Best Schools in Northridge, California
30 schools · 18 Elementary · 3 Middle · 6 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Northridge?
Use this page to compare every school in Northridge 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.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle
Middle · Los Angeles Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Valley International Preparatory High
High · Valley International Preparatory High District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Andasol Avenue Elementary
Elementary · Los Angeles Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Northridge for 2026 are Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle (9.4/10), Valley International Preparatory High (8.8/10), and Andasol Avenue Elementary (8.7/10), 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
30
15 public · 15 private
Avg Score
7.6
out of 10
Median Home
$882,875
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
30
15 public · 15 private
Avg Score
7.6
out of 10
Median Home
$882,875
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 9.4/10 despite 72% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 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 Northridge schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Northridge schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Northridge
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 15 rated schools; 30 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Valley International Preparatory High | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Andasol Avenue Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Lorne Street Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy | 8.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Napa Street Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Calahan Street Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Magnolia Science Academy 7 | 8.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Topeka Charter School for Advanced Studies | 8.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Balboa Gifted/high Ability Magnet Elementary | 8.0 / 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
- 7.6/10
- Median household income
- $105,698
- Median home value
- $882,875
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 55%
72% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Northridge compares
California rank
#26 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.3
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$106k
106% of California median
Schools in this city
25
Los Angeles Unified runs 87% of Northridge's public schools
Northridge touches 3 districts, but Los Angeles Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Los Angeles Unified accounts for 13 of 15 public schools (87%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 15 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 6.2 to 9.4 — the spread is inside Northridge, not a citywide average.
- Los Angeles Unified13 public · 87%
- Magnolia Science Academy 7 District1 public · 7%
- Valley International Preparatory High District1 public · 7%
About Schools in Northridge, California
Northridge has 15 ranked public schools with an average score of 7.8 out of 10. Ten of those 15 schools — 67 percent — score 7 or above, meaning parents here face a genuine range of solid options, not a single standout surrounded by average performers. That breadth matters as much as the average: this is not a city where parents are betting on one outlier to carry the entire profile.
The highest-performing schools are tightly clustered and span every grade level. Valley International Preparatory High and Beckford Charter for Enriched Studies both score 9.2, the top marks in the city. Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary, Darby Avenue Elementary, and Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle all score 9.1. Five schools at 9.1 or above covering elementary, middle, and high school — that depth across all three grade bands is uncommon and matters directly for families who want to stay in one neighborhood without losing academic quality at each transition.
The charter and magnet structure adds a practical layer. Beckford (enriched studies) and Balboa (gifted/high ability magnet) are both elementary-level, both anchor the top of Northridge's performance range, and both require more than a correct address to enroll. Seats are selective — applications, qualifying criteria, or both. Families targeting these programs should start the process early and confirm their zoned neighborhood school as the fallback before counting on placement at the specialized options.
For parents still comparing cities, the read is favorable. Two-thirds of Northridge's ranked schools clear the 7-out-of-10 mark, the citywide average sits at 7.8, and the ceiling reaches 9.2. Verify your address-based zoning, check whether your child qualifies for the charter and magnet programs, and you have a complete picture of what's available at every level.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 397 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 387 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.7 |
| 3 | 519 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 |
| 4 | 433 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 |
| 5 | 457 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 6 | 280 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 7 | 604 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 8 | 682 students · 1st–5th | 8.0 |
| 9 | 599 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 |
| 10 | 390 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 |
Show all 18 elementary schools in Northridge
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 871 students · 6th–8th | 9.4 |
| 2 | 1,839 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 724 students · 6th–8th | 7.8 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 276 students · 9th–12th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 916 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 30 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 86 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 25 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Dubnoff SchoolPrivate 61 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highland Hall Waldorf SchoolPrivate 199 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | San Fernando Valley AcademyPrivate 120 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
| 3 | Heritage Christian SchoolPrivate 1,162 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Northridge
Northridge, California · 30 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$105,698
Median Home Value
$882,875
Median Rent
$2,250/mo
Population
163,301
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
55%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Community Profile
Northridge has a median household income of $105,698. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $882,875, with a median rent of $2,250/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.1%. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 18
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 6
- Other
- 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 Northridge, California
How many schools are in Northridge, California?
Northridge has 30 schools, including 15 public and 15 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Northridge, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Northridge is 7.6 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 Northridge, California?
The top-ranked school in Northridge on MySchoolScout is Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Northridge, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Northridge on MySchoolScout is Andasol Avenue Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Northridge, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Northridge on MySchoolScout is Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best high school in Northridge, California?
The top-ranked high school in Northridge on MySchoolScout is Valley International Preparatory High with a composite score of 8.8/10.
How many school districts serve Northridge, California?
Northridge is served by 3 school districts: Valley International Preparatory High District, Magnolia Science Academy 7 District, Los Angeles Unified.
What is the education level in Northridge, California?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Northridge have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Northridge, California?
The median household income in Northridge is approximately $105,698 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Northridge, California?
Yes, Northridge has 15 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Highland Hall Waldorf School with a score of 8.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Northridge, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Northridge is 15.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Northridge, 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.