Best Schools in Wilmington, California
15 schools · 11 Elementary · 1 Middle · 3 High
Choosing a school in Wilmington?
Use this page to compare every school in Wilmington 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.
Broad Avenue Elementary
Elementary · Los Angeles Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
George De La Torre Jr. Elementary
Elementary · Los Angeles Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Gulf Avenue Elementary
Elementary · Los Angeles Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Wilmington for 2026 are Broad Avenue Elementary (8.8/10), George De La Torre Jr. Elementary (8.6/10), and Gulf Avenue Elementary (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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
12 public · 3 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$596,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
15
12 public · 3 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$596,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.6/10 despite 98% 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 Wilmington schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Wilmington schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Wilmington
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 15 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broad Avenue Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | George De La Torre Jr. Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Gulf Avenue Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Fries Avenue Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Harry Bridges Span | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Wilmington Mid Sci Tech Engr Arts Math (steam) Magnet | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Phineas Banning Senior High | 7.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy | 7.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Wilmington Park Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Scholarship Prep - South Bay | 6.8 / 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
- 7.3/10
- Median household income
- $61,440
- Median home value
- $596,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 9%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 36%
64% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Wilmington compares
California rank
#55 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.0
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$61k
62% of California median
Schools in this city
14
Los Angeles Unified runs 92% of Wilmington's public schools
Wilmington touches 2 districts, but Los Angeles Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Los Angeles Unified accounts for 11 of 12 public schools (92%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.1 to 8.8 — the spread is inside Wilmington, not a citywide average.
- Los Angeles Unified11 public · 92%
- Scholarship Prep - South Bay District1 public · 8%
About Schools in Wilmington, California
Wilmington, California is home to 15 schools, including 12 public schools and 3 private schools. The city's schools span 11 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 7.3 out of 10, schools in Wilmington perform strongly 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 Wilmington is Broad Avenue Elementary with a composite score of 8.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Wilmington is served by 2 school districts: Scholarship Prep - South Bay District, Los Angeles Unified. These districts collectively serve 420,331 students.
Wilmington's community shows 9% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $61,440. The poverty rate in the area is 19.0%.
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
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 486 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 621 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.6 | ||
| 3 | 665 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 | ||
| 4 | 330 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 | ||
| 5 | 1,203 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 | ||
| 6 | 496 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 | ||
| 7 | 402 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.8 | ||
| 8 | 479 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Harbor Christian SchoolsPrivate 69 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 173 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 elementary schools in Wilmington
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,243 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,437 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 |
| 2 | 447 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 57 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
Schools in Wilmington
Wilmington, California · 15 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$61,440
Median Home Value
$596,100
Median Rent
$1,426/mo
Population
53,678
College Educated
9%
Homeownership
36%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
19.0%
Community Profile
Wilmington has a median household income of $61,440. It is a community where 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $596,100, with a median rent of $1,426/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.0%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 11
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 3
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 Wilmington, California
How many schools are in Wilmington, California?
Wilmington has 15 schools, including 12 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Wilmington, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Wilmington is 7.3 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 Wilmington, California?
The top-ranked school in Wilmington on MySchoolScout is Broad Avenue Elementary with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Wilmington, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Wilmington on MySchoolScout is Broad Avenue Elementary with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Wilmington, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Wilmington on MySchoolScout is Wilmington Mid Sci Tech Engr Arts Math (steam) Magnet with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Wilmington, California?
The top-ranked high school in Wilmington on MySchoolScout is Phineas Banning Senior High with a composite score of 7.7/10.
How many school districts serve Wilmington, California?
Wilmington is served by 2 school districts: Scholarship Prep - South Bay District, Los Angeles Unified.
What is the education level in Wilmington, California?
According to Census data, 9% of adults in Wilmington have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Wilmington, California?
The median household income in Wilmington is approximately $61,440 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Wilmington, California?
Yes, Wilmington has 3 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Harbor Christian Schools with a score of 6.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Wilmington, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Wilmington is 19.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Wilmington, 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.