Many charter public elementary schools in California are ranked among the best by U.S. News & World Report and Niche in 2024. Charter public elementary schools also consistently earn the prestigious California Distinguished Schools Award bestowed by the California Department of Education.
This year, the CDE honored middle schools and high schools. The state agency will recognize elementary schools in 2025. Check out the past charter elementary school recipients by clicking this link.
To discover which charter elementary schools earned top rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Niche in 2024, check out the lists below.
California's Top Ranked Charter Elementary Schools in 2024
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report publishes annual rankings for elementary, middle, and high schools in America. Below are the top-ranked charter elementary schools in California based on U.S. News state-by-state analysis:
- Ranked #7 – Yu Ming Charter (Oakland)
- Ranked #9 – Canyon Charter Elementary (Santa Monica)
- Ranked #39 – Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter (San Luis Obispo)
- Ranked #62 – Elevate (San Diego)
- Ranked #81 – Welby Way Charter Elementary School and Gifted-High Ability Magnet (West Hills)
- Ranked #82 – Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary (Thousand Oaks)
Niche
Niche is an online platform offering in-depth profiles on every school and college in America, as well as over 140 million reviews and ratings. Below are the top-ranked charter elementary schools in California based on Niche's 2024 data sets and surveys:
- Ranked #2 – Granada Hills Charter School (Granada Hills)
- Ranked #11 – Yu Ming Charter (Oakland)
- Ranked #14 – Larchmont Charter School (West Hollywood)
- Ranked #57 – The New School of San Francisco (San Francisco)
- Ranked #70 – Bullis Charter School (Los Altos)
What is a Charter School?
California's charter schools are tuition-free, public, and open to all students. California charter public schools have rigorous curriculum programs and unique educational approaches. In exchange for operational freedom and flexibility, charter schools are subject to higher levels of accountability than traditional public schools. Charter schools offer high-quality education options to communities. Learn More >>
