Best Schools in Monterey, California
13 schools · 7 Elementary · 4 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Monterey?
Use this page to compare every school in Monterey 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.
Monte Vista
Elementary · Monterey Peninsula Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Big Sur Charter
Other · Big Sur Charter District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Monterey High
High · Monterey Peninsula Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Monterey for 2026 are Monte Vista (7.9/10), Big Sur Charter (7.7/10), and Monterey High (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 6 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
13
6 public · 7 private
Avg Score
7.1
out of 10
Median Home
$1,039,700
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
13
6 public · 7 private
Avg Score
7.1
out of 10
Median Home
$1,039,700
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +6.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Monterey schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Monterey
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (6 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monte Vista | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Big Sur Charter | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Monterey High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | George C. Marshall Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 5 | La Mesa | 6.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Bay View Academy | 4.5 / 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
- 7.1/10
- Median household income
- $110,669
- Median home value
- $1,039,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 54%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 43%
60% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Monterey compares
California rank
#81 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.7
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$111k
111% of California median
Schools in this city
10
Monterey Peninsula Unified runs 67% of Monterey's public schools
Monterey touches 3 districts, but Monterey Peninsula Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Monterey Peninsula Unified accounts for 4 of 6 public schools (67%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 6 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.5 to 7.9 — the spread is inside Monterey, not a citywide average.
- Monterey Peninsula Unified4 public · 67%
- Bay View Academy District1 public · 17%
- Big Sur Charter District1 public · 17%
About Schools in Monterey, California
Monterey, California is home to 13 schools, including 6 public schools and 7 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, , and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 7.1 out of 10, schools in Monterey perform strongly on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Monterey is Trinity Christian High School with a composite score of 8.4/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Monterey is served by 3 school districts: Bay View Academy District, Big Sur Charter District, Monterey Peninsula Unified. These districts collectively serve 9,838 students.
Monterey's community shows 54% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $110,669. The poverty rate in the area is 9.9%.
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
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 651 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 496 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 | ||
| 3 | 654 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.0 | ||
| 4 | 497 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.5 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | San Carlos SchoolPrivate 294 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 9 students · Kindergarten–2nd | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 13 students · Pre-K–TK | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,326 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 90 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | York SchoolPrivate 181 students · 8th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Sojourner AcademyPrivate 8 students · Kindergarten–10th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 89 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Santa Catalina SchoolPrivate 421 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Monterey
Monterey, California · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$110,669
Median Home Value
$1,039,700
Median Rent
$2,305/mo
Population
30,951
College Educated
54%
Homeownership
43%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Community Profile
Monterey has a median household income of $110,669. It is a well-educated community where 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,039,700, with a median rent of $2,305/month. The local poverty rate of 9.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 7
- High
- 4
- Other
- 2
Resources
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 Monterey, California
How many schools are in Monterey, California?
Monterey has 13 schools, including 6 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Monterey, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Monterey is 7.1 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 Monterey, California?
The top-ranked school in Monterey on MySchoolScout is Monte Vista with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Monterey, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Monterey on MySchoolScout is Monte Vista with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Monterey, California?
The top-ranked high school in Monterey on MySchoolScout is Monterey High with a composite score of 7.5/10.
How many school districts serve Monterey, California?
Monterey is served by 3 school districts: Bay View Academy District, Big Sur Charter District, Monterey Peninsula Unified.
What is the education level in Monterey, California?
According to Census data, 54% of adults in Monterey have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Monterey, California?
The median household income in Monterey is approximately $110,669 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Monterey, California?
Yes, Monterey has 7 private schools alongside 6 public schools. The top-rated private school is Trinity Christian High School with a score of 8.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Monterey, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Monterey is 15.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Monterey, 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.