Best Schools in Wasco, California
12 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Wasco?
Use this page to compare every school in Wasco 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.
Wasco High
High · Wasco Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Palm Avenue Middle
Middle · Wasco Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Teresa Burke Elementary
Elementary · Wasco Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Wasco for 2026 are Wasco High (7.6/10), Palm Avenue Middle (7.2/10), and Teresa Burke Elementary (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 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
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$255,300
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$255,300
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 7.6/10 despite 87% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 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 Wasco schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +4.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Wasco schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Wasco
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wasco High | 7.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Palm Avenue Middle | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Teresa Burke Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Thomas Jefferson Middle | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | James A. Forrest Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Semitropic Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | John L. Prueitt Elementary | 5.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Karl F. Clemens Elementary | 5.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Wasco Independence High | 5.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Pond Elementary | 4.8 / 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
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $55,060
- Median home value
- $255,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 8%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Wasco compares
California rank
#390 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$55k
55% of California median
Schools in this city
11
Wasco Union Elementary runs 60% of Wasco's public schools
Wasco touches 4 districts, but Wasco Union Elementary is the one most addresses actually attend.
Wasco Union Elementary accounts for 6 of 10 public schools (60%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 4.
Among 10 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.8 to 7.6 — the spread is inside Wasco, not a citywide average.
- Wasco Union Elementary6 public · 60%
- Wasco Union High2 public · 20%
- Pond Union Elementary1 public · 10%
- Semitropic Elementary1 public · 10%
About Schools in Wasco, California
Wasco is a small Central Valley city in Kern County with 10 ranked public schools and a system-wide average of 6.5 out of 10. That average sits in solidly middle-ground territory, but the distribution matters: exactly half the schools — five of ten — score 7.0 or higher, meaning parents have real options when choosing among the city's offerings rather than settling for a single standout in a field of weak alternatives.
Elementary school is where Wasco performs best. Semitropic Elementary leads the entire city with a 7.7, the highest score across all grade levels. Teresa Burke Elementary follows at 7.5, and John L. Prueitt Elementary rounds out the top three at 7.3. Three elementary schools clearing 7.0 in the same small district is a meaningful signal — the city's youngest students have consistent access to above-average options, and the gap between the top and third-ranked elementary is only 0.4 points.
The middle school picture holds up reasonably well. Thomas Jefferson Middle ties Prueitt at 7.3, and Palm Avenue Middle scores a 7.0. Both sit above the citywide average, which means the transition from elementary to middle school in Wasco doesn't represent the quality drop that parents in many similarly sized cities face. With two middle schools both clearing 7.0, families have a functional choice at that grade band rather than a single option.
For parents comparing Wasco against other Kern County cities, the practical takeaway is this: the elementary tier is the system's strongest asset, and Semitropic is the top anchor. Families who prioritize elementary performance and can access that attendance zone are working with the city's best resource. The middle schools are competitive relative to the citywide average, so the pipeline from elementary through middle stays coherent. When researching specific schools, weight the individual scores against your child's grade level — the 50% rate of 7-plus schools means the field is split, and knowing which half a given school falls into will drive most of the comparison work.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 529 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 578 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 |
| 3 | 142 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 617 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 |
| 5 | 527 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 |
| 6 | 169 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.8 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 632 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 589 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,693 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 | ||
| 2 | 113 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Bethany Christian SchoolPrivate 6 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Kern Christian SchoolPrivate 92 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Wasco
Wasco, California · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$55,060
Median Home Value
$255,300
Median Rent
$996/mo
Population
27,266
College Educated
8%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
19.4%
Community Profile
Wasco has a median household income of $55,060. It is a community where 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $255,300, with a median rent of $996/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.4%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- 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 Wasco, California
How many schools are in Wasco, California?
Wasco has 12 schools, including 10 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Wasco, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Wasco is 6.1 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 Wasco, California?
The top-ranked school in Wasco on MySchoolScout is Wasco High with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Wasco, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Wasco on MySchoolScout is Teresa Burke Elementary with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Wasco, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Wasco on MySchoolScout is Palm Avenue Middle with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best high school in Wasco, California?
The top-ranked high school in Wasco on MySchoolScout is Wasco High with a composite score of 7.6/10.
How many school districts serve Wasco, California?
Wasco is served by 4 school districts: Pond Union Elementary, Semitropic Elementary, Wasco Union Elementary, Wasco Union High.
What is the education level in Wasco, California?
According to Census data, 8% of adults in Wasco have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Wasco, California?
The median household income in Wasco is approximately $55,060 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Wasco, California?
Yes, Wasco has 2 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is North Kern Christian School with a score of 5.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Wasco, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Wasco is 19.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Wasco, 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.