For the 2025 school year, there are 66 public schools serving 38,207 students in Salinas, CA (there are 8 private schools, serving 1,022 private students). 97% of all K-12 students in Salinas, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
The top ranked public schools in Salinas, CA are Toro Park Elementary School, Lagunita Elementary School and Washington Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Salinas, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 19% (versus the California public school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 34% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Salinas have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of California public schools.
Minority enrollment is 95% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Salinas, CA (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Toro Park Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
22500 Portola Dr.
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 484-9691
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 484-9691
Grades: K-3
| 331 students
Rank: #22.
Lagunita Elementary School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
975 San Juan Grade Rd.
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 449-2800
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 449-2800
Grades: K-6
| 61 students
Rank: #33.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
340 Corral De Tierra Rd.
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 484-1331
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 484-1331
Grades: 4-5
| 155 students
Rank: #44.
San Benancio Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
43 San Benancio Rd.
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 484-1172
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 484-1172
Grades: 6-8
| 260 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Carr Lake Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
10 Sherwood Pl.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7700
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7700
Grades: 7-12
| 31 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Wellington M. Smith Junior
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1420 Natividad Rd.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 755-3979
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 755-3979
Grades: 4-12
| 34 students
Rank: #77.
Buena Vista Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
18250 Tara Dr.
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 455-8936
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 455-8936
Grades: 6-8
| 333 students
Rank: #88.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
705 California St.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 753-5625
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 753-5625
Grades: K-6
| 644 students
Rank: #99.
Graves Elementary School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
15 Mcfadden Rd.
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 422-6392
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 422-6392
Grades: K-8
| 35 students
Rank: #1010.
Salinas High School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
726 South Main St.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 796-7400
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 796-7400
Grades: 9-12
| 2,446 students
Rank: #1111.
Alisal High School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
777 Williams Rd.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7600
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7600
Grades: 9-12
| 2,791 students
Rank: #1212.
New Republic Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
636 Arcadia Way
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 443-7246
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 443-7246
Grades: K-5
| 497 students
Rank: #1313.
Rancho San Juan High School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1100 Rogge Rd.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 273-7700
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 273-7700
Grades: 9-12
| 1,658 students
Rank: #1414.
Washington Middle School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
560 Iverson St.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 796-7100
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 796-7100
Grades: 7-8
| 1,068 students
Rank: #1515.
Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
680 Las Casitas Dr.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 753-5770
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 753-5770
Grades: K-6
| 510 students
Rank: #1616.
Everett Alvarez High School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1900 Independence Blvd.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7800
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7800
Grades: 9-12
| 2,072 students
Rank: #1717.
Monte Bella Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1300 Tuscany Blvd.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 753-5700
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 753-5700
Grades: K-6
| 807 students
Rank: #1818.
Laurel Wood Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
645 Larkin St.
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 753-5620
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 753-5620
Grades: K-6
| 405 students
Rank: #1919.
North Salinas High School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
55 Kip Dr.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7500
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7500
Grades: 9-12
| 2,125 students
Rank: #2020.
Alisal Community
(Math: 21% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1437 Del Monte Ave.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 753-5720
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 753-5720
Grades: K-6
| 582 students
Rank: #2121.
El Sausal Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1155 East Alisal St.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7200
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7200
Grades: 7-8
| 1,051 students
Rank: #2222.
Monterey County Home Charter
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
901 Blanco Cir.
Salinas, CA 93912
(831) 755-0331
Salinas, CA 93912
(831) 755-0331
Grades: K-12
| 254 students
Rank: #2323.
Creekside Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1770 Kittery St.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5252
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5252
Grades: K-6
| 536 students
Rank: #2424.
John E. Steinbeck Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1714 Burlington Dr.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5780
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5780
Grades: K-6
| 500 students
Rank: #2525.
Los Padres Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1130 John St.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 753-5630
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 753-5630
Grades: K-6
| 676 students
Rank: #2626.
La Paz Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1300 North Sanborn Rd.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7900
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7900
Grades: 7-8
| 1,160 students
Rank: #2727.
Mission Park Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
403 West Acacia St.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 753-5635
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 753-5635
Grades: K-6
| 619 students
Rank: #2828.
Monterey Park Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
410 San Miguel Ave.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 753-5640
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 753-5640
Grades: K-6
| 529 students
Rank: #2929.
University Park Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
833 West Acacia St.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 753-5655
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 753-5655
Grades: K-6
| 482 students
Rank: #3030.
Henry F. Kammann Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
521 Rochex St.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5665
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5665
Grades: K-6
| 713 students
Rank: #3131.
El Gabilan Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1256 Linwood Dr.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5660
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5660
Grades: K-6
| 536 students
Rank: #3232.
Gavilan View Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
18250 Van Buren Ave.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 443-7212
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 443-7212
Grades: 6-8
| 568 students
Rank: #3333.
Boronda Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1114 Fontes Ln.
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 784-2231
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 784-2231
Grades: K-6
| 272 students
Rank: #3434.
Salinas City Virtual Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1210 Tyler St.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5677
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-5677
Grades: K-6
| 111 students
Rank: #3535.
La Joya Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
55 Rogge Rd.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 443-7216
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 443-7216
Grades: K-5
| 519 students
Show 31 more public schools in Salinas, CA (out of 66 total schools)
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Salinas, California Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Baldwin Park Community Day (Closed 2005)
Alternative School
1121-a Baldwin St.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-6080
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 753-6080
Grades: K-6
| 18 students
Boronda Community Day (Closed 2015)
Alternative School
1114 Fontes Ln.
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 751-3142
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 751-3142
Grades: 4-7
| 6 students
1900 Independence Blvd.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7810
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7810
Grades: 9-12
| 2,184 students
8515 Prunedale North Rd.
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 663-1777
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 663-1777
Grades: K-12
| 924 students
Millennium Charter High School (Closed 2020)
Charter School
901 Blanco Cir.
Salinas, CA 93912
(831) 755-0300
Salinas, CA 93912
(831) 755-0300
Grades: 9-12
| 129 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Salinas, CA?
The top ranked public schools in Salinas, CA include Toro Park Elementary School, Lagunita Elementary School and Washington Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Salinas?
66 public schools are located in Salinas.
What percentage of students in Salinas go to public school?
97% of all K-12 students in Salinas are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Salinas?
Salinas public schools minority enrollment is 95% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public schools average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Salinas are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Salinas include: Gavilan View Middle School vs. John Gutierrez Middle School, Everett Alvarez High School vs. Alisal High School, Creekside Elementary School vs. John E. Steinbeck Elementary School
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