20%
Homeownership
57%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
14.7%
Community Profile
Montclair has a median household income of $76,958. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $559,350, with a median rent of $1,760/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.7%. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 1
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 Montclair, California
How many schools are in Montclair, California?
Montclair has 12 schools, including 11 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Montclair, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Montclair is 7.6 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 Montclair, California?
The top-ranked school in Montclair on MySchoolScout is Serrano Middle with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Montclair, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Montclair on MySchoolScout is Montera Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Montclair, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Montclair on MySchoolScout is Serrano Middle with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best high school in Montclair, California?
The top-ranked high school in Montclair on MySchoolScout is Montclair High with a composite score of 7.2/10.
How many school districts serve Montclair, California?
Montclair is served by 2 school districts: Chaffey Joint Union High, Ontario-montclair.
What is the education level in Montclair, California?
According to Census data, 20% of adults in Montclair have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Montclair, California?
The median household income in Montclair is approximately $76,958 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Montclair, California?
Yes, Montclair has 1 private school alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is International Montessori School with a score of 7.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Montclair, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Montclair is 20.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Montclair, 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.