Best Schools in Woodland, California
23 schools · 14 Elementary · 2 Middle · 5 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Woodland?
Use this page to compare every school in Woodland 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.
Spring Lake Elementary
Elementary · Woodland Joint Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Pioneer High
High · Woodland Joint Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Plainfield Elementary
Elementary · Woodland Joint Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Woodland for 2026 are Spring Lake Elementary (8.8/10), Pioneer High (7.5/10), and Plainfield Elementary (7.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 19 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
23
18 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$568,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
23
18 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$568,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.2/10 despite 79% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 Woodland schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Woodland schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Woodland
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (19 of 23). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Lake Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Pioneer High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Plainfield Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Woodland Senior High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Douglass Middle | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Freeman Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Cesar Chavez Community | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Holy Rosary Catholic School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Zamora Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Gibson Elementary | 5.8 / 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
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $99,562
- Median home value
- $568,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
26% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Woodland compares
California rank
#424 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$100k
100% of California median
Schools in this city
19
About Schools in Woodland, California
Woodland, California has 17 ranked public schools, giving parents a meaningful set of options to compare. The city's average school score sits at 6.0 out of 10 — a baseline that signals functional public education district-wide, but also real variation across campuses. That spread is the key story: just 5 of the 17 schools, or 29%, score 7 or above. Parents who research attendance zones early will find a meaningful performance gap between the top tier and the middle of the pack.
The elementary level is where Woodland's strongest options concentrate. Spring Lake Elementary leads every school in the city with an 8.8 out of 10 — the highest score among all 17 ranked campuses and nearly three full points above the city average. Plainfield Elementary follows at 8.0, and Zamora Elementary rounds out the top three at 7.4. Parents with school-age children in the younger grades have a real choice among high-performing campuses, provided they fall within those attendance zones.
The middle and high school picture is solid but less differentiated. Douglass Middle scores 7.4, matching Zamora and placing it comfortably above the city's 6.0 average. Woodland Senior High comes in at 7.3, keeping it in the city's top tier — though parents comparing across the Sacramento region should cross-reference that score against county-level high school benchmarks for fuller context. Neither school underperforms, but neither separates itself from the pack the way Spring Lake does at the elementary level.
Practically, families new to Woodland should start their search at the elementary tier, where the performance gap between top and average schools is sharpest and the attendance boundary decision carries the most long-term weight. Spring Lake and Plainfield are the clear targets. For middle and high school, the range narrows, and the practical differentiators shift toward programs, extracurriculars, and commute. The city's overall landscape is workable for most families — but the right elementary placement sets the trajectory.
Elementary Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 373 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 277 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.3 |
| 3 | 421 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.3 |
| 4 | 390 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.0 |
| 5 | 369 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.8 |
| 6 | 730 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.8 |
| 7 | 494 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.2 |
| 8 | 783 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.5 |
| 9 | 317 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.1 |
| 10 | 370 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.0 |
Show all 14 elementary schools in Woodland
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 750 students · 7th–8th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 654 students · 7th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,635 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 | ||
| 2 | 1,171 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 60 students · 7th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 4 | 6 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Lift Global Academy
Private
25 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 162 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Woodland Christian School
Private
840 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.1 | ||
Schools in Woodland
Woodland, California · 23 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$99,562
Median Home Value
$568,700
Median Rent
$1,732/mo
Population
105,192
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
64%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Community Profile
Woodland has a median household income of $99,562. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $568,700, with a median rent of $1,732/month. The local poverty rate of 7.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 14
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 5
- Other
- 2
Resources
Nearby Cities
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 Woodland, California
How many schools are in Woodland, California?
Woodland has 23 schools, including 18 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Woodland, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Woodland is 5.8 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 Woodland, California?
The top-ranked school in Woodland on MySchoolScout is Spring Lake Elementary with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Woodland, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Woodland on MySchoolScout is Spring Lake Elementary with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Woodland, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Woodland on MySchoolScout is Douglass Middle with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best high school in Woodland, California?
The top-ranked high school in Woodland on MySchoolScout is Pioneer High with a composite score of 7.5/10.
How many school districts serve Woodland, California?
Woodland is served by 2 school districts: Woodland Joint Unified, Yolo County Office of Education.
What is the education level in Woodland, California?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Woodland have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Woodland, California?
The median household income in Woodland is approximately $99,562 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Woodland, California?
Yes, Woodland has 5 private schools alongside 18 public schools. The top-rated private school is Holy Rosary Catholic School with a score of 6.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Woodland, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Woodland is 19.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Woodland, 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 Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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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.