Best Schools in Pleasant Hill, California
15 schools · 7 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 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.
Valley View Middle
Middle · Mt. Diablo Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Pleasant Hill Middle
Middle · Mt. Diablo Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Prospect High (continuation)
High · Mt. Diablo Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Pleasant Hill for 2026 are Valley View Middle (7.3/10), Pleasant Hill Middle (7.1/10), and Prospect High (continuation) (6.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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
15
12 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$851,150
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
15
12 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$851,150
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.3/10 despite 31% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 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 (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 15 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley View Middle | 7.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Pleasant Hill Middle | 7.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Prospect High (continuation) | 6.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Horizons School: Independent Study | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | College Park High | 6.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Valhalla Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Fair Oaks Elementary | 5.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Sequoia Elementary | 5.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Strandwood Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Pleasant Hill Elementary | 5.2 / 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
- $133,140
- Median home value
- $851,150
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 44%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 71%
21% 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
#402 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$133k
134% of California median
Schools in this city
14
Mt. Diablo Unified runs Pleasant Hill's public schools
12 public schools. Mt. Diablo Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Pleasant Hill is a Mt. Diablo Unified school (12 of 12).
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.3 to 7.3 — the spread is inside Pleasant Hill, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Pleasant Hill, California
Pleasant Hill, California is home to 15 schools, including 12 public schools and 3 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Pleasant Hill show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite 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 8.3/10, 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
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 686 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 297 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | 594 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.7 | ||
| 4 | 600 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 | ||
| 5 | 646 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 | ||
| 6 | 384 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 322 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 785 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 719 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 835 students · 6th–8th | 4.8 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 1,997 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Grayson Creek AcademyPrivate 6 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 216 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 114 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill, California · 15 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
- 7
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 3
- Other
- 2
Resources
School District
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 15 schools, including 12 public and 3 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 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 Pleasant Hill, California?
The top-ranked school in Pleasant Hill on MySchoolScout is Valley View Middle with a composite score of 7.3/10.
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 5.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Pleasant Hill, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Pleasant Hill on MySchoolScout is Valley View Middle with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best high school in Pleasant Hill, California?
The top-ranked high school in Pleasant Hill on MySchoolScout is Prospect High (continuation) with a composite score of 6.9/10.
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 3 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy with a score of 8.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pleasant Hill, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Pleasant Hill is 21.0:1. 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
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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- 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.