Best California Public Schools (2026)

California is the #1 largest school system in the United States, serving 5,826,973 students across the 10,357 public schools for the 2026 school year (there are 3,926 private schools, serving 665,722 students). 90% of all K-12 students in California attend public schools, compared to the national average of 90%.

The percentage of students achieving in California is 34%. The percentage of students achieving is 47%.

The top-ranked public schools in California are Whitney (Gretchen) High School, Millikin Elementary School, and Science Academy Stem Magnet. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test scores.

There are 476 Blue Ribbon Schools, 74 magnet schools, 1,297 charter schools, and 156 special education schools.

Minority enrollment is 80%, with the majority being Hispanic and the student-teacher ratio is 22:1.

Overview

This State (CA)

# Schools

10,357 Schools

# Students

5,826,973 Students

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Public School
Year	California
2017	953
2016	948
2015	950
2014	932
2013	938
2012	951
2011	951
2010	962
2009	966
2008	966
2007	987
2006	986
2005	998
2004	1,009
2003	1,006
2002	998
2001	983
2000	974
1999	959
1998	949
1997	941
1996	927
1995	917
1994	922
1993	903
1992	903
1991	895
1990	862
1989	883
1988	857
1987	859

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Gender %

# Teachers

268,008 Teachers

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Teachers Per Public School
Year	California
2017	76
2016	76
2015	81
2014	75
2013	78
2012	79
2010	85
2009	87
2008	101
2007	87
2006	86
2005	88
2004	87
2003	88
2002	87
2001	85
2000	83
1999	81
1998	78
1997	78
1996	75
1995	74
1994	73
1993	73
1992	76
1991	75
1990	72
1989	73

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Student-Teacher Ratio

22:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (1990-2023)
Year	California
2023	22:1
2022	21:1
2021	22:1
2020	23:1
2019	23:1
2018	23:1
2017	23:1
2016	24:1
2015	24:1
2014	24:1
2013	24:1
2012	23:1
2010	21:1
2009	20:1
2008	18:1
2007	21:1
2006	20:1
2005	21:1
2004	21:1
2003	20:1
2002	20:1
2001	20:1
2000	21:1
1999	21:1
1998	21:1
1997	23:1
1996	25:1
1995	25:1
1994	25:1
1993	25:1
1992	24:1
1991	24:1
1990	24:1

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Student By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	California
Pre-K	123
Kind	522,431
1	396,614
2	414,428
3	416,638
4	426,358
5	430,580
6	432,987
7	439,635
8	441,800
9	466,582
10	476,671
11	469,543
12	492,583

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State Acdeamy

State Average (CA)

34%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	California
2023	34%
2022	33%
2021	34%
2019	40%
2018	39%
2017	38%
2016	37%
2015	34%
2014	63%
2013	59%
2012	59%

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46%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	California
2023	46%
2022	47%
2021	49%
2019	51%
2018	50%
2017	48%
2016	48%
2015	44%
2014	58%
2013	57%
2012	58%

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30%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	California
2023	30%
2022	29%
2021	28%

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87%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	California
2023	87%
2022	87%
2021	84%
2020	85%
2019	84%
2018	84%
2017	83%
2016	83%
2015	89%
2014	88%
2013	87%

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Eligible for

54%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Trends
Year	California
2023	51%
2022	51%
2021	53%
2020	52%
2019	52%
2018	49%
2017	49%
2016	50%
2015	50%
2014	49%
2013	48%
2012	9%
2011	46%
2010	46%
2009	43%
2008	41%
2007	40%
2006	40%
2005	40%
2004	40%
2003	39%
2002	39%
2001	39%
2000	40%
1999	40%
1998	47%
1997	47%
1996	46%
1995	45%
1994	43%
1993	41%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Trends
Year	California
2023	8%
2022	7%
2021	6%
2020	7%
2019	7%
2018	9%
2017	9%
2016	9%
2015	9%
2014	9%
2013	7%
2011	8%
2010	9%
2009	10%
2008	10%
2007	10%
2006	9%
2005	9%
2004	9%
2003	9%
2002	8%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.63

View Data

Diversity Score Trends
Year	California
2023	0.64
2022	0.63
2021	0.62
2020	0.63
2019	0.63
2018	0.64
2017	0.64
2016	0.64
2015	0.64
2014	0.65
2013	0.65
2012	0.65
2011	0.67
2010	0.67
2009	0.71
2008	0.65
2007	0.67
2006	0.66
2005	0.67
2004	0.67
2003	0.67
2002	0.67
2001	0.67
2000	0.67
1999	0.67
1998	0.67
1997	0.67
1996	0.67
1995	0.67
1994	0.67
1993	0.67
1992	0.67
1991	0.67

