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6.0 avg / 10

Best Schools in Temple, Texas

30 schools · 17 Elementary · 5 Middle · 4 High · 4 Other

Public: 23
Private: 7
Districts: 2
Avg Rating: 6.0/10
Estimated Scores: 4%
Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Temple?

Use this page to compare every school in Temple 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.

St Marys Catholic School

8.4/10

Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Charter Oak EL

8.3/10

Elementary · Belton ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Bonham Middle

7.4/10

Middle · Temple ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Temple for 2026 are St Marys Catholic School (8.4/10), Charter Oak EL (8.3/10), and Bonham Middle (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 25 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

30

23 public · 7 private

Avg Score

6.0

out of 10

Median Home

$188,567

home value · ACS

Districts

2

serving the city

Best value · beats the odds
Charter Oak EL

Rates 8.3/10 despite 38% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 Temple schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
Tarver EL

STAAR proficiency rose +12.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Temple schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Temple

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (25 of 30). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 St Marys Catholic School 8.4 / 10
2 Charter Oak EL 8.3 / 10
3 Bonham Middle 7.4 / 10
4 Holy Trinity Catholic High School 7.4 / 10
5 Lake Belton Middle 7.3 / 10
6 Travis Science Academy 6.9 / 10
7 Jefferson EL 6.7 / 10
8 Fred W Edwards Academy Aec 6.6 / 10
9 Tarver EL 6.5 / 10
10 Lamar Middle 6.5 / 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

19% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$60,563

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$188,567

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
26%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
21 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
54%

Of occupied housing units

How Temple compares

Texas rank

#427 of 654

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.2

below Texas avg (6.3)

Median household income

$61k

82% of Texas median

Schools in this city

26

About Schools in Temple, Texas

Temple, Texas gives parents 22 ranked public schools to evaluate, spanning elementary through middle grades. The city's average school score sits at 6.4 out of 10 — a solid baseline, but the spread matters. Ten of those 22 schools, or 45 percent, score 7 or higher, meaning nearly half the system clears a meaningful performance threshold. Parents who prioritize school quality have real options here, but zoning determines access, so address research is essential before committing to a neighborhood.

The middle school tier is where Temple stands out most. Bonham Middle leads the city with an 8.7 out of 10 — the top score among all 22 ranked schools. Travis Science Academy follows at 8.2, and Lake Belton Middle rounds out a strong trio at 8.1. Three middle schools clearing 8.0 in the same city is uncommon, and it signals that students who enter with a solid elementary foundation have well-above-average options waiting for them in grades 6 through 8. Travis Science Academy's name suggests a specialized academic focus, which may particularly appeal to families with STEM-oriented kids.

At the elementary level, Charter Oak Elementary scores 7.4 out of 10, landing it among the top performers citywide and making it one of the stronger entry points into the Temple system. Lamar Middle also posts a 7.4, adding another above-average option in the middle grades. The concentration of high-scoring schools in the middle tier means parents should pay close attention to feeder patterns — an elementary school's performance matters partly because of where it sends students.

The practical takeaway for parents: Temple's best schools cluster at 8.0 and above, and nearly half the system clears 7.0. If you're choosing between neighborhoods, map your address against the Bonham, Travis Science, and Lake Belton attendance zones first. The city's 6.4 average also means weaker schools exist — scores below that mark are worth scrutinizing individually before enrollment. Use the individual school pages on MySchoolScout to check each campus's trend over time, not just its current snapshot score.

Elementary Schools

17 schools
# School Rating
1 624 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.3
2 492 students · Pre-K–5th 6.7
3 486 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.5
4 416 students · Pre-K–5th 6.5
5 630 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.1
6 465 students · Pre-K–5th 6.1
7 627 students · Pre-K–5th 6.1
8 484 students · Pre-K–5th 6.0
9 448 students · Pre-K–5th 5.4
10 645 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.9
Show all 17 elementary schools in Temple

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Middle Schools

5 schools
# School Rating
1 636 students · 6th–8th 7.4
2 812 students · 6th–8th 7.3
3 687 students · 6th–8th 6.9
4 538 students · 6th–8th 6.5
5 919 students · 6th–8th 4.3

High Schools

4 schools
# School Rating
1 89 students · 9th–12th 6.6
2 2,269 students · 9th–12th 6.1
3 2,342 students · 8th–12th 6.1
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 91 students · 9th–12th 7.4

Other Schools

4 schools
# School Rating
1 447 students · Pre-K–Pre-K 3.5
2 63 students · 2nd–12th 3.2
3 1 students · 9th–9th
Private Schools 1 school

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 355 students · Pre-K–12th 5.9

Schools in Temple

Temple, Texas · 30 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes

Median Income

$60,563

Median Home Value

$188,567

Median Rent

$1,132/mo

Population

93,254

College Educated

26%

Homeownership

54%

Avg Commute

21 min

Poverty Rate

18.8%

Community Profile

Temple has a median household income of $60,563. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $188,567, with a median rent of $1,132/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.8%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Temple, Texas

How many schools are in Temple, Texas?

Temple has 30 schools, including 23 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Temple, Texas?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Temple 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 Temple, Texas?

The top-ranked school in Temple on MySchoolScout is St Marys Catholic School with a composite score of 8.4/10.

What is the best elementary school in Temple, Texas?

The top-ranked elementary school in Temple on MySchoolScout is St Marys Catholic School with a composite score of 8.4/10.

What is the best middle school in Temple, Texas?

The top-ranked middle school in Temple on MySchoolScout is Bonham Middle with a composite score of 7.4/10.

What is the best high school in Temple, Texas?

The top-ranked high school in Temple on MySchoolScout is Holy Trinity Catholic High School with a composite score of 7.4/10.

How many school districts serve Temple, Texas?

Temple is served by 2 school districts: Belton ISD, Temple ISD.

What is the education level in Temple, Texas?

According to Census data, 26% of adults in Temple have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Temple, Texas?

The median household income in Temple is approximately $60,563 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Temple, Texas?

Yes, Temple has 7 private schools alongside 23 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Marys Catholic School with a score of 8.4/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Temple, Texas?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Temple is 13.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Temple, Texas?

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.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Texas Education Agency, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.