State district guide

California public school districts

Compare district systems across California by enrollment scale, school count, county context, generated guide coverage, and the parent checks that matter before choosing where to live.

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Direct answer for parents

What this district ranking can and cannot tell you

If you are searching for the best school districts in California, start with the largest and most data-rich district systems below, then verify the specific school assigned to each address. SchoolsByCounty orders districts by reported enrollment and school count because those fields are consistent in NCES. It does not convert district size into a quality rating.

Start with scale

Los Angeles Unified

426,268 reported students

Check county context

Alpine County

100/100 county score

Verify locally

Address fit

Attendance boundaries and transfers are not in NCES

District table

Largest public school districts in California

The first 60 rows show the largest district systems by reported enrollment. Open district guides where available, or use the county profile when a detailed district page is not generated yet.

2,050 districts in state file

California public school districts ranked by reported enrollment.
Rank	District	County context	Students	Schools	Parent lens
1	Los Angeles Unified LEA ID 0622710 Los Angeles County785 schools	Los Angeles County 54/100 county score	426,268	785	Elementary, middle, and high school records 51 charter Open district guide
2	San Diego Unified LEA ID 0634320 San Diego County175 schools	San Diego County 57/100 county score	93,694	175	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
3	Fresno Unified LEA ID 0614550 Fresno County101 schools	Fresno County 52/100 county score	69,424	101	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
4	Long Beach Unified LEA ID 0622500 Los Angeles County84 schools	Los Angeles County 54/100 county score	65,129	84	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
5	Elk Grove Unified LEA ID 0612330 Sacramento County67 schools	Sacramento County 54/100 county score	61,886	67	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
6	Corona-Norco Unified LEA ID 0609850 Riverside County53 schools	Riverside County 67/100 county score	50,682	53	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
7	San Francisco Unified LEA ID 0634410 San Francisco County113 schools	San Francisco County 58/100 county score	48,722	113	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
8	San Bernardino City Unified LEA ID 0634170 San Bernardino County76 schools	San Bernardino County 49/100 county score	45,852	76	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
9	Clovis Unified LEA ID 0609030 Fresno County49 schools	Fresno County 52/100 county score	42,771	49	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
10	Kern High LEA ID 0619540 Kern County25 schools	Kern County 47/100 county score	42,667	25	high school records 1 charter Open district guide
11	Capistrano Unified LEA ID 0607440 Orange County59 schools	Orange County 67/100 county score	41,749	59	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
12	Santa Ana Unified LEA ID 0635310 Orange County52 schools	Orange County 67/100 county score	39,899	52	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
13	Riverside Unified LEA ID 0633150 Riverside County49 schools	Riverside County 67/100 county score	39,380	49	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 virtual Open district guide
14	Sacramento City Unified LEA ID 0633840 Sacramento County73 schools	Sacramento County 54/100 county score	38,588	73	Elementary, middle, and high school records 5 charter Open district guide
15	Garden Grove Unified LEA ID 0614880 Orange County66 schools	Orange County 67/100 county score	38,157	66	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
16	San Juan Unified LEA ID 0634620 Sacramento County68 schools	Sacramento County 54/100 county score	37,776	68	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
17	Irvine Unified LEA ID 0684500 Orange County45 schools	Orange County 67/100 county score	36,462	45	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
18	Stockton Unified LEA ID 0638010 San Joaquin County54 schools	San Joaquin County 39/100 county score	35,374	54	elementary, high school records 5 charter Open district guide
19	Sweetwater Union High LEA ID 0638640 San Diego County29 schools	San Diego County 57/100 county score	35,372	29	middle, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
20	Poway Unified LEA ID 0631530 San Diego County39 schools	San Diego County 57/100 county score	34,663	39	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
21	Oakland Unified LEA ID 0628050 Alameda County82 schools	Alameda County 56/100 county score	34,043	82	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
22	Fontana Unified LEA ID 0613920 San Bernardino County44 schools	San Bernardino County 49/100 county score	33,844	44	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
23	Fremont Unified LEA ID 0614400 Alameda County44 schools	Alameda County 56/100 county score	33,057	44	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
24	Moreno Valley Unified LEA ID 0625800 Riverside County39 schools	Riverside County 67/100 county score	31,619	39	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
25	San Ramon Valley Unified LEA ID 0635130 Contra Costa County37 schools	Contra Costa County 54/100 county score	29,639	37	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
26	Mt. Diablo Unified LEA ID 0626370 Contra Costa County52 schools	Contra Costa County 54/100 county score	28,921	52	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
