Best Schools in National City, California
17 schools · 12 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High
Choosing a school in National City?
Use this page to compare every school in National City 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.
EL Toyon Elementary
Elementary · National Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
John A. Otis Elementary
Elementary · National Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ira Harbison
Elementary · National Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in National City for 2026 are EL Toyon Elementary (7.9/10), John A. Otis Elementary (7.8/10), and Ira Harbison (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 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
15 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$580,700
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
17
15 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$580,700
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 7.9/10 despite 83% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 National City schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among National City schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in National City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 15 rated schools; 17 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | EL Toyon Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | John A. Otis Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Ira Harbison | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Olivewood | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Palmer Way | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | National City Middle | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Rancho De La Nacion | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Integrity Charter | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Granger Junior High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Lincoln Acres | 6.0 / 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
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $63,858
- Median home value
- $580,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 17%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 35%
47% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How National City compares
California rank
#370 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$64k
64% of California median
Schools in this city
15
National Elementary runs 67% of National City's public schools
National City touches 4 districts, but National Elementary is the one most addresses actually attend.
National Elementary accounts for 10 of 15 public schools (67%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 5.
Among 15 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.8 to 7.9 — the spread is inside National City, not a citywide average.
- National Elementary10 public · 67%
- Sweetwater Union High3 public · 20%
- Integrity Charter District1 public · 7%
- San Diego Workforce Innovation High District1 public · 7%
About Schools in National City, California
National City, California is home to 17 schools, including 15 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 12 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.2 out of 10, schools in National City show moderate performance 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 National City is EL Toyon Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
National City is served by 4 school districts. These districts collectively serve 42,287 students.
National City's community shows 17% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $63,858. The poverty rate in the area is 14.3%.
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
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 411 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 400 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.8 |
| 3 | 372 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.4 |
| 4 | 440 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.3 |
| 5 | 415 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.3 |
| 6 | 358 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.1 |
| 7 | 369 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.8 |
| 8 | 449 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.0 |
| 9 | 508 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.6 |
| 10 | 356 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.3 |
Show all 12 elementary schools in National City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 678 students · 7th–8th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 743 students · 7th–9th | 6.8 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,425 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 2 | 2,492 students · 9th–12th | 2.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 94 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in National City
National City, California · 17 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$63,858
Median Home Value
$580,700
Median Rent
$1,600/mo
Population
57,173
College Educated
17%
Homeownership
35%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Community Profile
National City has a median household income of $63,858. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $580,700, with a median rent of $1,600/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.3%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
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 National City, California
How many schools are in National City, California?
National City has 17 schools, including 15 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in National City, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in National City is 6.2 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 National City, California?
The top-ranked school in National City on MySchoolScout is EL Toyon Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in National City, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in National City on MySchoolScout is EL Toyon Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best middle school in National City, California?
The top-ranked middle school in National City on MySchoolScout is National City Middle with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best high school in National City, California?
The top-ranked high school in National City on MySchoolScout is Sweetwater High with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve National City, California?
National City is served by 4 school districts: Integrity Charter District, San Diego Workforce Innovation High District, National Elementary, Sweetwater Union High.
What is the education level in National City, California?
According to Census data, 17% of adults in National City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in National City, California?
The median household income in National City is approximately $63,858 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in National City, California?
Yes, National City has 2 private schools alongside 15 public schools.
What is the student-teacher ratio in National City, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in National City is 21.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in National City, 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.