Best Schools in Redding, California
61 schools · 30 Elementary · 5 Middle · 20 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Redding?
Use this page to compare every school in Redding 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.
Rocky Point Charter
Elementary · Rocky Point Charter District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
University Preparatory
High · University Preparatory District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Sycamore Elementary
Elementary · Redding Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Redding for 2026 are Rocky Point Charter (9.2/10), University Preparatory (9.0/10), and Sycamore Elementary (8.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 41 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
61
44 public · 17 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$367,967
home value · ACS
Districts
17
serving the city
Schools
61
44 public · 17 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$367,967
home value · ACS
Districts
17
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 82% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Redding schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Redding schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Redding
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 41 rated schools; 61 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocky Point Charter | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | University Preparatory | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Sycamore Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Alta Mesa Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Cypress Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Shasta Collegiate Academy | 8.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Shasta Meadows Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Buckeye School of the Arts | 8.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Phoenix Charter Academy College View | 8.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Shasta Elementary | 8.0 / 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
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $72,208
- Median home value
- $367,967
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 26%
- Avg commute
- 17 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 60%
47% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Redding compares
California rank
#227 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$72k
72% of California median
Schools in this city
47
17 districts draw attendance lines through Redding
Redding is not one school system. 17 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 20% of the public campuses.
Enterprise Elementary is the largest slice at 9 of 44 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Redding address is choosing a district first.
Among 41 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.7 to 9.2 — the spread is inside Redding, not a citywide average.
10 of the 44 public schools are charters (23%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Enterprise Elementary9 public · 20%
- Redding Elementary9 public · 20%
- Gateway Unified5 public · 11%
- Shasta Union High4 public · 9%
- Columbia Elementary3 public · 7%
About Schools in Redding, California
Redding's public school system spans 40 ranked schools across elementary, middle, and high school levels, with an average score of 6.6 out of 10. That average tells part of the story — but the spread matters more to most families. Fifteen schools, or 38% of the total, score 7 or above, meaning parents who research carefully have real options at the higher end of the performance range.
At the top, Shasta High leads the city with a score of 8.8 out of 10, the highest-rated public school in Redding. Central Valley High follows closely at 8.7, giving families with high schoolers two strong options within reach. Both schools clear the 7+ threshold by a significant margin and represent the ceiling of what Redding's public system offers at the secondary level.
Strong elementary options are also available. Juniper Elementary scores 8.6, ranking it among the top three schools citywide regardless of level. Lassen View Elementary (8.5) and Sycamore Elementary (8.3) round out the top five, all sitting well above the city average. Parents focused on elementary placement have several competitive choices, though school assignment typically depends on attendance boundaries and district enrollment rules.
The practical picture: Redding offers a mixed landscape. More than half the ranked schools score below the city's 6.6 average, so location alone won't guarantee a top-performing school. Families should check specific scores rather than assume neighborhood schools perform similarly. The good news is that the top tier — Shasta High, Central Valley High, Juniper, Lassen View, and Sycamore — demonstrates that high-performing public options exist across grade levels. Parents willing to navigate enrollment zones, open enrollment periods, or district transfer policies have a reasonable shot at accessing them. Using school-level scores and percentile data, rather than district reputation alone, will give the clearest comparison when narrowing down choices.
Elementary Schools
30 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 179 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 269 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 287 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 4 | 209 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 5 | 325 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 6 | 451 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.1 |
| 7 | 102 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 |
| 8 | 463 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.9 |
| 9 | 614 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.8 |
| 10 | 90 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.6 |
Show all 30 elementary schools in Redding
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 495 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 433 students · 4th–8th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 385 students · 4th–8th | 5.6 | ||
| 4 | 315 students · 5th–8th | 4.9 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Acellus AcademyPrivate 13 students · 7th–7th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
20 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,016 students · 6th–12th | 9.0 |
| 2 | 119 students · 9th–12th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 583 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 |
| 4 | 270 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 5 | 1,284 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 60 students · 10th–12th | 6.4 |
| 7 | 36 students · 7th–12th | 6.2 |
| 8 | 1,158 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
| 9 | 107 students · 6th–12th | 5.4 |
| 10 | 218 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 |
Show all 20 high schools in Redding
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 290 students · Kindergarten–12th | 8.0 | ||
| 2 | 259 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 3 | 629 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 4 | 221 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 5 | 30 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Redding Adventist AcademyPrivate 85 students · Kindergarten–10th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Redding
Redding, California · 61 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$72,208
Median Home Value
$367,967
Median Rent
$1,307/mo
Population
112,200
College Educated
26%
Homeownership
60%
Avg Commute
17 min
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Community Profile
Redding has a median household income of $72,208. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $367,967, with a median rent of $1,307/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.1%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 30
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 20
- Other
- 6
Resources
School Districts (17)
Redding STEM Academy District
1 school · 237 students
California Heritage Youthbuild Academy II District
1 school · 108 students
University Preparatory District
1 school · 1,016 students
Monarch Learning Center District
1 school · 90 students
Shasta Charter Academy District
1 school · 270 students
Redding School of the Arts District
1 school · 629 students
Rocky Point Charter District
1 school · 179 students
Phoenix Charter Academy College View District
1 school · 290 students
Columbia Elementary
3 schools · 782 students
Enterprise Elementary
9 schools · 3,538 students
Gateway Unified
7 schools · 2,119 students
Grant Elementary
1 school · 621 students
Pacheco Union Elementary
2 schools · 720 students
Redding Elementary
9 schools · 3,149 students
Shasta Union Elementary
1 school · 103 students
Shasta Union High
5 schools · 4,215 students
Shasta County Office of Education
4 schools · 173 students
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 Redding, California
How many schools are in Redding, California?
Redding has 61 schools, including 44 public and 17 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Redding, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Redding is 6.6 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 Redding, California?
The top-ranked school in Redding on MySchoolScout is Rocky Point Charter with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Redding, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Redding on MySchoolScout is Rocky Point Charter with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Redding, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Redding on MySchoolScout is Parsons Junior High with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Redding, California?
The top-ranked high school in Redding on MySchoolScout is University Preparatory with a composite score of 9.0/10.
How many school districts serve Redding, California?
Redding is served by 17 school districts: Redding Stem Academy District, California Heritage Youthbuild Academy II District, University Preparatory District, Monarch Learning Center District, Shasta Charter Academy District, Redding School of the Arts District, Rocky Point Charter District, Phoenix Charter Academy College View District, Columbia Elementary, Enterprise Elementary, Gateway Unified, Grant Elementary, Pacheco Union Elementary, Redding Elementary, Shasta Union Elementary, Shasta Union High, Shasta County Office of Education.
What is the education level in Redding, California?
According to Census data, 26% of adults in Redding have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Redding, California?
The median household income in Redding is approximately $72,208 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Redding, California?
Yes, Redding has 17 private schools alongside 44 public schools. The top-rated private school is Liberty Christian School Redding with a score of 7.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Redding, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Redding is 16.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Redding, 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.