Best Schools in San Pablo, California
11 schools · 6 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in San Pablo?
Use this page to compare every school in San Pablo 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.
Middle College High
High · West Contra Costa Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Spectrum Center - Tara Hills
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy
Other · West Contra Costa Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in San Pablo for 2026 are Middle College High (8.1/10), Spectrum Center - Tara Hills (6.6/10), and Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy (6.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 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
11
9 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$582,000
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
11
9 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$582,000
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 64% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 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 San Pablo schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among San Pablo schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in San Pablo
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle College High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Spectrum Center - Tara Hills | 6.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy | 6.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Montalvin Manor Elementary | 4.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Lake Elementary | 4.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Edward M. Downer Elementary | 4.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Tara Hills Elementary | 4.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Bayview Elementary | 4.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Helms Middle | 4.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Dover Elementary | 3.1 / 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
- $82,818
- Median home value
- $582,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 23%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 51%
10% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How San Pablo compares
California rank
#546 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$83k
83% of California median
Schools in this city
10
About Schools in San Pablo, California
San Pablo, California is home to 11 schools, including 9 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.0 out of 10, schools in San Pablo show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in San Pablo is Middle College High with a composite score of 8.1/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
San Pablo is served by 1 school district: West Contra Costa Unified. These districts collectively serve 25,575 students.
San Pablo's community shows 23% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $82,818. The poverty rate in the area is 11.8%.
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
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 504 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.7 |
| 2 | 346 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.6 |
| 3 | 405 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.5 |
| 4 | 343 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.3 |
| 5 | 332 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.2 |
| 6 | 485 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.1 |
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 579 students · 7th–8th | 4.0 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 283 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 41 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 531 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.0 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Spectrum Center - Tara Hills
Private
48 students · 1st–12th | 6.6 | ||
Schools in San Pablo
San Pablo, California · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$82,818
Median Home Value
$582,000
Median Rent
$2,013/mo
Population
61,749
College Educated
23%
Homeownership
51%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
11.8%
Community Profile
San Pablo has a median household income of $82,818. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $582,000, with a median rent of $2,013/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.8%. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 2
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
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 San Pablo, California
How many schools are in San Pablo, California?
San Pablo has 11 schools, including 9 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in San Pablo, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in San Pablo 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 San Pablo, California?
The top-ranked school in San Pablo on MySchoolScout is Middle College High with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in San Pablo, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in San Pablo on MySchoolScout is Montalvin Manor Elementary with a composite score of 4.7/10.
What is the best middle school in San Pablo, California?
The top-ranked middle school in San Pablo on MySchoolScout is Helms Middle with a composite score of 4.0/10.
What is the best high school in San Pablo, California?
The top-ranked high school in San Pablo on MySchoolScout is Middle College High with a composite score of 8.1/10.
How many school districts serve San Pablo, California?
San Pablo is served by 1 school district: West Contra Costa Unified.
What is the education level in San Pablo, California?
According to Census data, 23% of adults in San Pablo have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in San Pablo, California?
The median household income in San Pablo is approximately $82,818 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in San Pablo, California?
Yes, San Pablo has 2 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Spectrum Center - Tara Hills with a score of 6.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in San Pablo, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in San Pablo is 19.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in San Pablo, 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 Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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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.