Best Schools in Spring Valley, California
15 schools · 5 Elementary · 3 Middle · 6 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Spring Valley?
Use this page to compare every school in Spring Valley 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.
College Preparatory Middle
Middle · College Preparatory Middle District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Steele Canyon High
High · Steele Canyon High District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
La Presa Elementary
Elementary · La Mesa-Spring Valley. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Spring Valley for 2026 are College Preparatory Middle (8.1/10), Steele Canyon High (5.8/10), and La Presa Elementary (5.5/10), 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
15
8 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$610,400
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
15
8 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$610,400
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 33% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.7 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 Spring Valley schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Spring Valley schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Spring Valley
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 15 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | College Preparatory Middle | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Steele Canyon High | 5.8 / 10 |
| 3 | La Presa Elementary | 5.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa | 5.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Monte Vista High | 5.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Spring Valley Academy | 5.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Trust Blended Learning | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Mount Miguel High | 4.6 / 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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $101,957
- Median home value
- $610,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 28%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
9% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Spring Valley compares
California rank
#516 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$102k
102% of California median
Schools in this city
11
Spring Valley's public schools split across 4 districts
No single ISD owns Spring Valley. The public campuses divide among 4 districts.
The largest shares: La Mesa-Spring Valley (4), Grossmont Union High (2), College Preparatory Middle District (1).
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.6 to 8.1 — the spread is inside Spring Valley, not a citywide average.
- La Mesa-Spring Valley4 public · 50%
- Grossmont Union High2 public · 25%
- College Preparatory Middle District1 public · 13%
- Steele Canyon High District1 public · 13%
About Schools in Spring Valley, California
Spring Valley, California is home to 15 schools, including 8 public schools and 7 private schools. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 6 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.6 out of 10, schools in Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley is College Preparatory Middle with a composite score of 8.1/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Spring Valley is served by 4 school districts. These districts collectively serve 29,797 students.
Spring Valley's community shows 28% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $101,957. The poverty rate in the area is 11.9%.
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
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 397 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.5 | ||
| 2 | 52 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.1 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Santa Sophia AcademyPrivate 218 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Trinity Christian SchoolPrivate 188 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 7 students · Kindergarten–4th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 400 students · 5th–8th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 694 students · 5th–8th | 5.5 |
| 3 | 341 students · 7th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,147 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 1,537 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 | ||
| 3 | 1,506 students · 9th–12th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 16 students · 8th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Fred Finch Youth CenterPrivate 15 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 91 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heartland ChristianPrivate 155 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Spring Valley
Spring Valley, California · 15 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$101,957
Median Home Value
$610,400
Median Rent
$2,062/mo
Population
73,468
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
64%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Community Profile
Spring Valley has a median household income of $101,957. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $610,400, with a median rent of $2,062/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.9%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 3
- 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 Spring Valley, California
How many schools are in Spring Valley, California?
Spring Valley has 15 schools, including 8 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Spring Valley, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Spring Valley is 5.6 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 Spring Valley, California?
The top-ranked school in Spring Valley on MySchoolScout is College Preparatory Middle with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Spring Valley, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Spring Valley on MySchoolScout is La Presa Elementary with a composite score of 5.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Spring Valley, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Spring Valley on MySchoolScout is College Preparatory Middle with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best high school in Spring Valley, California?
The top-ranked high school in Spring Valley on MySchoolScout is Steele Canyon High with a composite score of 5.8/10.
How many school districts serve Spring Valley, California?
Spring Valley is served by 4 school districts: College Preparatory Middle District, Steele Canyon High District, Grossmont Union High, La Mesa-Spring Valley.
What is the education level in Spring Valley, California?
According to Census data, 28% of adults in Spring Valley have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Spring Valley, California?
The median household income in Spring Valley is approximately $101,957 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Spring Valley, California?
Yes, Spring Valley has 7 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is Santa Sophia Academy with a score of 5.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Spring Valley, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Spring Valley is 31.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Spring Valley, 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.