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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Monterey County Public High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 37 public high schools serving 23,887 students in Monterey County, CA.
The top-ranked public high schools in Monterey County, CA are Pacific Grove High School, Carmel High School and Monterey High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Monterey County, CA public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 17% (versus the California public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 51% statewide average). High schools in Monterey County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of California public high schools.
Monterey County, CA public high school have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is equal to the California average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Carmel High School, with ≥99% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in California or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 90% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public high school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public High Schools in Monterey County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Pacific Grove High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
615 Sunset Dr.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(831) 646-6590
Gr: 9-12 | 552 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
Carmel High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3600 Ocean Ave.
Carmel, CA 93922
(831) 624-1821
Gr: 9-12 | 780 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #33.
Monterey High School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
101 Herrmann Dr.
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 392-3801
Gr: 9-12 | 1,401 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #44.
Big Sur Charter
Charter School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
304 Foam St.
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 324-4573
Gr: K-12 | 101 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #55.
Carmel Valley High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
27335 Schulte Rd.
Carmel, CA 93922
(831) 624-4462
Gr: 9-12 | 10 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #66.
Carr Lake Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
10 Sherwood Pl.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7700
Gr: 7-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #77.
Community High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1004 David Ave.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(831) 646-6535
Gr: 9-12 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #88.
Pacific Valley (K-12)
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
69325 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
(805) 927-4507
Gr: K-12 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #99.
Salinas High School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
726 South Main St.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 796-7400
Gr: 9-12 | 2,380 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1010.
King City High School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
720 Broadway St.
King City, CA 93930
(831) 385-5461
Gr: 9-12 | 1,199 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1111.
Alisal High School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
777 Williams Rd.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7600
Gr: 9-12 | 2,742 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1212.
Wellington M. Smith Junior
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1420 Natividad Rd.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 755-3979
Gr: 4-12 | 50 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1313.
Marina High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
298 Patton Pkwy.
Marina, CA 93933
(831) 583-2060
Gr: 9-12 | 721 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #1414.
Rancho San Juan High School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1100 Rogge Rd.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 273-7700
Gr: 9-12 | 1,600 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Everett Alvarez High School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1900 Independence Blvd.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,978 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
North Salinas High School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
55 Kip Dr.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7500
Gr: 9-12 | 2,106 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1717.
Monterey County Home Charter
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
901 Blanco Cir.
Salinas, CA 93912
(831) 755-0331
Gr: K-12 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1818.
Greenfield High School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
225 South El Camino Real
Greenfield, CA 93927
(831) 674-2751
Gr: 9-12 | 1,274 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1919.
North Monterey County High School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
13990 Castroville Blvd.
Castroville, CA 95012
(831) 633-5221
Gr: 9-12 | 1,250 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2020.
Soledad High School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
425 Gabilan Dr.
Soledad, CA 93960
(831) 678-6400
Gr: 9-12 | 1,546 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2121.
Seaside High School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2200 Noche Buena St.
Seaside, CA 93955
(831) 392-3530
Gr: 9-12 | 1,073 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2222.
Gonzales High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
501 Fifth St.
Gonzales, CA 93926
(831) 675-2495
Gr: 9-12 | 751 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2323.
Central Bay High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
17500 Pesante Rd.
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 663-2997
Gr: 9-12 | 23 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2424.
El Puente
Alternative School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
20 Sherwood Pl.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7700
Gr: 7-12 | 326 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Pinnacle Coastal Valley High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
760 Broadway St.
King City, CA 93930
(831) 385-4661
Gr: 9-12 | 77 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Pinnacles High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
690 Main St.
Soledad, CA 93960
(831) 678-6301
Gr: 9-12 | 41 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2727.
Portola-butler Continuation High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
760 Broadway St.
King City, CA 93930
(831) 385-4661
Gr: 9-12 | 115 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2828.
North Monterey County Center For Independent Study
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
17500 Pesante Rd.
Salinas, CA 93907
(831) 633-7050
Gr: 7-12 | 96 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2929.
Learning For Life Charter
Charter School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3180 Imjin Rd. Ste. 110
Marina, CA 93933
(831) 582-9820
Gr: 7-12 | 160 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #3030.
Salinas Community
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
615 Leslie Dr.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 755-9520
Gr: 7-12 | 101 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #3131.
Mount Toro High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
10 Sherwood Pl.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7700
Gr: 9-12 | 204 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3232.
Central Coast High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
200 Coe Ave.
Seaside, CA 93955
(831) 392-3560
Gr: 9-12 | 103 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #3333.
Monterey County Special Education
Special Education School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
901 Blanco Cir.
Salinas, CA 93912
(831) 755-0300
Gr: K-12 | 274 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: n/an/a
Mission Trails Rop
Vocational School
867 East Laurel Dr.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 753-4209
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Community Day
Alternative School
200 Coe Ave.
Seaside, CA 93955
(831) 392-3822
Gr: 9-12 | 3 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1
Show 2 more public schools in Monterey County, CA (out of 37 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public high schools in Monterey County, CA?
The top-ranked public high schools in Monterey County, CA include Pacific Grove High School, Carmel High School and Monterey High School.
How many public high schools are located in Monterey County?
38 public high schools are located in Monterey County.
What is the racial composition of students in Monterey County?
Monterey County public high schools minority enrollment is 90% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public high schools average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Which public high schools in Monterey County are often viewed compared to one another?

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