27	Bakersfield City LEA ID 0603630 Kern County45 schools	Kern County 47/100 county score	28,835	45	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
28	Visalia Unified LEA ID 0641160 Tulare County41 schools	Tulare County 65/100 county score	28,827	41	Elementary, middle, and high school records 4 charter Open district guide
29	Anaheim Union High LEA ID 0602630 Orange County21 schools	Orange County 67/100 county score	27,706	21	middle, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
30	Lodi Unified LEA ID 0622230 San Joaquin County49 schools	San Joaquin County 39/100 county score	27,260	49	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
31	Temecula Valley Unified LEA ID 0600028 Riverside County29 schools	Riverside County 67/100 county score	26,510	29	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
32	Desert Sands Unified LEA ID 0611110 Riverside County35 schools	Riverside County 67/100 county score	26,379	35	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Open district guide
33	West Contra Costa Unified LEA ID 0632550 Contra Costa County54 schools	Contra Costa County 54/100 county score	25,626	54	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
34	Chino Valley Unified LEA ID 0608460 San Bernardino County34 schools	San Bernardino County 49/100 county score	25,618	34	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
35	San Jose Unified LEA ID 0634590 Santa Clara County42 schools	Santa Clara County 50/100 county score	25,351	42	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
36	Orange Unified LEA ID 0628650 Orange County41 schools	Orange County 67/100 county score	24,740	41	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
37	Manteca Unified LEA ID 0623610 San Joaquin County30 schools	San Joaquin County 39/100 county score	24,646	30	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
38	Glendale Unified LEA ID 0615240 Los Angeles County34 schools	Los Angeles County 54/100 county score	24,412	34	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
39	Rialto Unified LEA ID 0632370 San Bernardino County30 schools	San Bernardino County 49/100 county score	24,117	30	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
40	Twin Rivers Unified LEA ID 0601332 Sacramento County43 schools	Sacramento County 54/100 county score	24,043	43	Elementary, middle, and high school records 3 charter Open district guide
41	Saddleback Valley Unified LEA ID 0633860 Orange County34 schools	Orange County 67/100 county score	23,674	34	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
42	Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified LEA ID 0630660 Orange County34 schools	Orange County 67/100 county score	23,114	34	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
43	Chaffey Joint Union High LEA ID 0608160 San Bernardino County11 schools	San Bernardino County 49/100 county score	23,058	11	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
44	Hesperia Unified LEA ID 0600014 San Bernardino County25 schools	San Bernardino County 49/100 county score	22,945	25	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
45	Downey Unified LEA ID 0611460 Los Angeles County22 schools	Los Angeles County 54/100 county score	22,328	22	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
46	Hemet Unified LEA ID 0616920 Riverside County28 schools	Riverside County 67/100 county score	22,281	28	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
47	Murrieta Valley Unified LEA ID 0600029 Riverside County21 schools	Riverside County 67/100 county score	22,274	21	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
48	Chula Vista Elementary LEA ID 0608610 San Diego County43 schools	San Diego County 57/100 county score	22,218	43	elementary school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
49	Antelope Valley Union High LEA ID 0602820 Los Angeles County13 schools	Los Angeles County 54/100 county score	22,001	13	high school records 1 charter Open district guide
50	Tustin Unified LEA ID 0640150 Orange County28 schools	Orange County 67/100 county score	21,694	28	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
51	Torrance Unified LEA ID 0639420 Los Angeles County32 schools	Los Angeles County 54/100 county score	21,636	32	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
52	Pomona Unified LEA ID 0631320 Los Angeles County38 schools	Los Angeles County 54/100 county score	21,326	38	Elementary, middle, and high school records 2 charter Open district guide
53	Palm Springs Unified LEA ID 0629550 Riverside County28 schools	Riverside County 67/100 county score	21,029	28	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter Open district guide
54	William S. Hart Union High LEA ID 0642510 Los Angeles County16 schools	Los Angeles County 54/100 county score	20,971	16	middle, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
55	East Side Union High LEA ID 0611820 Santa Clara County16 schools	Santa Clara County 50/100 county score	20,915	16	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
56	Lake Elsinore Unified LEA ID 0600027 Riverside County25 schools	Riverside County 67/100 county score	20,788	25	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
57	Fairfield-Suisun Unified LEA ID 0613360 Solano County31 schools	Solano County 44/100 county score	20,519	31	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
58	Folsom-Cordova Unified LEA ID 0613890 Sacramento County36 schools	Sacramento County 54/100 county score	20,486	36	Elementary, middle, and high school records 1 charter, 1 virtual Open district guide
59	Montebello Unified LEA ID 0625470 Los Angeles County29 schools	Los Angeles County 54/100 county score	20,395	29	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
60	Madera Unified LEA ID 0623340 Madera County28 schools	Madera County 51/100 county score	20,138	28	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide

