CA's Best Schools 2024: Rankings For High Schools, Elementary, College

CALIFORNIA — Throughout 2024, various publications released “best of” lists to help guide California residents’ educational choices, from the best elementary schools to the best colleges and universities to pursue a degree.

California figured prominently in several data analyses and study-driven rankings for education by U.S. News & World Report and from Niche, which provides rankings on schools, neighborhoods, cities and companies in the United States.

According to U.S. News, California boasts several of the best public high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. The Bay Area was home to eight of the 10 best public elementary schools in California and San Diego was home to two, according to the latest U.S. News rankings, published in November. Among middle schools, Southern California was home to two of the top three. Read more:

• These Are The Best Elementary Schools In CA: U.S. News Ranking
• Best Middle Schools In CA Ranked By U.S. News & World Report
• 41 CA Colleges Among Best In America, U.S. News Says In New Ranking
• 500+ CA High Schools Among Nation’s Best, U.S. News Says In Ranking

The ranking and review site Niche also weighed in on the best public schools and school districts. Of California's 50 best public high schools, 10 made Niche's list of the nation's top 100. More than 300 California school districts earned mentions in Niche's ranking of more than 11,000 nationwide, with the Palo Alto Unified School District topping the state's list. Read more:

• Here Are The 50 Best Public High Schools In CA, New Ranking Says
• These Are The Best School Districts In CA, New Ranking Says: Did Yours Make The Cut?