Best Schools in Patterson, California
10 schools · 5 Elementary · 1 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Patterson?
Use this page to compare every school in Patterson 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.
Northmead Elementary
Elementary · Patterson Joint Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Patterson High
High · Patterson Joint Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Open Valley Independent Study
Other · Patterson Joint Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Patterson for 2026 are Northmead Elementary (7.3/10), Patterson High (6.8/10), and Open Valley Independent Study (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
10
9 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$448,000
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
10
9 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$448,000
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.3/10 despite 81% 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 Patterson schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Patterson schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Patterson
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northmead Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Patterson High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Open Valley Independent Study | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Sacred Heart Catholic School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Walnut Grove Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Creekside Middle | 5.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Las Palmas Elementary | 5.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Del Puerto High | 3.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Apricot Valley 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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $99,321
- Median home value
- $448,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 15%
- Avg commute
- 45 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 72%
11% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Patterson compares
California rank
#463 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$99k
100% of California median
Schools in this city
9
About Schools in Patterson, California
Patterson, California is home to 10 schools, including 9 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.6 out of 10, schools in Patterson 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 Patterson is Northmead Elementary with a composite score of 7.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Patterson is served by 1 school district: Patterson Joint Unified. These districts collectively serve 6,138 students.
Patterson's community shows 15% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $99,321. The poverty rate in the area is 8.9%.
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
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 567 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | 698 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.8 | ||
| 3 | 663 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.0 | ||
| 4 | 817 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.2 | ||
| 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 | Sacred Heart Catholic School
Private
184 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.3 | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 897 students · 7th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,855 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 103 students · 9th–12th | 3.7 |
| 3 | 22 students · 12th–12th | — |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 136 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.8 |
Schools in Patterson
Patterson, California · 10 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$99,321
Median Home Value
$448,000
Median Rent
$1,464/mo
Population
30,407
College Educated
15%
Homeownership
72%
Avg Commute
45 min
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Community Profile
Patterson has a median household income of $99,321. It is a community where 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $448,000, with a median rent of $1,464/month. The local poverty rate of 8.9% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 45 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 3
- 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 Patterson, California
How many schools are in Patterson, California?
Patterson has 10 schools, including 9 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Patterson, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Patterson is 5.6 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 Patterson, California?
The top-ranked school in Patterson on MySchoolScout is Northmead Elementary with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Patterson, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Patterson on MySchoolScout is Northmead Elementary with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Patterson, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Patterson on MySchoolScout is Creekside Middle with a composite score of 5.3/10.
What is the best high school in Patterson, California?
The top-ranked high school in Patterson on MySchoolScout is Patterson High with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Patterson, California?
Patterson is served by 1 school district: Patterson Joint Unified.
What is the education level in Patterson, California?
According to Census data, 15% of adults in Patterson have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Patterson, California?
The median household income in Patterson is approximately $99,321 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Patterson, California?
Yes, Patterson has 1 private school alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Sacred Heart Catholic School with a score of 6.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Patterson, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Patterson is 21.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Patterson, 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.