Best Schools in Taft, California
8 schools · 5 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High
Choosing a school in Taft?
Use this page to compare every school in Taft 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.
Taft Primary
Elementary · Taft City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Roosevelt Elementary
Elementary · Taft City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Taft Union High
High · Taft Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Taft for 2026 are Taft Primary (8.4/10), Roosevelt Elementary (7.0/10), and Taft Union High (6.7/10), 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
8
in this city
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$225,000
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
8
in this city
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$225,000
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.4/10 despite 92% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Taft schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +21.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Taft schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Taft
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 8 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taft Primary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Roosevelt Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Taft Union High | 6.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Buena Vista High (continuation) | 6.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Lincoln Junior High | 5.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Parkview Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Conley Elementary | 5.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Jefferson Elementary | 3.0 / 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
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $55,473
- Median home value
- $225,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 9%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 49%
25% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Taft compares
California rank
#406 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$55k
56% of California median
Schools in this city
8
Taft City runs 75% of Taft's public schools
Taft touches 2 districts, but Taft City is the one most addresses actually attend.
Taft City 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 3.0 to 8.4 — the spread is inside Taft, not a citywide average.
- Taft City6 public · 75%
- Taft Union High2 public · 25%
About Schools in Taft, California
Taft, California is home to 8 schools, including 8 public schools. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Taft 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 Taft is Taft Primary with a composite score of 8.4/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Taft is served by 2 school districts: Taft City, Taft Union High. These districts collectively serve 3,521 students.
Taft's community shows 9% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $55,473. The poverty rate in the area is 25.8%.
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 | 238 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 8.4 |
| 2 | 523 students · 2nd–5th | 7.0 |
| 3 | 317 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 5.8 |
| 4 | 298 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 5.3 |
| 5 | 255 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 3.0 |
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 752 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,045 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 93 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
Schools in Taft
Taft, California · 8 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$55,473
Median Home Value
$225,000
Median Rent
$998/mo
Population
16,956
College Educated
9%
Homeownership
49%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
25.8%
Community Profile
Taft has a median household income of $55,473. It is a community where 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $225,000, with a median rent of $998/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
Resources
School Districts (2)
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 Taft, California
How many schools are in Taft, California?
Taft has 8 schools, including 8 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Taft, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Taft is 6.0 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 Taft, California?
The top-ranked school in Taft on MySchoolScout is Taft Primary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Taft, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Taft on MySchoolScout is Taft Primary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Taft, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Taft on MySchoolScout is Lincoln Junior High with a composite score of 5.9/10.
What is the best high school in Taft, California?
The top-ranked high school in Taft on MySchoolScout is Taft Union High with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Taft, California?
Taft is served by 2 school districts: Taft City, Taft Union High.
What is the education level in Taft, California?
According to Census data, 9% of adults in Taft have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Taft, California?
The median household income in Taft is approximately $55,473 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Taft, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Taft is 22.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Taft, 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
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- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school 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.