Quick look: U.S. News & World Report has released its 2026 Best K-8 Schools rankings, recognizing top-performing elementary and middle schools across the country. More than a dozen Orange County campuses earned spots in the state’s top 100 based on student achievement and socioeconomic factors.
Elementary and middle schools across Orange County have again earned top placements in U.S. News & World Reports’ latest analysis of quality campuses statewide.
More than 70,000 public schools were ranked in the publication’s 2026 Best K-8 Schools report, which measures performance using student results in math and reading/language arts along with socioeconomic data. Unlike the outlet’s high school rankings, these evaluations are limited to statewide comparisons with no national list.
The report notes that the top-ranked schools “are high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students.”
Orange County schools in California’s top 100
Dozens of Orange County schools placed in the top 100 of U.S. News & World Report’s statewide rankings for elementary and middle schools.
Elementary schools
- Jack L. Weaver Elementary (No. 12), Los Alamitos Unified School District
- Ethan B. Allen Elementary (No. 31), Garden Grove Unified School District
- Golden Elementary (No. 56), Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
- Stonegate Elementary (No. 60), Irvine Unified School District
- Orchard Hills (No. 62), Tustin Unified School District
- Roy O. Andersen Elementary (No. 63), Newport-Mesa Unified School District
- Robert C. Fisler Elementary (No. 73), Fullerton School District
- Francis Hopkinson Elementary (No. 77), Los Alamitos Unified School District
- Los Coyotes Elementary (No. 79), Centralia Elementary School District
- Tustin Memorial Elementary (No. 93), Tustin Unified School District
Middle schools
- Oxford Academy (No. 3), Anaheim Union High School District
- Vista Verde School (No. 11), Irvine Unified School District
- Robert C. Fisler Elementary (No. 22), Fullerton School District
- Orange County School of the Arts (No. 42), Santa Ana
- Sierra Vista Middle (No. 49), Irvine Unified School District
- Ladera Ranch Middle (No. 52), Capistrano Unified School District
- Beacon Park K-8 School (No. 53), Irvine Unified School District
- Rancho San Joaquin Middle (No. 62), Irvine Unified School District
- Arroyo Vista Middle (No. 73), Capistrano Unified School District
- Harry C. Fulton Middle (No. 74), Fountain Valley School District
- Orchard Hills (No. 79), Tustin Unified School District
- Lakeside Middle (No. 85), Irvine Unified School District
- Sarah McGarvin Intermediate (No. 86), Garden Grove Unified School District
- Legacy Magnet Academy (No. 88), Tustin Unified School District
- Beechwood Elementary (No. 89), Fullerton School District
- Jeffrey Trail Middle (No. 97), Irvine Unified School District
The rankings, based entirely on data from the U.S. Department of Education, examined results from the 2022–23 math and 2021–22 reading assessments. Private schools and campuses with insufficient data were not included.
While the findings highlight high-performing schools across the state, U.S. News emphasizes that rankings are just one measure of quality and “should be considered alongside many factors that matter to families and communities.”
The full 2026 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings, along with details about the publication’s methodology, are available on the U.S. News & World Report website.
Did we miss an Orange County elementary or middle school in California’s top 100? Email communications@ocde.us.