Research / Best ZIP codes for schools
Best ZIP codes for schools in California
Ranked by the School Quality Index: district math and reading proficiency and graduation rates, weighted by how much of each district falls in the ZIP.
How we rank school quality
The School Quality Index summarizes district math and reading proficiency and four-year graduation outcomes. Results based on very small student samples are excluded, and missing measures do not count as zero.
A ZIP's score reflects the districts serving the area, with greater influence from districts covering more of the ZIP. It measures outcomes, not school ratings, spending, or individual schools.
Each state sets its own tests and proficiency cut scores, so the index compares ZIPs well within a state but not across states. That is why we rank ZIPs only within each state.
Only ZIPs with at least 1,000 residents are ranked, so a handful of households cannot top the list. 1,285 California ZIPs qualify.
California ZIP codes ranked by school quality
1ZIP 94706Albany
California
- School quality index
- 87.8
- ZIP population
- ~20k
- Avg. temperature
- 58°F
- Avg. commute
- 31 min
2ZIP 94025Menlo Park
California
- School quality index
- 86.0
- ZIP population
- ~41k
- Avg. temperature
- 59°F
- Avg. commute
- 23 min
3ZIP 94027Atherton
California
- School quality index
- 86.0
- ZIP population
- ~7k
- Avg. temperature
- 59°F
- Avg. commute
- 23 min
4ZIP 90623La Palma
California
- School quality index
- 85.8
- ZIP population
- ~16k
- Avg. temperature
- 65°F
- Avg. commute
- 32 min
5ZIP 90701Artesia
California
- School quality index
- 85.8
- ZIP population
- ~16k
- Avg. temperature
- 65°F
- Avg. commute
- 26 min
6ZIP 90715Lakewood
California
- School quality index
- 85.8
- ZIP population
- ~20k
- Avg. temperature
- 65°F
- Avg. commute
- 29 min
| Rank | ZIP | City | County | School quality index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 | 90716 | Hawaiian Gardens | Los Angeles County | 85.8 |
| #8 | 90703 | Cerritos | Los Angeles County | 85.6 |
| #9 | 95070 | Saratoga | Santa Clara County | 85.6 |
| #10 | 91108 | San Marino | Los Angeles County | 85.0 |
| #11 | 94024 | Los Altos | Santa Clara County | 84.6 |
| #12 | 95616 | Davis | Yolo County | 84.6 |
| #13 | 94043 | Mountain View | Santa Clara County | 83.7 |
| #14 | 94040 | Mountain View | Santa Clara County | 83.6 |
| #15 | 94041 | Mountain View | Santa Clara County | 83.6 |
| #16 | 90266 | Manhattan Beach | Los Angeles County | 83.1 |
| #17 | 94022 | Los Altos | Santa Clara County | 82.6 |
| #18 | 94028 | Portola Valley | San Mateo County | 82.6 |
| #19 | 94301 | Palo Alto | Santa Clara County | 82.6 |
| #20 | 94303 | East Palo Alto | San Mateo County | 82.6 |
| #21 | 94304 | Palo Alto | Santa Clara County | 82.6 |
| #22 | 94305 | East Palo Alto | Santa Clara County | 82.6 |
| #23 | 94306 | Palo Alto | Santa Clara County | 82.6 |
| #24 | 94595 | Walnut Creek | Contra Costa County | 82.5 |
| #25 | 95129 | San Jose | Santa Clara County | 82.5 |
Rank California by your own priorities
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More California research
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Ranked by cost of living index
- California median ZIP
- 145.3
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 103.4 to 243.9
ZIP codes with the shortest commutes
Ranked by mean commute
- California median ZIP
- 27.9 min
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 20.6 min to 36.1 min
Best healthcare access
Ranked by healthcare access score
- California median ZIP
- 96.6
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 85.4 to 99.1
Best broadband coverage
Ranked by households with broadband
- California median ZIP
- 93.5%
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 85.4% to 97.5%
Warmest ZIP codes
Ranked by avg. temperature
- California median ZIP
- 62.7°F
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 57.6°F to 65.4°F