Best Schools in Seaside, California
16 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 6 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Seaside?
Use this page to compare every school in Seaside 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.
Del Rey Woods Elementary
Elementary · Monterey Peninsula Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Seaside Middle
Middle · Monterey Peninsula Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Seaside High
High · Monterey Peninsula Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Seaside for 2026 are Del Rey Woods Elementary (7.8/10), Seaside Middle (7.2/10), and Seaside High (7.1/10), 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
10 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$693,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
16
10 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$693,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.8/10 despite 87% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.1 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 Seaside schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Seaside schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Seaside
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 | Del Rey Woods Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Seaside Middle | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Seaside High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Central Coast High | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Martin Luther King | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula | 6.2 / 10 |
| 7 | International School of Monterey | 5.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Ord Terrace Elementary | 4.4 / 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
- 6.5/10
- Median household income
- $82,331
- Median home value
- $693,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 28%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 37%
40% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Seaside compares
California rank
#255 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.2
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$82k
83% of California median
Schools in this city
10
Monterey Peninsula Unified runs 90% of Seaside's public schools
Seaside touches 2 districts, but Monterey Peninsula Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Monterey Peninsula Unified accounts for 9 of 10 public schools (90%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.4 to 7.8 — the spread is inside Seaside, not a citywide average.
- Monterey Peninsula Unified9 public · 90%
- International School of Monterey District1 public · 10%
About Schools in Seaside, California
Seaside, California is home to 16 schools, including 10 public schools and 6 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 6 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.5 out of 10, schools in Seaside 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 Seaside is Del Rey Woods Elementary with a composite score of 7.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Seaside is served by 2 school districts: International School of Monterey District, Monterey Peninsula Unified. These districts collectively serve 9,680 students.
Seaside's community shows 28% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $82,331. The poverty rate in the area is 14.9%.
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 | 425 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 572 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 | ||
| 3 | 340 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.2 | ||
| 4 | 428 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.6 | ||
| 5 | 452 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.4 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 170 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Peninsula Adventist SchoolPrivate 5 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 532 students · 7th–8th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 3 students · 6th–8th | — |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,134 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | 114 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 3 | 4 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | HomePrivate 155 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Seaside Christian AcademyPrivate 8 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Catherine Dior SchoolPrivate 8 students · 2nd–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chartwell SchoolPrivate 191 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Seaside
Seaside, California · 16 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$82,331
Median Home Value
$693,800
Median Rent
$2,312/mo
Population
32,253
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
37%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Community Profile
Seaside has a median household income of $82,331. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $693,800, with a median rent of $2,312/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.9%. The average commute for residents is 22 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 Seaside, California
How many schools are in Seaside, California?
Seaside has 16 schools, including 10 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Seaside, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Seaside is 6.5 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 Seaside, California?
The top-ranked school in Seaside on MySchoolScout is Del Rey Woods Elementary with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Seaside, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Seaside on MySchoolScout is Del Rey Woods Elementary with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Seaside, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Seaside on MySchoolScout is Seaside Middle with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best high school in Seaside, California?
The top-ranked high school in Seaside on MySchoolScout is Seaside High with a composite score of 7.1/10.
How many school districts serve Seaside, California?
Seaside is served by 2 school districts: International School of Monterey District, Monterey Peninsula Unified.
What is the education level in Seaside, California?
According to Census data, 28% of adults in Seaside have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Seaside, California?
The median household income in Seaside is approximately $82,331 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Seaside, California?
Yes, Seaside has 6 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Chartwell School with a score of 7.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Seaside, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Seaside is 21.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Seaside, 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.