— = enrollment not reported in the district record. District rows are informational and must be paired with local assignment tools before a housing decision.

Methodology

How to use district rankings without overreading them

District-level data is useful because it shows the operating system around a public school search: how many schools exist, which county record anchors the district, how much enrollment is reported, and whether a detailed district guide is available. It is not enough to decide where a student should enroll.

Ranking basis

Rows are ordered by reported enrollment, then school count. The method favors broad, data-rich systems because those are the districts parents most often need to research before relocation.

County context

Each district is attached to a primary county record when available. County school scores are context signals, not district ratings, and nearby counties can still matter for commute and housing decisions.

Grade pathway

Elementary, middle, and high school counts help parents spot whether a district looks like a full K-12 pathway or a narrower operating unit. Feeder patterns still require local verification.

Address verification

The final decision happens at the address level. Confirm attendance zones, open-enrollment rules, magnet admissions, charter lotteries, and transfer windows with official district sources.

County context

Districts anchored in higher-scoring county contexts

These rows pair district records with the county-level SchoolsByCounty score. Treat this as a shortlist for deeper research, not a district quality ranking.

Alpine County Unified

Alpine County

100

Students: 68
Schools: 3

Alpine County Office of Education

Alpine County

100

Students: —
Schools: 1

Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified

Sierra County

Students: 400
Schools: 5

Sierra County Office of Education

Sierra County

Students: —
Schools: 1

WIlliam (R) Rouse ROP

Sierra County

Students: —
Schools: 1

Mariposa County Unified

Mariposa County

Students: 1,688
Schools: 11

Parent checklist before relying on a district ranking

Use this page to narrow the field, then answer these local questions before treating any district as a fit for a specific home.

Which school does this address actually feed into?

Use the district address lookup and confirm edge cases near attendance-zone borders.

What happens at transition grades?

A strong elementary fit can split into several middle or high school paths.

Are choice programs realistic for this student?

Magnet, charter, virtual, and transfer options can involve lotteries, applications, or deadlines.

Is the county context aligned with housing tradeoffs?

Pair school research with taxes, commute, home prices, and safety before choosing where to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About California School Districts

What are the best school districts in California?

Los Angeles Unified, San Diego Unified, Fresno Unified are the largest California district systems by reported enrollment in the NCES file. SchoolsByCounty does not call them the best districts; use this page to find data-rich district systems, then verify assigned schools, program rules, and local fit.

How are California districts ranked here?

Districts are ordered by reported student enrollment, then school count, using NCES public school district records. This is a research-priority ranking, not a quality rating.

Why do only 358 California districts have district guide links?

SchoolsByCounty statically generates detailed district guides for the largest district systems nationally so the pages stay fast and substantive. Districts without guide links remain represented through county and state context pages.

Do these district pages show attendance boundaries?

No. Attendance zones, transfer rules, magnet eligibility, charter admission, transportation, and program availability must be verified with official district or local assignment tools before choosing a home.

Does a large district mean better schools?

No. Larger districts usually have more school options and more public data, but enrollment size is not a school-quality measure. Compare school-level records and official local sources before treating a district as a fit.

How many districts are included for California?

This page includes 2,050 California public school districts from the current NCES district file, alongside county context and generated district-guide availability where available.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jun 9, 2026

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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