Best Schools in Pleasant Hill, California
17 schools · 8 Elementary · 3 Middle · 4 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Pleasant Hill?
Use this page to compare every school in Pleasant Hill 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.
Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Horizons School: Independent Study
Other · Mt. Diablo Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
College Park High
High · Mt. Diablo Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Pleasant Hill for 2026 are Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy (7.8/10), Horizons School: Independent Study (6.6/10), and College Park High (6.5/10), 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
17
12 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$851,150
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
17
12 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$851,150
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 6.6/10 despite 39% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.3 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 Pleasant Hill schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Pleasant Hill schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Pleasant Hill
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (14 of 17). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Horizons School: Independent Study | 6.6 / 10 |
| 3 | College Park High | 6.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Valhalla Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Christ the King Catholic School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Sequoia Middle | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Valley View Middle | 6.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Pleasant Hill Middle | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Sequoia Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Strandwood Elementary | 5.8 / 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
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $133,140
- Median home value
- $851,150
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 44%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 71%
7% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Pleasant Hill compares
California rank
#395 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$133k
134% of California median
Schools in this city
14
About Schools in Pleasant Hill, California
Pleasant Hill, California is home to 17 schools, including 12 public schools and 5 private schools. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.9 out of 10, schools in Pleasant Hill 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 Pleasant Hill is Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy with a composite score of 7.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Pleasant Hill is served by 1 school district: Mt. Diablo Unified. These districts collectively serve 29,356 students.
Pleasant Hill's community shows 44% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $133,140. The poverty rate in the area is 7.0%.
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 | 686 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 594 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 | ||
| 3 | 600 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 | ||
| 4 | 646 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.0 | ||
| 5 | 384 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 6 | 297 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.1 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Christ the King Catholic School
Private
309 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | Christ the King Elementary
Private
324 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 835 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
| 2 | 785 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 3 | 719 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,997 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 75 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Grayson Creek Academy
Private
6 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| 2 | Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy
Private
117 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 216 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 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 | Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy
Private
107 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.8 | ||
Schools in Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill, California · 17 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$133,140
Median Home Value
$851,150
Median Rent
$2,425/mo
Population
56,641
College Educated
44%
Homeownership
71%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Community Profile
Pleasant Hill has a median household income of $133,140. It is a well-educated community where 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $851,150, with a median rent of $2,425/month. The local poverty rate of 7.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 4
- Other
- 2
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 Pleasant Hill, California
How many schools are in Pleasant Hill, California?
Pleasant Hill has 17 schools, including 12 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Pleasant Hill, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Pleasant Hill is 5.9 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 Pleasant Hill, California?
The top-ranked school in Pleasant Hill on MySchoolScout is Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Pleasant Hill, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Pleasant Hill on MySchoolScout is Valhalla Elementary with a composite score of 6.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Pleasant Hill, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Pleasant Hill on MySchoolScout is Sequoia Middle with a composite score of 6.4/10.
What is the best high school in Pleasant Hill, California?
The top-ranked high school in Pleasant Hill on MySchoolScout is College Park High with a composite score of 6.5/10.
How many school districts serve Pleasant Hill, California?
Pleasant Hill is served by 1 school district: Mt. Diablo Unified.
What is the education level in Pleasant Hill, California?
According to Census data, 44% of adults in Pleasant Hill have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Pleasant Hill, California?
The median household income in Pleasant Hill is approximately $133,140 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Pleasant Hill, California?
Yes, Pleasant Hill has 5 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy with a score of 7.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pleasant Hill, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Pleasant Hill is 20.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Pleasant Hill, 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
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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.