Best Schools in Murrieta, California
34 schools · 19 Elementary · 5 Middle · 6 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Murrieta?
Use this page to compare every school in Murrieta 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.
Alta Murrieta Elementary
Elementary · Murrieta Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Antelope Hills Elementary
Elementary · Murrieta Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Murrieta Elementary
Elementary · Murrieta Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Murrieta for 2026 are Alta Murrieta Elementary (8.2/10), Antelope Hills Elementary (7.9/10), and Murrieta Elementary (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 24 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
34
25 public · 9 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$622,350
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
34
25 public · 9 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$622,350
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.2/10 despite 58% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 Murrieta schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Murrieta schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Murrieta
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 24 rated schools; 34 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alta Murrieta Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Antelope Hills Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Murrieta Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Murrieta Canyon Academy | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Murrieta Mesa High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Dorothy Mcelhinney Middle | 7.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Vista Murrieta High | 7.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Method Schools La | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Rail Ranch Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | E. Hale Curran Elementary | 7.1 / 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
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $115,862
- Median home value
- $622,350
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 34%
- Avg commute
- 38 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73%
48% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Murrieta compares
California rank
#236 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$116k
116% of California median
Schools in this city
29
Murrieta Valley Unified runs 80% of Murrieta's public schools
Murrieta touches 5 districts, but Murrieta Valley Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Murrieta Valley Unified accounts for 20 of 25 public schools (80%). The other 4 districts hold the remaining 5.
Among 24 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.2 to 8.2 — the spread is inside Murrieta, not a citywide average.
- Murrieta Valley Unified20 public · 80%
- Temecula Valley Unified2 public · 8%
- Menifee Union1 public · 4%
- Method Schools La District1 public · 4%
- Methodschools District1 public · 4%
About Schools in Murrieta, California
Murrieta, California offers a solid public school landscape with 24 ranked schools and an average score of 6.0 out of 10 — a respectable baseline that reflects a mid-to-upper tier suburban district. What sets Murrieta apart is its concentration of strong performers: 7 schools, or 29% of the ranked total, score 7 or higher, giving families meaningful options across grade levels.
The high school tier leads the city. Murrieta Valley High tops the rankings at 8.5 out of 10, making it one of the strongest comprehensive high schools parents will find in Riverside County. Vista Murrieta High and Murrieta Mesa High both score 7.3, which means families have three quality public high school options — a rare advantage in a city this size. That kind of depth at the secondary level matters when students enter with different academic profiles and interests.
Elementary families have a standout option in Tovashal Elementary, rated 8.0 out of 10. Murrieta Canyon Academy rounds out the top five at 7.7, offering an alternative pathway that earns strong marks. Below the top tier, the remaining schools cluster around the city average of 6.0, which indicates a district that performs consistently without dramatic drops — useful to know when housing options push families toward schools outside the headline names.
For parents comparing Murrieta to neighboring cities, the 29% rate of 7-plus-rated schools is a meaningful benchmark. It signals that strong options are distributed across the city rather than concentrated in one pocket. Families should cross-reference school boundaries with their target neighborhoods early — the gap between an 8.5-rated school and a 6.0-rated school in the same city is real, and boundary lines in growing Southern California suburbs shift as new developments come online. Start with Murrieta Valley High's feeder elementary and middle schools if maximizing academic trajectory is the priority; the pipeline from those schools into Murrieta Valley High is the clearest high-performance path the city offers.
Elementary Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 903 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 841 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 904 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
| 4 | 640 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 590 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 6 | 1,062 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 |
| 7 | 843 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 |
| 8 | 802 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 |
| 9 | 977 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 |
| 10 | 832 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 |
Show all 19 elementary schools in Murrieta
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,442 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 2 | 1,299 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 3 | 1,595 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
| 4 | 818 students · 6th–8th | 5.6 |
| 5 | 1,203 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,228 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 3,382 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 2,173 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 4 | 7 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Grace Christian SchoolPrivate 8 students · 4th–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 143 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 369 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 205 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 361 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.1 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 108 students · 4th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Murrieta
Murrieta, California · 34 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$115,862
Median Home Value
$622,350
Median Rent
$2,425/mo
Population
142,976
College Educated
34%
Homeownership
73%
Avg Commute
38 min
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Community Profile
Murrieta has a median household income of $115,862. It is an area where 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $622,350, with a median rent of $2,425/month. The local poverty rate of 5.4% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 38 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 19
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 6
- Other
- 4
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 Murrieta, California
How many schools are in Murrieta, California?
Murrieta has 34 schools, including 25 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Murrieta, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Murrieta is 6.6 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 Murrieta, California?
The top-ranked school in Murrieta on MySchoolScout is Alta Murrieta Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Murrieta, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Murrieta on MySchoolScout is Alta Murrieta Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Murrieta, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Murrieta on MySchoolScout is Dorothy Mcelhinney Middle with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best high school in Murrieta, California?
The top-ranked high school in Murrieta on MySchoolScout is Murrieta Mesa High with a composite score of 7.5/10.
How many school districts serve Murrieta, California?
Murrieta is served by 5 school districts: Temecula Valley Unified, Murrieta Valley Unified, Methodschools District, Method Schools La District, Menifee Union.
What is the education level in Murrieta, California?
According to Census data, 34% of adults in Murrieta have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Murrieta, California?
The median household income in Murrieta is approximately $115,862 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Murrieta, California?
Yes, Murrieta has 9 private schools alongside 25 public schools. The top-rated private school is Childrens Lighthouse Learning Center with a score of 8.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Murrieta, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Murrieta 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 Murrieta, 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
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
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.