Best Schools in North Highlands, California
13 schools · 8 Elementary · 4 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in North Highlands?
Use this page to compare every school in North Highlands 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.
Sierra View Elementary
Elementary · Twin Rivers Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Miles P. Richmond
High · Twin Rivers Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Creative Connections Arts Academy
Other · Twin Rivers Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in North Highlands for 2026 are Sierra View Elementary (7.9/10), Miles P. Richmond (7.7/10), and Creative Connections Arts Academy (7.7/10), 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
13
12 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$330,600
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
13
12 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$330,600
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.5/10 despite 91% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 North Highlands schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +11.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among North Highlands schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in North Highlands
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra View Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Miles P. Richmond | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Creative Connections Arts Academy | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Kohler Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Frederick Joyce Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Highlands High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Village Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Pacific Career and Technology High | 5.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Oakdale Elementary | 5.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Hillsdale Elementary | 4.2 / 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
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $66,957
- Median home value
- $330,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 11%
- Avg commute
- 32 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 60%
46% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How North Highlands compares
California rank
#414 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$67k
67% of California median
Schools in this city
13
Twin Rivers Unified runs North Highlands's public schools
12 public schools. Twin Rivers Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in North Highlands is a Twin Rivers Unified school (12 of 12).
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.0 to 7.9 — the spread is inside North Highlands, not a citywide average.
About Schools in North Highlands, California
North Highlands, California is home to 13 schools, including 12 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, , and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in North Highlands 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 North Highlands is Sierra View Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
North Highlands is served by 1 school district: Twin Rivers Unified. These districts collectively serve 24,386 students.
North Highlands's community shows 11% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $66,957. The poverty rate in the area is 19.3%.
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
8 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 284 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 374 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.6 |
| 3 | 513 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.5 |
| 4 | 456 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.9 |
| 5 | 547 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.0 |
| 6 | 236 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.2 |
| 7 | 745 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.3 |
| 8 | 389 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.0 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | 754 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 3 | 78 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 45 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 705 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.7 |
Schools in North Highlands
North Highlands, California · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$66,957
Median Home Value
$330,600
Median Rent
$1,650/mo
Population
35,668
College Educated
11%
Homeownership
60%
Avg Commute
32 min
Poverty Rate
19.3%
Community Profile
North Highlands has a median household income of $66,957. It is a community where 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $330,600, with a median rent of $1,650/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.3%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 8
- High
- 4
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
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 North Highlands, California
How many schools are in North Highlands, California?
North Highlands has 13 schools, including 12 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in North Highlands, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in North Highlands is 6.0 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 North Highlands, California?
The top-ranked school in North Highlands on MySchoolScout is Sierra View Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in North Highlands, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in North Highlands on MySchoolScout is Sierra View Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in North Highlands, California?
The top-ranked high school in North Highlands on MySchoolScout is Miles P. Richmond with a composite score of 7.7/10.
How many school districts serve North Highlands, California?
North Highlands is served by 1 school district: Twin Rivers Unified.
What is the education level in North Highlands, California?
According to Census data, 11% of adults in North Highlands have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in North Highlands, California?
The median household income in North Highlands is approximately $66,957 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in North Highlands, California?
Yes, North Highlands has 1 private school alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Chesterton Academy of Sacramento with a score of 5.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in North Highlands, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in North Highlands is 19.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in North Highlands, 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.