Best Schools in Santa Ana, California
97 schools · 65 Elementary · 8 Middle · 20 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Santa Ana?
Use this page to compare every school in Santa Ana 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.
R. F. Hazard Elementary
Elementary · Garden Grove Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Wilson Elementary
Elementary · Santa Ana Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Douglas Macarthur Fundamental Intermediate
Middle · Santa Ana Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Santa Ana for 2026 are R. F. Hazard Elementary (8.2/10), Wilson Elementary (8.2/10), and Douglas Macarthur Fundamental Intermediate (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 73 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
97
73 public · 24 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$741,017
home value · ACS
Districts
16
serving the city
Schools
97
73 public · 24 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$741,017
home value · ACS
Districts
16
serving the city
Rates 8.2/10 despite 92% 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 Santa Ana schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +17.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Santa Ana schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Santa Ana
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 73 rated schools; 97 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | R. F. Hazard Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Wilson Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Douglas Macarthur Fundamental Intermediate | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Advanced Learning Academy | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Middle College High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Ocsa | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | John F. Kennedy Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Tustin Memorial Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Red Hill Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Magnolia Science Academy Santa Ana | 7.8 / 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
- $94,268
- Median home value
- $741,017
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 22%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 48%
31% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Santa Ana compares
California rank
#339 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.1
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$94k
95% of California median
Schools in this city
81
Education Snapshot
Santa Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana fields 97 schools across 16 districts, enrolling roughly 54,502 students. The level mix concentrates at the elementary tier: 65 elementary schools against 20 high schools and 8 middle schools, with 13 charter schools operating alongside traditional district campuses. The 82 schools carrying a MySchoolScout composite score average 5.6/10, trailing California's state average of 6.3/10 by 0.7 points. That gap aligns with the city's household economics: median household income of $99,400 runs 6% below the state median of $105,206, and 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. With 16 separate districts drawing attendance zones across the same city, individual school performance varies considerably around that 5.6/10 citywide composite — parents exploring options here will gain more by comparing individual schools directly than by treating that average as representative.
Santa Ana Unified runs 70% of Santa Ana's public schools
Santa Ana touches 16 districts, but Santa Ana Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Santa Ana Unified accounts for 51 of 73 public schools (70%). The other 15 districts hold the remaining 22.
Among 73 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.5 to 8.2 — the spread is inside Santa Ana, not a citywide average.
13 of the 73 public schools are charters (18%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Santa Ana Unified51 public · 70%
- Garden Grove Unified6 public · 8%
- Orange Unified2 public · 3%
- Tustin Unified2 public · 3%
- Ednovate - Legacy College Prep. District1 public · 1%
About Schools in Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana's public school system covers 73 ranked schools, giving families a substantial range of options across elementary, middle, and high school levels. The city-wide average sits at 6.3 out of 10, which reflects a system with real variation — some schools performing well above that mark, others pulling the average down. Parents should treat that average as a starting point, not a verdict on any individual school.
The top performer is John Muir Fundamental Elementary, rated 8.9 out of 10, making it the highest-scoring school in the city by a clear margin. OCSA and Wallace R. Davis Elementary both score 8.5, while Fremont Elementary (8.4) and Jefferson Elementary (8.2) round out the upper tier. These five schools represent the strongest options across grade levels, from elementary through high school. Altogether, 24 schools — one-third of Santa Ana's ranked public schools — score 7 or above, which means families willing to dig into school-level data have a meaningful pool of strong options to consider.
The spread between the top schools and the city average does signal that school selection matters more here than in cities where performance is more uniform. John Muir Fundamental Elementary's emphasis on a structured, fundamental curriculum is worth noting for parents who prioritize that approach at the elementary level. OCSA stands out at the high school level with a score that outpaces most California arts-focused public schools. Elementary-level options are particularly strong in the upper tier, with four of the five top-rated schools serving younger students.
Practically speaking, parents researching Santa Ana should look carefully at individual school scores rather than relying on district-wide impressions. With a third of schools scoring 7 or higher, the city has more high-performing options than its average score alone suggests. Checking each school's specific ratings, enrollment requirements, and proximity is especially important here, since performance levels vary significantly across neighborhoods. Starting with John Muir Fundamental, OCSA, and the other top-rated schools as benchmarks will help parents calibrate their comparisons across the full list of 73 schools.
