Best Schools in Waterford, California
12 schools · 4 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Waterford?
Use this page to compare every school in Waterford 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.
Roberts Ferry Charter School Academy
Elementary · Roberts Ferry Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay
Other · Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley
Other · Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Waterford for 2026 are Roberts Ferry Charter School Academy (8.5/10), Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay (7.4/10), and Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley (6.8/10), 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
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$391,100
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
12
10 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$391,100
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 47% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.3 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 Waterford schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Waterford schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Waterford
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roberts Ferry Charter School Academy | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Waterford Junior | 6.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Lucille Whitehead Intermediate | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Waterford High | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Connecting Waters Charter | 6.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Richard M. Moon Primary | 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
- $71,336
- Median home value
- $391,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 10%
- Avg commute
- 30 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
22% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Waterford compares
California rank
#262 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$71k
72% of California median
Schools in this city
9
Waterford's public schools split across 5 districts
No single ISD owns Waterford. The public campuses divide among 5 districts.
The largest shares: Waterford Unified (5), Roberts Ferry Union Elementary (2), Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay District (1).
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.4 to 8.5 — the spread is inside Waterford, not a citywide average.
- Waterford Unified5 public · 50%
- Roberts Ferry Union Elementary2 public · 20%
- Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay District1 public · 10%
- Connecting Waters Charter District1 public · 10%
- Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley District1 public · 10%
About Schools in Waterford, California
Waterford, California is home to 12 schools, including 10 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.5 out of 10, schools in Waterford 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 Waterford is Roberts Ferry Charter School Academy with a composite score of 8.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Waterford is served by 5 school districts. These districts collectively serve 3,910 students.
Waterford's community shows 10% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $71,336. The poverty rate in the area is 14.6%.
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
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 167 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.5 | ||
| 2 | 506 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 4.4 | ||
| 3 | 24 students · Kindergarten–8th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Sunny AcademyPrivate 8 students · 3rd–3rd | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 262 students · 7th–8th | 6.6 |
| 2 | 351 students · 4th–6th | 6.6 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 589 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 2 | 26 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 505 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | 708 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 3 | 768 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.2 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 125 students · Kindergarten–11th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Waterford
Waterford, California · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$71,336
Median Home Value
$391,100
Median Rent
$1,543/mo
Population
10,410
College Educated
10%
Homeownership
56%
Avg Commute
30 min
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Community Profile
Waterford has a median household income of $71,336. It is a community where 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $391,100, with a median rent of $1,543/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.6%. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 4
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
- Other
- 4
Resources
School Districts (5)
Waterford Unified
5 schools · 1,737 students
Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay District
1 school · 505 students
Connecting Waters Charter District
1 school · 768 students
Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley District
1 school · 708 students
Roberts Ferry Union Elementary
2 schools · 192 students
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 Waterford, California
How many schools are in Waterford, California?
Waterford has 12 schools, including 10 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Waterford, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Waterford 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 Waterford, California?
The top-ranked school in Waterford on MySchoolScout is Roberts Ferry Charter School Academy with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Waterford, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Waterford on MySchoolScout is Roberts Ferry Charter School Academy with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Waterford, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Waterford on MySchoolScout is Waterford Junior with a composite score of 6.6/10.
What is the best high school in Waterford, California?
The top-ranked high school in Waterford on MySchoolScout is Waterford High with a composite score of 6.5/10.
How many school districts serve Waterford, California?
Waterford is served by 5 school districts: Waterford Unified, Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay District, Connecting Waters Charter District, Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley District, Roberts Ferry Union Elementary.
What is the education level in Waterford, California?
According to Census data, 10% of adults in Waterford have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Waterford, California?
The median household income in Waterford is approximately $71,336 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Waterford, California?
Yes, Waterford has 2 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Trinity Knox Classical Academy with a score of 5.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waterford, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Waterford is 18.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Waterford, 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.