Best Schools in National City, California
16 schools · 11 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; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Palmer Way
Elementary · National Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Granger Junior High
Middle · Sweetwater Union High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in National City for 2026 are EL Toyon Elementary (5.8/10), Palmer Way (5.6/10), and Granger Junior High (5.2/10), 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
16
15 public · 1 private
Avg Score
4.5
out of 10
Median Home
$580,700
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
16
15 public · 1 private
Avg Score
4.5
out of 10
Median Home
$580,700
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 5.8/10 despite 83% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.3 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 (15 of 16). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | EL Toyon Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Palmer Way | 5.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Granger Junior High | 5.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Sweetwater High | 5.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Ira Harbison | 4.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Kimball | 4.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Central Elementary | 4.7 / 10 |
| 8 | John A. Otis Elementary | 4.6 / 10 |
| 9 | National City Middle | 4.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Rancho De La Nacion | 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
- 4.5/10
- Median household income
- $63,858
- Median home value
- $580,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 17%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 35%
0% 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
#579 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.7
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$64k
64% of California median
Schools in this city
15
About Schools in National City, California
National City, California is home to 16 schools, including 15 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 11 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 4.5 out of 10, schools in National City show moderate performance 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 National City is EL Toyon Elementary with a composite score of 5.8/10, 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
11 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 411 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 415 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.6 |
| 3 | 372 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.8 |
| 4 | 356 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.8 |
| 5 | 508 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.7 |
| 6 | 400 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.6 |
| 7 | 358 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.5 |
| 8 | 489 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.8 |
| 9 | 440 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.7 |
| 10 | 449 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.4 |
Show all 11 elementary schools in National City
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 743 students · 7th–9th | 5.2 |
| 2 | 678 students · 7th–8th | 4.6 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,425 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
| 2 | 2,492 students · 9th–12th | 4.2 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 99 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in National City
National City, California · 16 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
- 11
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
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 National City, California
How many schools are in National City, California?
National City has 16 schools, including 15 public and 1 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 4.5 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 5.8/10.
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 5.8/10.
What is the best middle school in National City, California?
The top-ranked middle school in National City on MySchoolScout is Granger Junior High with a composite score of 5.2/10.
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 5.0/10.
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 1 private school 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 22.3:1. 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 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.