Elementary Schools
65 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 420 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 434 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 402 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 4 | 621 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 5 | 418 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 6 | 629 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.7 |
| 7 | 951 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.5 |
| 8 | 403 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.3 |
| 9 | 776 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.1 |
| 10 | 368 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.0 |
Show all 65 elementary schools in Santa Ana
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,075 students · 6th–8th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 1,263 students · 6th–8th | 7.8 |
| 3 | 562 students · 7th–8th | 7.2 |
| 4 | 314 students · 6th–9th | 6.8 |
| 5 | 958 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 6 | 998 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 7 | 673 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 8 | 444 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
20 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 407 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 2,288 students · 7th–12th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 421 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 |
| 4 | 1,792 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 230 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 |
| 6 | 2,077 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 |
| 7 | 1,615 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 |
| 8 | 822 students · 7th–12th | 7.2 |
| 9 | 2,499 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 |
| 10 | 33 students · 6th–12th | 6.9 |
Show all 20 high schools in Santa Ana
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 368 students · Kindergarten–12th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | 504 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.8 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Bethel Baptist SchoolPrivate 72 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | The Open SchoolPrivate 70 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Santa Ana
Santa Ana, California · 97 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$94,268
Median Home Value
$741,017
Median Rent
$2,000/mo
Population
335,987
College Educated
22%
Homeownership
48%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
11.0%
Community Profile
Santa Ana has a median household income of $94,268. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $741,017, with a median rent of $2,000/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.0%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 65
- Middle
- 8
- High
- 20
- Other
- 4
Resources
School Districts (16)
Magnolia Science Academy Santa Ana District
1 school · 504 students
Nova Academy Early College High District
1 school · 288 students
Scholarship Prep - Orange County District
1 school · 657 students
El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy District
1 school · 951 students
Vista Condor Global Academy District
1 school · 333 students
NOVA Academy - Coachella District
1 school · 230 students
Ednovate - Legacy College Prep. District
1 school · 421 students
Samueli Academy District
1 school · 822 students
Edward B. Cole Academy District
1 school · 429 students
Orange County Educational Arts Academy District
1 school · 629 students
OCSA District
1 school · 2,288 students
Vista Heritage Global Academy District
1 school · 314 students
Garden Grove Unified
66 schools · 37,763 students
Orange Unified
41 schools · 24,266 students
Santa Ana Unified
52 schools · 38,031 students
Tustin Unified
28 schools · 21,600 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 Santa Ana, California
How many schools are in Santa Ana, California?
Santa Ana has 97 schools, including 73 public and 24 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Santa Ana, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana, California?
The top-ranked school in Santa Ana on MySchoolScout is R. F. Hazard Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Santa Ana, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Santa Ana on MySchoolScout is R. F. Hazard Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Santa Ana, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Santa Ana on MySchoolScout is Douglas Macarthur Fundamental Intermediate with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Santa Ana, California?
The top-ranked high school in Santa Ana on MySchoolScout is Middle College High with a composite score of 8.1/10.
How many school districts serve Santa Ana, California?
Santa Ana is served by 16 school districts: Magnolia Science Academy Santa Ana District, Nova Academy Early College High District, Scholarship Prep - Orange County District, EL Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy District, Vista Condor Global Academy District, Nova Academy - Coachella District, Ednovate - Legacy College Prep. District, Samueli Academy District, Edward B. Cole Academy District, Orange County Educational Arts Academy District, Ocsa District, Vista Heritage Global Academy District, Garden Grove Unified, Orange Unified, Santa Ana Unified, Tustin Unified.
What is the education level in Santa Ana, California?
According to Census data, 22% of adults in Santa Ana have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Santa Ana, California?
The median household income in Santa Ana is approximately $94,268 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Santa Ana, California?
Yes, Santa Ana has 24 private schools alongside 73 public schools. The top-rated private school is Bethel Baptist School with a score of 6.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santa Ana, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Santa Ana is 18.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Santa Ana, 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.