Best Public Schools in Colton, CA

Colton, California is served by 15 public schools across three districts—Colton Joint Unified, Rialto Unified, and Mojave River Academy - National Trails District—educating over 10,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade in a community with high economic need.

When comparing schools, Colton High stands out as the top performer, with an English proficiency rate above the state average and a strong 92.9% graduation rate, showing clear improvement in recent years. Schools in the Rialto Unified district, like Dr. Ernest Garcia Elementary and William G. Jehue Middle, generally rank higher than those in Colton Joint Unified, despite serving similar student populations. In contrast, alternative schools like Mojave River Academy - National Trails and Washington High face significant academic and attendance challenges.

Key areas for families to consider are widespread struggles with math proficiency and chronic absenteeism, which affects most schools. However, the data shows that higher spending does not automatically mean better results, and some schools are making notable progress. The performance gap between the two main districts suggests that effective educational strategies can make a difference for students in the area.