Best Public Schools in Ontario, CA

Ontario, California, is served by 38 public schools across five districts, educating students from kindergarten through high school in a diverse, high-need area where most schools have significant populations qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Parents will find a wide range of school performance, with standout elementary schools like Park View Elementary and Edison Elementary achieving some of the highest test scores and lowest chronic absenteeism in the state. The Mountain View Elementary district is home to several top performers, including the leading middle school, Grace Yokley Junior High. Notably, online options like Chaffey District Online High also show strong academic results and graduation rates.

However, the area faces systemic challenges, particularly in high school math proficiency, which is low across traditional campuses. Schools with the greatest struggles, such as Valley View High (Continuation) and Ontario Center, contend with very high chronic absenteeism. Performance varies significantly between and within districts, with the Ontario-Montclair district showing both excellent and struggling schools, indicating that specific school environment and support systems are key factors for success.