Best Schools in South Gate, California
28 schools · 17 Elementary · 3 Middle · 8 High
Choosing a school in South Gate?
Use this page to compare every school in South Gate 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.
Willow Elementary
Elementary · Los Angeles Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math at Legacy High Sch Complex
High · Los Angeles Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Victoria Avenue Elementary
Elementary · Los Angeles Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in South Gate for 2026 are Willow Elementary (9.2/10), Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math at Legacy High Sch Complex (8.8/10), and Victoria Avenue Elementary (8.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 25 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
28
25 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$608,500
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
28
25 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$608,500
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 94% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.5 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 South Gate schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +18.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among South Gate schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in South Gate
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (25 of 28). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willow Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math at Legacy High Sch Complex | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Victoria Avenue Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Montara Avenue Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Stanford Avenue Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Bryson Avenue Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | International Studies Lrng Center at Legacy High Sch Complex | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | South Gate Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Hollydale | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | South Gate Senior High | 7.0 / 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
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $71,379
- Median home value
- $608,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 12%
- Avg commute
- 32 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 44%
38% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How South Gate compares
California rank
#224 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$71k
72% of California median
Schools in this city
26
About Schools in South Gate, California
South Gate, California runs 25 ranked public schools, spanning elementary through high school. The city's average school score sits at 7.0 out of 10 — a solid baseline that reflects a school system performing meaningfully above the middle of the scale. Sixty percent of schools, 15 in total, score 7 or higher, meaning parents have a genuine range of strong options rather than a handful of outliers pulling up a weak average.
At the top of that range, Stanford Avenue Elementary leads the city with a 9.1 out of 10, the highest score among all ranked public schools here. San Miguel Elementary and Liberty Boulevard Elementary follow close behind at 8.6 and 8.5 respectively, with Independence Elementary rounding out the strong elementary tier at 8.3. The pattern is notable: South Gate's highest performers are concentrated at the elementary level, giving younger students access to some of the city's best instruction early on.
The high school picture has a standout as well. Sci-Tech Engineering Arts and Math at Legacy High School Complex scores 8.7 out of 10, making it the top-rated secondary option in the city and one of the highest-scoring schools overall. Parents with middle schoolers planning ahead should factor this campus into their research — specialized STEAM programs at this performance level are not common in cities this size.
For parents doing side-by-side comparisons, a few practical points stand out. The 7.0 city average means South Gate performs above what many comparable urban communities in Southern California deliver, but the spread between schools still matters. A 9.1 and a lower-performing school in the same city are not interchangeable choices. Parents zoned for one of the 15 schools scoring 7 or above are in a reasonable position; those zoned elsewhere should look closely at magnet or open-enrollment options, particularly the STEAM high school complex. Start with Stanford Avenue, San Miguel, and Liberty Boulevard at the elementary level, then map your address against attendance boundaries before drawing conclusions about which schools are actually available to your family.
Elementary Schools
17 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 439 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 283 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 3 | 624 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.1 |
| 4 | 367 students · 1st–5th | 8.0 |
| 5 | 737 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 6 | 806 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.1 |
| 7 | 440 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 8 | 123 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten | 6.9 |
| 9 | 443 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 |
| 10 | 507 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 |
Show all 17 elementary schools in South Gate
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,264 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 2 | 1,219 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 3 | 108 students · 5th–8th | 5.7 |
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 533 students · 9th–12th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 885 students · 6th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 3 | 1,768 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 4 | 2,092 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 5 | 427 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 6 | 81 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 7 | 77 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 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 | 30 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in South Gate
South Gate, California · 28 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$71,379
Median Home Value
$608,500
Median Rent
$1,471/mo
Population
91,719
College Educated
12%
Homeownership
44%
Avg Commute
32 min
Poverty Rate
13.2%
Community Profile
South Gate has a median household income of $71,379. It is a community where 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $608,500, with a median rent of $1,471/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.2%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 17
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 8
Resources
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 South Gate, California
How many schools are in South Gate, California?
South Gate has 28 schools, including 25 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in South Gate, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in South Gate is 6.7 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 South Gate, California?
The top-ranked school in South Gate on MySchoolScout is Willow Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in South Gate, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in South Gate on MySchoolScout is Willow Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in South Gate, California?
The top-ranked middle school in South Gate on MySchoolScout is South Gate Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best high school in South Gate, California?
The top-ranked high school in South Gate on MySchoolScout is Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math at Legacy High Sch Complex with a composite score of 8.8/10.
How many school districts serve South Gate, California?
South Gate is served by 4 school districts: Kipp Corazon Academy District, Valiente College Preparatory Charter District, Los Angeles Unified, Paramount Unified.
What is the education level in South Gate, California?
According to Census data, 12% of adults in South Gate have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in South Gate, California?
The median household income in South Gate is approximately $71,379 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in South Gate, California?
Yes, South Gate has 3 private schools alongside 25 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Helen Catholic Elementary School with a score of 3.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in South Gate, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in South Gate is 20.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in South Gate, 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.