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# American Indian Students

25,825 Students

% American Indian Students

View Data

Percentage of Public School Students of American Indian Trends
Year	California
2023	1%
2022	1%
2020	1%
2019	1%
2018	1%
2017	1%
2016	1%
2015	1%
2014	1%
2013	1%
2012	1%
2011	1%
2010	1%
2009	1%
2008	1%
2007	2%
2006	1%
2005	2%
2004	2%
2003	2%
2002	2%
2001	2%
2000	1%
1999	1%
1998	1%
1997	1%
1996	1%
1995	1%
1994	1%
1993	1%
1992	1%

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# Asian Students

705,772 Students

% Asian Students

12%

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Trends
Year	California
2023	12%
2022	12%
2021	12%
2020	12%
2019	12%
2018	11%
2017	11%
2016	11%
2015	11%
2014	11%
2013	11%
2012	11%
2011	11%
2010	11%
2009	11%
2008	12%
2007	12%
2006	12%
2005	12%
2004	12%
2003	11%
2002	11%
2001	11%
2000	11%
1999	11%
1998	11%
1997	11%
1996	11%
1995	11%
1994	11%
1993	11%
1992	11%
1991	11%

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# Hispanic Students

3,264,069 Students

% Hispanic Students

56%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends
Year	California
2023	55%
2022	56%
2021	56%
2020	55%
2019	55%
2018	54%
2017	54%
2016	54%
2015	54%
2014	53%
2013	53%
2012	52%
2011	51%
2010	50%
2009	49%
2008	50%
2007	49%
2006	48%
2005	47%
2004	46%
2003	45%
2002	44%
2001	43%
2000	42%
1999	41%
1998	40%
1997	40%
1996	39%
1995	38%
1994	37%
1993	36%
1992	35%
1991	34%

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# Black Students

286,233 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Black Student Percentage Trends
Year	California
2023	5%
2022	5%
2021	5%
2020	5%
2019	5%
2018	6%
2017	6%
2016	6%
2015	6%
2014	6%
2013	6%
2012	6%
2011	7%
2010	7%
2009	7%
2008	8%
2007	8%
2006	8%
2005	8%
2004	8%
2003	8%
2002	8%
2001	8%
2000	9%
1999	9%
1998	9%
1997	9%
1996	9%
1995	9%
1994	9%
1993	9%
1992	9%
1991	9%

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# White Students

1,179,036 Students

% White Students

20%

View Data

White Student Percentage Trends
Year	California
2023	21%
2022	21%
2021	22%
2020	23%
2019	23%
2018	24%
2017	24%
2016	24%
2015	24%
2014	25%
2013	25%
2012	26%
2011	27%
2010	27%
2009	28%
2008	29%
2007	29%
2006	31%
2005	31%
2004	32%
2003	34%
2002	35%
2001	36%
2000	37%
1999	38%
1998	39%
1997	39%
1996	40%
1995	41%
1994	42%
1993	43%
1992	44%
1991	45%

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# Hawaiian Students

23,735 Students

% Hawaiian Students

n/a

View Data

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Student Percentage Trends
Year	California
2015	1%
2014	1%
2013	1%
2012	1%
2011	1%
2010	1%
2009	1%

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# Two or more races Students

333,816 Students

% of Two or more races Students

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Trends
Year	California
2023	6%
2022	5%
2021	5%
2020	4%
2019	4%
2018	4%
2017	4%
2016	4%
2015	3%
2014	3%
2013	3%
2012	3%
2011	2%
2010	3%
2009	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

State Revenue and Spending

This State (CA)

Total Revenue

$116,387 MM

View Data

Median Total Revenues Trends
Year	California
2023	$8 MM
2022	$7 MM
2021	$8 MM
2020	$7 MM
2019	$7 MM
2018	$29 MM
2017	$26 MM
2016	$24 MM
2015	$17 MM
2014	$21 MM
2012	$19 MM
2011	$19 MM
2010	$17 MM
2009	$19 MM
2008	$19 MM
2007	$19 MM
2006	$17 MM
2005	$16 MM
2004	$16 MM
2003	$16 MM
2002	$15 MM
2001	$15 MM
2000	$13 MM
1999	$12 MM
1998	$11 MM
1997	$10 MM
1996	$9 MM
1995	$8 MM

