Best Schools in Pleasanton, California
30 schools · 15 Elementary · 7 Middle · 5 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Pleasanton?
Use this page to compare every school in Pleasanton 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.
The Pleasanton Virtual Academy
Other · Pleasanton Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Amador Valley High
High · Pleasanton Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Lydiksen Elementary
Elementary · Pleasanton Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Pleasanton for 2026 are The Pleasanton Virtual Academy (9.1/10), Amador Valley High (8.7/10), and Lydiksen Elementary (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 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
30
16 public · 14 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$1,434,700
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
30
16 public · 14 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$1,434,700
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 9.1/10 despite 8% 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 Pleasanton schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +4.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Pleasanton schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Pleasanton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 16 rated schools; 30 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Pleasanton Virtual Academy | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Amador Valley High | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Lydiksen Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Foothill High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Henry P. Mohr Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Alisal Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Walnut Grove Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Thomas S. Hart Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Harvest Park Middle | 7.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Vintage Hills Elementary | 6.7 / 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
- 6.9/10
- Median household income
- $187,145
- Median home value
- $1,434,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 69%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
52% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Pleasanton compares
California rank
#133 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.6
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$187k
188% of California median
Schools in this city
21
Pleasanton Unified runs Pleasanton's public schools
16 public schools. Pleasanton Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Pleasanton is a Pleasanton Unified school (16 of 16).
Among 16 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.3 to 9.1 — the spread is inside Pleasanton, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton, California runs 15 ranked public schools with an average score of 7.4 out of 10. That average alone tells a useful story, but the distribution matters more: 11 of those 15 schools — 73% — score 7 or above, which means strong performance is the norm here, not the exception. Parents comparing Pleasanton to neighboring cities will find consistency as the defining feature of this system.
The highest-rated school in the city is Harvest Park Middle, at 8.8 out of 10. Donlon Elementary follows at 8.5, and Thomas S. Hart Middle and Foothill High both score 8.4. Amador Valley High rounds out the top five at 8.1. With both comprehensive high schools scoring above 8.0, families have strong secondary options regardless of which side of the city they land on.
The middle school tier stands out. Harvest Park Middle (8.8) and Hart Middle (8.4) both run well above the 7.4 city average, so the transition years don't represent a dip in quality. Elementary performance is competitive too — Donlon's 8.5 suggests the upper-elementary pipeline feeds into those middle schools with real momentum behind it.
For parents still deciding between neighborhoods, the practical takeaway is straightforward. The gap between Pleasanton's top-rated school (8.8) and its citywide average (7.4) is just 1.4 points — narrow by any regional standard. Three of the top five schools across all grade levels score 8.4 or above. That ceiling-to-floor compression means most residential zones fall within reach of a high-performing school. Before committing to an address, confirm attendance boundaries for the high schools — with two strong options at 8.4 and 8.1, your zone assignment matters more for fit than for quality. Start your research at the middle school level: both ranked schools there consistently outperform the city average and are the clearest anchors in Pleasanton's system.
Elementary Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 610 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | 540 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 | ||
| 3 | 553 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 4 | 644 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 | ||
| 5 | 516 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 6 | 657 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.9 | ||
| 7 | 696 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 | ||
| 8 | 500 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 9 | 729 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.8 | ||
Private Schools6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 43 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 15 elementary schools in Pleasanton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,165 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 1,051 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 1,015 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 118 students · 6th–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Summa AcademyPrivate 58 students · 1st–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Big MindsPrivate 17 students · 3rd–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Stratford Middle SchoolPrivate 147 students · 6th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,574 students · 9th–12th | 8.7 | ||
| 2 | 2,208 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 | ||
| 3 | 85 students · 9th–12th | 4.3 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Fusion Academy PleasantonPrivate 2 students · 9th–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Acellus - CarrollPrivate 13 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 125 students · Kindergarten–12th | 9.1 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | All Aspects AcademyPrivate 8 students · Pre-K–9th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Lighthouse Baptist SchoolPrivate 12 students · 1st–9th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Pleasanton
Pleasanton, California · 30 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$187,145
Median Home Value
$1,434,700
Median Rent
$2,963/mo
Population
79,205
College Educated
69%
Homeownership
67%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Community Profile
Pleasanton has a median household income of $187,145. It is a well-educated community where 69% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,434,700, with a median rent of $2,963/month. The local poverty rate of 5.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 15
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 5
- Other
- 3
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 Pleasanton, California
How many schools are in Pleasanton, California?
Pleasanton has 30 schools, including 16 public and 14 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Pleasanton, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Pleasanton is 6.9 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 Pleasanton, California?
The top-ranked school in Pleasanton on MySchoolScout is The Pleasanton Virtual Academy with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Pleasanton, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Pleasanton on MySchoolScout is Lydiksen Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Pleasanton, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Pleasanton on MySchoolScout is Thomas S. Hart Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best high school in Pleasanton, California?
The top-ranked high school in Pleasanton on MySchoolScout is Amador Valley High with a composite score of 8.7/10.
How many school districts serve Pleasanton, California?
Pleasanton is served by 1 school district: Pleasanton Unified.
What is the education level in Pleasanton, California?
According to Census data, 69% of adults in Pleasanton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Pleasanton, California?
The median household income in Pleasanton is approximately $187,145 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Pleasanton, California?
Yes, Pleasanton has 14 private schools alongside 16 public schools. The top-rated private school is Hacienda Child Development Center, Pleasanton with a score of 7.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pleasanton, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Pleasanton is 15.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Pleasanton, 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 School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest 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
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
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.