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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best El Centro Public Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 15 public elementary schools serving 5,795 students in El Centro, CA.
The top-ranked public elementary schools in El Centro, CA are Mccabe Elementary School, Sunflower Elementary School and Imperial Valley Home School Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
El Centro, CA public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 30% (versus the California public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 38% (versus the 46% statewide average). Elementary schools in El Centro have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of California public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 96% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public elementary school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Elementary Schools in El Centro, CA (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mccabe Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
701 West Mccabe Rd.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-5443
Gr: K-8 | 1,109 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #22.
Sunflower Elementary School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2450 Main St.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 337-4890
Gr: K-6 | 427 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #33.
Imperial Valley Home School Academy
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2370 Main St.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 335-5100
Gr: K-8 | 131 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #44.
De Anza Magnet
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1530 South Waterman Ave.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-9811
Gr: K-8 | 504 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #55.
Harding Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
950 South Seventh St.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-4791
Gr: K-6 | 601 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #66.
Mckinley Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1177 North Eighth St.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-3225
Gr: K-6 | 456 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #77.
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1950 Villa Ave.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 337-6555
Gr: K-6 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #88.
Desert Garden Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1900 South Sixth St.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-2051
Gr: K-6 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
Rank: #99.
Meadows Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2059 Bowker Rd.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-7512
Gr: K-8 | 352 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1010.
Booker T. Washington Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
223 South First St.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-6611
Gr: K-6 | 351 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
Rank: #1111.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
200 North Twelfth St.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-3060
Gr: K-6 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1212.
Margaret Hedrick Elementary School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
550 South Waterman Ave.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 352-4750
Gr: K-6 | 446 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1313.
Valley Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
253 East Ross Ave.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 312-5525
Gr: K-12 | 205 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1414.
Imperial County Special Education
Special Education School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1398 Sperber Rd.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 312-6428
Gr: K-12
Rank: n/an/a
Imperial County Juvenile Hall/community
Alternative School
1398 Sperber Rd.
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 312-5525
Gr: K-12 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public elementary schools in El Centro, CA?
The top-ranked public elementary schools in El Centro, CA include Mccabe Elementary School, Sunflower Elementary School and Imperial Valley Home School Academy.
How many public elementary schools are located in El Centro?
15 public elementary schools are located in El Centro.
What is the racial composition of students in El Centro?
El Centro public elementary schools minority enrollment is 96% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public elementary schools average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Which public elementary schools in El Centro are often viewed compared to one another?

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