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Spending

$107,188 MM

View Data

Median Total Expenditures Trends
Year	California
2023	$7 MM
2022	$7 MM
2021	$7 MM
2020	$7 MM
2019	$7 MM
2018	$29 MM
2017	$24 MM
2016	$23 MM
2015	$18 MM
2014	$21 MM
2012	$19 MM
2011	$19 MM
2010	$18 MM
2009	$18 MM
2008	$19 MM
2007	$18 MM
2006	$17 MM
2005	$16 MM
2004	$17 MM
2003	$15 MM
2002	$16 MM
2001	$14 MM
2000	$13 MM
1999	$11 MM
1998	$11 MM
1997	$10 MM
1996	$8 MM
1995	$8 MM

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Revenue / Student

$19,974

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	California
2023	$15,607
2022	$14,213
2021	$15,669
2020	$14,213
2019	$14,063
2018	$16,033
2017	$16,692
2016	$15,604
2015	$10,238
2014	$11,786
2012	$11,929
2011	$11,681
2010	$10,238
2009	$11,099
2008	$11,762
2007	$11,879
2006	$10,859
2005	$10,445
2004	$10,566
2003	$10,456
2002	$9,803
2001	$10,568
2000	$8,943
1999	$8,203
1998	$7,395
1997	$6,922
1995	$5,953
1992	$5,430

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Spending / Student

$18,395

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	California
2023	$13,914
2022	$13,602
2021	$13,970
2020	$13,602
2019	$13,522
2018	$16,124
2017	$15,588
2016	$14,779
2015	$10,739
2014	$11,804
2012	$12,155
2011	$11,509
2010	$10,739
2009	$10,975
2008	$11,678
2007	$11,317
2006	$10,926
2005	$10,789
2004	$11,073
2003	$10,210
2002	$10,600
2001	$10,007
2000	$9,131
1999	$7,911
1998	$7,592
1997	$6,759
1995	$6,033
1992	$5,588

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Best California Public Schools by County (2026)

County

# Schools

# Students

% Minority

Alameda County

417

224,181

86%

Alpine County

71%

Amador County

5,028

43%

Butte County

29,714

48%

Calaveras County

5,203

33%

Colusa County

4,813

84%

Contra Costa County

271

164,084

75%

Del Norte County

4,090

52%

El Dorado County

35,640

41%

Fresno County

361

205,705

86%

Glenn County

5,446

68%

Humboldt County

17,599

46%

Imperial County

37,039

96%

Inyo County

2,576

68%

Kern County

275

190,321

82%

Kings County

28,479

84%

Lake County

9,983

58%

Lassen County

3,745

37%

Los Angeles County

2,218

1,295,536

87%

Madera County

32,273

83%

Marin County

30,804

50%

Mariposa County

1,695

38%

Mendocino County

12,675

65%

Merced County

116

59,546

88%

Modoc County

1,389

35%

Mono County

1,493

61%

Monterey County

149

73,351

90%

Napa County

17,715

73%

Nevada County

13,206

32%

Orange County

643

437,224

78%

Placer County

121

71,275

47%

Plumas County

2,043

36%

Riverside County

536

425,284

83%

Sacramento County

395

261,792

72%

San Benito County

12,535

86%

San Bernardino County

571

390,028

86%

San Diego County

766

470,136

72%

San Francisco County

134

56,749

87%

San Joaquin County

240

144,560

86%

San Luis Obispo County

31,982

53%

San Mateo County

179

85,299

78%

Santa Barbara County

126

66,698

80%

Santa Clara County

404

230,082

84%

Santa Cruz County

34,133

67%

Shasta County

101

27,728

37%

Sierra County

403

27%

Siskiyou County

5,882

46%

Solano County

109

61,367

80%

Sonoma County

178

63,063

62%

Stanislaus County

190

106,578

79%

Sutter County

17,595

71%

Tehama County

9,552

58%

Trinity County

1,396

32%

Tulare County

188

100,769

87%

Tuolumne County

5,756

31%

Ventura County

239

149,133

74%

Yolo County

28,665

73%

Yuba County

15,869

65%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in California?

The top-ranked public schools in California include Whitney (Gretchen) High School, Millikin Elementary School, and Science Academy Stem Magnet.

How many public schools are located in California?

10,357 public schools are located in California.

What percentage of students in California go to public school?

90% of all K-12 students in California attend public schools (compared to the national average of 90%).

What is the racial composition of students in California?

Minority enrollment in California is 80%, with the majority being Hispanic.

Which public schools in California are often viewed compared to one another?

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