Best Schools in Orcutt, California
9 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Orcutt?
Use this page to compare every school in Orcutt 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.
Pine Grove Elementary
Elementary · Orcutt Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Orcutt School for Independent Study
Elementary · Orcutt Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Joe Nightingale Elementary
Elementary · Orcutt Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Orcutt for 2026 are Pine Grove Elementary (7.5/10), Orcutt School for Independent Study (7.3/10), and Joe Nightingale Elementary (6.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 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
9
in this city
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$572,700
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
9
in this city
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$572,700
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.5/10 despite 44% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 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 Orcutt schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Orcutt schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Orcutt
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pine Grove Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Orcutt School for Independent Study | 7.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Joe Nightingale Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Orcutt Academy Charter | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Patterson Road Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Lakeview Junior High | 5.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Orcutt Junior High | 5.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Alice Shaw Elementary | 4.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Ralph Dunlap Elementary | 3.2 / 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
- $108,501
- Median home value
- $572,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 78%
22% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Orcutt compares
California rank
#380 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$109k
109% of California median
Schools in this city
9
About Schools in Orcutt, California
Orcutt, California is home to 9 schools, including 9 public schools. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Orcutt 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 Orcutt is Pine Grove Elementary with a composite score of 7.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Orcutt is served by 1 school district: Orcutt Union Elementary. These districts collectively serve 4,764 students.
Orcutt's community shows 32% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $108,501. The poverty rate in the area is 7.2%.
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
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 547 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.5 |
| 2 | 44 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.3 |
| 3 | 684 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 641 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.5 |
| 5 | 526 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.9 |
| 6 | 486 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.2 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 426 students · 7th–8th | 5.9 |
| 2 | 480 students · 7th–8th | 5.2 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 778 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.7 |
Schools in Orcutt
Orcutt, California · 9 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$108,501
Median Home Value
$572,700
Median Rent
$2,267/mo
Population
44,350
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
78%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Community Profile
Orcutt has a median household income of $108,501. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $572,700, with a median rent of $2,267/month. The local poverty rate of 7.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
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 Orcutt, California
How many schools are in Orcutt, California?
Orcutt has 9 schools, including 9 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Orcutt, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Orcutt 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 Orcutt, California?
The top-ranked school in Orcutt on MySchoolScout is Pine Grove Elementary with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Orcutt, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Orcutt on MySchoolScout is Pine Grove Elementary with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Orcutt, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Orcutt on MySchoolScout is Lakeview Junior High with a composite score of 5.9/10.
How many school districts serve Orcutt, California?
Orcutt is served by 1 school district: Orcutt Union Elementary.
What is the education level in Orcutt, California?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Orcutt have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Orcutt, California?
The median household income in Orcutt is approximately $108,501 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Orcutt, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Orcutt is 23.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Orcutt, 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.