Best Schools in Poway, California
20 schools · 12 Elementary · 4 Middle · 2 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Poway?
Use this page to compare every school in Poway 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.
Garden Road Elementary
Elementary · Poway Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Pomerado Elementary
Elementary · Poway Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Poway High
High · Poway Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Poway for 2026 are Garden Road Elementary (8.4/10), Pomerado Elementary (8.3/10), and Poway High (7.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 13 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
20
13 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$971,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
20
13 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$971,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 35% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 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 Poway schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Poway schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Poway
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 13 rated schools; 20 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garden Road Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Pomerado Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Poway High | 7.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Tierra Bonita Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Midland Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Meadowbrook Middle | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Valley Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Chaparral Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Twin Peaks Middle | 5.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Cabrillo Point Academy | 5.4 / 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
- 6.3/10
- Median household income
- $144,201
- Median home value
- $971,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 54%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 76%
25% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Poway compares
California rank
#328 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.0
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$144k
145% of California median
Schools in this city
16
Poway Unified runs 85% of Poway's public schools
Poway touches 3 districts, but Poway Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Poway Unified accounts for 11 of 13 public schools (85%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 13 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.1 to 8.4 — the spread is inside Poway, not a citywide average.
- Poway Unified11 public · 85%
- Cabrillo Point Academy District1 public · 8%
- Pacific Coast Academy District1 public · 8%
About Schools in Poway, California
Poway, California is home to 20 schools, including 13 public schools and 7 private schools. The city's schools span 12 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.3 out of 10, schools in Poway 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 Poway is Garden Road Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Poway is served by 3 school districts: Pacific Coast Academy District, Cabrillo Point Academy District, Poway Unified. These districts collectively serve 45,431 students.
Poway's community shows 54% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $144,201. The poverty rate in the area is 5.2%.
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
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 532 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 | ||
| 2 | 342 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 | ||
| 3 | 399 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 4 | 588 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.4 | ||
| 5 | 659 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 6 | 869 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 | ||
| 7 | 608 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 | ||
Private Schools5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 85 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | St Michael's SchoolPrivate 558 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Legacy Montessori SchoolPrivate 18 students · Pre-K–4th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 12 elementary schools in Poway
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 984 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 | ||
| 2 | 1,101 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Newbridge SchoolPrivate 97 students · 1st–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | The Koonings CenterPrivate 22 students · 2nd–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,161 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 |
| 2 | 243 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4,884 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.4 |
| 2 | 5,612 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.3 |
Schools in Poway
Poway, California · 20 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$144,201
Median Home Value
$971,600
Median Rent
$2,261/mo
Population
48,555
College Educated
54%
Homeownership
76%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Community Profile
Poway has a median household income of $144,201. It is a well-educated community where 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $971,600, with a median rent of $2,261/month. The local poverty rate of 5.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 2
- Other
- 2
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 Poway, California
How many schools are in Poway, California?
Poway has 20 schools, including 13 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Poway, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Poway is 6.3 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 Poway, California?
The top-ranked school in Poway on MySchoolScout is Garden Road Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Poway, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Poway on MySchoolScout is Garden Road Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Poway, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Poway on MySchoolScout is Meadowbrook Middle with a composite score of 6.0/10.
What is the best high school in Poway, California?
The top-ranked high school in Poway on MySchoolScout is Poway High with a composite score of 7.8/10.
How many school districts serve Poway, California?
Poway is served by 3 school districts: Pacific Coast Academy District, Cabrillo Point Academy District, Poway Unified.
What is the education level in Poway, California?
According to Census data, 54% of adults in Poway have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Poway, California?
The median household income in Poway is approximately $144,201 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Poway, California?
Yes, Poway has 7 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Country Montessori School of Poway with a score of 7.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Poway, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Poway is 17.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Poway, 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.