Best Schools in Santa Clarita, California
16 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 6 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Santa Clarita?
Use this page to compare every school in Santa Clarita 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.
La Mesa Junior High
Middle · William S. Hart Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Rio Norte Junior High
Middle · William S. Hart Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Academy of the Canyons
High · William S. Hart Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Santa Clarita for 2026 are La Mesa Junior High (8.3/10), Rio Norte Junior High (8.0/10), and Academy of the Canyons (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 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
16
8 public · 8 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$703,167
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
16
8 public · 8 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$703,167
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 33% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 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 Clarita schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +1.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Santa Clarita schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Santa Clarita
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 16 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Mesa Junior High | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Rio Norte Junior High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Academy of the Canyons | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Golden Oak Community | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Golden Valley High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Learning Post Academy (alternative) | 6.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Fair Oaks Ranch Community | 6.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Bowman (jereann) High (continuation) | 4.5 / 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
- 6.9/10
- Median household income
- $119,054
- Median home value
- $703,167
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 39%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 71%
55% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Santa Clarita compares
California rank
#128 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.6
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$119k
119% of California median
Schools in this city
11
William S. Hart Union High runs 75% of Santa Clarita's public schools
Santa Clarita touches 2 districts, but William S. Hart Union High is the one most addresses actually attend.
William S. Hart Union High accounts for 6 of 8 public schools (75%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 2.
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.5 to 8.3 — the spread is inside Santa Clarita, not a citywide average.
- William S. Hart Union High6 public · 75%
- Sulphur Springs Union2 public · 25%
About Schools in Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita, California is home to 16 schools, including 8 public schools and 8 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 6 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.9 out of 10, schools in Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita is Calkids Learning Academy with a composite score of 8.6/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Santa Clarita is served by 2 school districts: Sulphur Springs Union, William S. Hart Union High. These districts collectively serve 25,896 students.
Santa Clarita's community shows 39% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $119,054. The poverty rate in the area is 8.2%.
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
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 534 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 861 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.4 | ||
Private Schools5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Calkids Learning AcademyPrivate 46 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 323 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 4 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Montessori on Copper HillPrivate 18 students · Pre-K–TK | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | The Learning ExperiencePrivate 8 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,023 students · 7th–8th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 1,110 students · 7th–8th | 8.0 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 390 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 | ||
| 2 | 1,993 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 363 students · 7th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 4 | 307 students · 9th–12th | 4.5 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Trinity Classical AcademyPrivate 636 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Cornerstone ChristianPrivate 20 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 552 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita, California · 16 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$119,054
Median Home Value
$703,167
Median Rent
$2,503/mo
Population
217,961
College Educated
39%
Homeownership
71%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Community Profile
Santa Clarita has a median household income of $119,054. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $703,167, with a median rent of $2,503/month. The local poverty rate of 8.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 6
- Other
- 1
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 Santa Clarita, California
How many schools are in Santa Clarita, California?
Santa Clarita has 16 schools, including 8 public and 8 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Santa Clarita, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Santa Clarita is 6.9 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 Clarita, California?
The top-ranked school in Santa Clarita on MySchoolScout is La Mesa Junior High with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Santa Clarita, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Santa Clarita on MySchoolScout is Golden Oak Community with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Santa Clarita, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Santa Clarita on MySchoolScout is La Mesa Junior High with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best high school in Santa Clarita, California?
The top-ranked high school in Santa Clarita on MySchoolScout is Academy of the Canyons with a composite score of 7.6/10.
How many school districts serve Santa Clarita, California?
Santa Clarita is served by 2 school districts: Sulphur Springs Union, William S. Hart Union High.
What is the education level in Santa Clarita, California?
According to Census data, 39% of adults in Santa Clarita have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Santa Clarita, California?
The median household income in Santa Clarita is approximately $119,054 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Santa Clarita, California?
Yes, Santa Clarita has 8 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is Calkids Learning Academy with a score of 8.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santa Clarita, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Santa Clarita is 16.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Santa Clarita, 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
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
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.