Best Public Schools in San Jose, CA

The city of San Jose, California is home to a diverse array of 231 schools, including 143 elementary schools, 41 middle schools, 45 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. These schools span across multiple districts, providing educational opportunities for students from a wide range of backgrounds and communities.

Several schools stand out as exceptional performers, with Lynbrook High and Murdock-Portal Elementary consistently ranking among the top schools in California. These high-achieving institutions boast exceptional test scores, with over 90% of students proficient or better in core subjects. Other top-performing schools include Piedmont Hills High and Leigh High, which also earn high rankings and strong academic results.

While the majority of high schools in San Jose have graduation rates around 86.4% and dropout rates around 8.9%, which are above state averages, there is a significant performance gap between the highest-performing and lowest-performing schools. Factors such as socioeconomic status, as measured by free and reduced-price lunch rates, appear to play a role in academic outcomes. Addressing these equity and access issues, as well as addressing chronic absenteeism, could be key to raising the overall level of achievement across the district.