Best Schools in Pico Rivera, California
19 schools · 13 Elementary · 3 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Pico Rivera?
Use this page to compare every school in Pico Rivera 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.
Rio Vista Elementary
Elementary · EL Rancho Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Steam Academy @ Burke
Middle · EL Rancho Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Magee Academy of Arts & Sciences
Elementary · EL Rancho Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Pico Rivera for 2026 are Rio Vista Elementary (8.4/10), Steam Academy @ Burke (7.9/10), and Magee Academy of Arts & Sciences (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 14 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
19
14 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$621,400
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
19
14 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$621,400
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.4/10 despite 81% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Pico Rivera schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Pico Rivera schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Pico Rivera
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 14 rated schools; 19 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rio Vista Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Steam Academy @ Burke | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Magee Academy of Arts & Sciences | 7.8 / 10 |
| 4 | North Ranchito Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Montebello Gardens Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Rivera Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Birney Tech Academy | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | EL Rancho High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Rivera Middle | 5.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Valencia Academy of the Arts | 5.6 / 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
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $86,956
- Median home value
- $621,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 16%
- Avg commute
- 30 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70%
44% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Pico Rivera compares
California rank
#305 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.0
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$87k
87% of California median
Schools in this city
16
EL Rancho Unified runs Pico Rivera's public schools
14 public schools. EL Rancho Unified is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Pico Rivera is a EL Rancho Unified school (13 of 14).
Among 14 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.3 to 8.4 — the spread is inside Pico Rivera, not a citywide average.
- EL Rancho Unified13 public · 93%
- Montebello Unified1 public · 7%
About Schools in Pico Rivera, California
Pico Rivera's public school landscape spans 14 ranked schools with an average score of 6.4 out of 10. That average masks a clear split: 6 of those 14 schools — 43% — score 7 or above, giving parents a meaningful tier of strong options within city limits.
The top performer is El Rancho High, earning an 8.5, the highest mark among all ranked schools here. That's a strong ceiling for families mapping out a full K-12 path. At the elementary level, Birney Tech Academy leads with an 8.3, followed by Magee Academy of Arts & Sciences at 7.5 and Montebello Gardens Elementary at 7.3. South Ranchito Dual Language Academy rounds out the upper tier at 7.0 — a targeted option for families seeking bilingual instruction from the early grades.
The city's ranked schools include several distinct program models. Birney's technology focus and Magee's arts-and-sciences combination set them apart from standard neighborhood schools. South Ranchito's dual-language structure serves families prioritizing Spanish-English development from day one. Each of these carries a specific identity that parents can weigh directly against what their child needs, rather than relying on geography alone.
The practical takeaway: school selection matters more in Pico Rivera than in cities where performance clusters tightly around the average. The spread between the city mean (6.4) and the strongest schools (8.3–8.5) is substantial. Families assigned to lower-performing schools should actively research enrollment options — specialty programs, dual-language pathways, and intra-district choice are all worth exploring. The good news is that 43% of ranked schools clear a 7.0 threshold, which means high-quality public school seats exist here. Finding them requires some homework.
Elementary Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 386 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 | ||
| 2 | 393 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 3 | 334 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 4 | 224 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 | ||
| 5 | 479 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 6 | 341 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 | ||
| 7 | 397 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 | ||
| 8 | 342 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 | ||
| 9 | 351 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Marianne SchoolPrivate 238 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 13 elementary schools in Pico Rivera
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 | 558 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 544 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 3 | 531 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,104 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 222 students · 9th–12th | 3.3 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armenian Mesrobian SchoolPrivate 235 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Pico Rivera
Pico Rivera, California · 19 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$86,956
Median Home Value
$621,400
Median Rent
$1,775/mo
Population
60,821
College Educated
16%
Homeownership
70%
Avg Commute
30 min
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Community Profile
Pico Rivera has a median household income of $86,956. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $621,400, with a median rent of $1,775/month. The local poverty rate of 9.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 13
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
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 Pico Rivera, California
How many schools are in Pico Rivera, California?
Pico Rivera has 19 schools, including 14 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Pico Rivera, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Pico Rivera is 6.4 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 Pico Rivera, California?
The top-ranked school in Pico Rivera on MySchoolScout is Rio Vista Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Pico Rivera, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Pico Rivera on MySchoolScout is Rio Vista Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Pico Rivera, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Pico Rivera on MySchoolScout is Steam Academy @ Burke with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Pico Rivera, California?
The top-ranked high school in Pico Rivera on MySchoolScout is EL Rancho High with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Pico Rivera, California?
Pico Rivera is served by 2 school districts: EL Rancho Unified, Montebello Unified.
What is the education level in Pico Rivera, California?
According to Census data, 16% of adults in Pico Rivera have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Pico Rivera, California?
The median household income in Pico Rivera is approximately $86,956 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Pico Rivera, California?
Yes, Pico Rivera has 5 private schools alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is Armenian Mesrobian School with a score of 7.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pico Rivera, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Pico Rivera is 21.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Pico Rivera, 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.