Best Schools in Richmond, California
42 schools · 26 Elementary · 4 Middle · 10 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Richmond?
Use this page to compare every school in Richmond 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.
Mira Vista Elementary
Elementary · West Contra Costa Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Making Waves Academy
High · Making Waves Academy District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
De Anza High
High · West Contra Costa Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Richmond for 2026 are Mira Vista Elementary (7.4/10), Making Waves Academy (7.0/10), and De Anza High (6.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 31 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
42
31 public · 11 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$652,260
home value · ACS
Districts
10
serving the city
Schools
42
31 public · 11 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$652,260
home value · ACS
Districts
10
serving the city
Rates 7.0/10 despite 78% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 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 Richmond schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +17.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Richmond schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Richmond
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 31 rated schools; 42 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mira Vista Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Making Waves Academy | 7.0 / 10 |
| 3 | De Anza High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Caliber: Changemakers Academy | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Richmond High | 6.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Valley View Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Richmond Charter Elementary-Benito Juarez | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Caliber: Beta Academy | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Greenwood Academy | 5.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Richmond College Preparatory | 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
- 5.0/10
- Median household income
- $95,060
- Median home value
- $652,260
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
8% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Richmond compares
California rank
#577 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.4
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$95k
95% of California median
Schools in this city
36
West Contra Costa Unified runs 71% of Richmond's public schools
Richmond touches 10 districts, but West Contra Costa Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
West Contra Costa Unified accounts for 22 of 31 public schools (71%). The other 9 districts hold the remaining 9.
Among 31 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.3 to 7.4 — the spread is inside Richmond, not a citywide average.
9 of the 31 public schools are charters (29%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- West Contra Costa Unified22 public · 71%
- Caliber: Beta Academy District1 public · 3%
- Caliber: Changemakers Academy District1 public · 3%
- Making Waves Academy District1 public · 3%
- Manzanita Middle District1 public · 3%
About Schools in Richmond, California
Richmond, California has 31 ranked public schools, spanning elementary through high school. The city's schools average 5.4 out of 10, and only 2 schools — 6% of the total — score 7 or above. That's a narrow band of strong performance across a fairly large public school landscape, which means school selection matters considerably for families here.
At the top sits Mira Vista Elementary, the city's highest-rated school at 7.6 out of 10. Richmond College Preparatory follows at 7.4, making these two the standout elementary options and the only schools clearing the 7-point threshold. For older students, Making Waves Academy leads the high school options at 6.7, Manzanita Middle scores 6.5 at the middle school level, and Michelle Obama Elementary also lands at 6.5. Below those leaders, performance drops off more sharply — the citywide average of 5.4 reflects a significant number of schools scoring in the mid-range and below.
Practically speaking, parents of elementary-age children have the clearest high-performing options: Mira Vista and Richmond College Preparatory both rank well above the city average. Families with middle schoolers should look closely at Manzanita Middle, currently the strongest option at that level. For high school, Making Waves Academy is the top-rated choice in the city. Because strong schools are concentrated rather than spread evenly across Richmond, where you live relative to attendance boundaries or charter enrollment windows will directly affect your options.
Parents researching Richmond should check each school's specific enrollment policies early — charter schools like Richmond College Preparatory and Making Waves Academy often have application deadlines and lottery processes separate from the standard district calendar. The West Contra Costa Unified School District serves most of the city's traditional public schools, so families zoned for lower-performing schools may want to explore intradistrict transfer options alongside charter alternatives. With only 6% of schools scoring 7 or above, doing that research well before enrollment season gives families the best chance of securing a spot at one of Richmond's top performers.
Elementary Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 474 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.4 |
| 2 | 961 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.7 |
| 3 | 219 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.4 |
| 4 | 480 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.3 |
| 5 | 950 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.2 |
| 6 | 554 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.4 |
| 7 | 313 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.2 |
| 8 | 407 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.2 |
| 9 | 352 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.1 |
| 10 | 320 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.9 |
Show all 26 elementary schools in Richmond
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 | 223 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
| 2 | 384 students · 7th–8th | 4.2 |
| 3 | 292 students · 6th–8th | 3.2 |
| 4 | 89 students · 6th–8th | 2.5 |
High Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,103 students · 5th–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | 1,103 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 3 | 1,341 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 4 | 260 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 5 | 825 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 6 | 650 students · 7th–12th | 4.4 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Salesian College PreparatoryPrivate 413 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | King's AcademyPrivate 23 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 41 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 430 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Better Chance SchoolPrivate 44 students · 3rd–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | Arlington Christian SchoolPrivate 35 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Richmond
Richmond, California · 42 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$95,060
Median Home Value
$652,260
Median Rent
$2,003/mo
Population
182,936
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
57%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
11.3%
Community Profile
Richmond has a median household income of $95,060. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $652,260, with a median rent of $2,003/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.3%. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 26
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 10
- Other
- 2
Resources
School Districts (10)
Making Waves Academy District
1 school · 1,103 students
Caliber: ChangeMakers Academy District
1 school · 961 students
Richmond Charter Elementary-Benito Juarez District
1 school · 480 students
Richmond College Preparatory District
1 school · 554 students
Caliber: Beta Academy District
1 school · 950 students
Summit Public School: Tamalpais District
1 school · 650 students
Richmond Charter Academy District
1 school · 292 students
Oakland Charter Academy District
1 school · 223 students
Manzanita Middle District
1 school · 89 students
West Contra Costa Unified
54 schools · 25,575 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 Richmond, California
How many schools are in Richmond, California?
Richmond has 42 schools, including 31 public and 11 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Richmond, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Richmond is 5.0 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 Richmond, California?
The top-ranked school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Mira Vista Elementary with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Richmond, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Mira Vista Elementary with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Richmond, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Oakland Charter Academy with a composite score of 5.1/10.
What is the best high school in Richmond, California?
The top-ranked high school in Richmond on MySchoolScout is Making Waves Academy with a composite score of 7.0/10.
How many school districts serve Richmond, California?
Richmond is served by 10 school districts: Making Waves Academy District, Caliber: Changemakers Academy District, Richmond Charter Elementary-Benito Juarez District, Richmond College Preparatory District, Caliber: Beta Academy District, Summit Public School: Tamalpais District, Richmond Charter Academy District, Oakland Charter Academy District, Manzanita Middle District, West Contra Costa Unified.
What is the education level in Richmond, California?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Richmond have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Richmond, California?
The median household income in Richmond is approximately $95,060 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Richmond, California?
Yes, Richmond has 11 private schools alongside 31 public schools. The top-rated private school is A Better Chance School with a score of 7.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Richmond, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Richmond is 20.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Richmond, 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.