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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Improved Public Schools in California (2026)

The most improved public schools in California are Willowbrook Middle School, Phoenix High Community Day and Alameda County Juvenile Hall/court.
A school's improvement is based on a its total rise in ranking spots during the last five years (2021-26).
Improved Rank Range: 5,895 7,715 Avg. Improved Rank: 6,408

Most Improved Public Schools in California (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Ranking Change (2021-26)
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Willowbrook Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +7715
(from 8,770 to 1,055)
Grades: 6-8
2601 North Wilmington Ave.
Compton, CA 90222
(310) 604-2706
Rank: #22.
Phoenix High Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6656
(from 9,253 to 2,597)
Grades: 9-12
228 East Ave. H8
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 729-3936
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Alameda County Juvenile Hall/court
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6646
(from 9,243 to 2,597)
Grades: K-12
2500 Fairmont Ave.
San Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 670-7609
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Santa Clara County Court
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6646
(from 9,243 to 2,597)
Grades: 6-12
1290 Ridder Park Dr. Mc213
San Jose, CA 95131
(408) 573-3070
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Merced County Juvenile Court
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6573
(from 9,170 to 2,597)
Grades: K-12
2840 West Sandy Mush Rd.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 381-4528
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Stanislaus County West Campus
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6573
(from 9,170 to 2,597)
Grades: K-12
2215 Blue Gum Ave.
Modesto, CA 95350
(209) 567-4739
Rank: #77.
San Benito County Opportunity
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6570
(from 9,167 to 2,597)
Grades: 7-9
191 Alvarado St.
Hollister, CA 95023
(831) 636-8408
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Academy For Change
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6528
(from 9,125 to 2,597)
Grades: 6-12
290 East Ave.
Chico, CA 95926
(530) 891-3092
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Providence
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6528
(from 9,125 to 2,597)
Grades: K-12
4333 Vineyard Ave.
Oxnard, CA 93036
(805) 981-5800
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
John F. Cruikshank Junior
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6518
(from 9,115 to 2,597)
Grades: K-12
2707 Transworld Dr.
Stockton, CA 95213
(209) 468-4847
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Thomas Riley High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6518
(from 9,115 to 2,597)
Grades: 7-12
1524 East 103rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90002
(323) 563-6692
Rank: #1212.
Harold Mcalister High (Opportunity)
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6504
(from 9,101 to 2,597)
Grades: 6-12
1321 Cortez St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 250-2015
Rank: #1313.
Santa Barbara County Community
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6497
(from 9,094 to 2,597)
Grades: 5-12
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93160
(805) 967-5307
Rank: #14 - 1614. - 16.
Aggeler Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6470
(from 9,067 to 2,597)
Grades: 7-12
21050 Plummer St.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 341-1232
Rank: #14 - 1614. - 16.
Calaveras River Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6470
(from 9,067 to 2,597)
Grades: 6-12
150 Old Oak Rd.
San Andreas, CA 95249
(209) 754-1996
Rank: #14 - 1614. - 16.
Santa Barbara County Juvenile Court
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6470
(from 9,067 to 2,597)
Grades: 5-12
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-5307
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Eagle Summit Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6419
(from 9,016 to 2,597)
Grades: 6-12
9258 Malpaso Rd.
Phelan, CA 92329
(760) 868-5400
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Merced City School District Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6419
(from 9,016 to 2,597)
Grades: K-6
601 Mercy Ave.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6647
Rank: #1919.
Boys Republic High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6410
(from 9,007 to 2,597)
Grades: 9-12
3493 Grand Ave.
Chino, CA 91710
(909) 902-6690
Rank: #2020.
Wells (Ida B.) High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6366
(from 8,963 to 2,597)
Grades: 9-12
1099 Hayes St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 241-6315
Rank: #2121.
Santa Rosa French-american Charter (Srfacs)
Charter School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +6360
(from 8,108 to 1,748)
Grades: K-8
1350 Sonoma Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 890-3930
Rank: #2222.
Sierra Vista
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6337
(from 8,842 to 2,505)
Grades: 3-12
5280 Stirling St.
Auburn, CA 95603
(916) 277-8799
Rank: #23 - 2923. - 29.
Bellflower Alternative Education Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6245
(from 8,842 to 2,597)
Grades: K-12
16703 South Clark Ave.
Bellflower, CA 90706
(562) 866-9011
Rank: #23 - 2923. - 29.
Carr Lake Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6245
(from 8,842 to 2,597)
Grades: 7-12
10 Sherwood Pl.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7700
Rank: #23 - 2923. - 29.
Duncan-russell Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6245
(from 8,842 to 2,597)
Grades: 7-12
650 W. 10th St.
Tracy, CA 95376
(209) 830-3395
Rank: #23 - 2923. - 29.
Fort Sage Middle School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6245
(from 8,842 to 2,597)
Grades: 7-8
200 Ds Hall
Herlong, CA 96113
(530) 827-2101
Rank: #23 - 2923. - 29.
J. C. Montgomery
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6245
(from 8,842 to 2,597)
Grades: 7-12
690 East Dr.
Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 584-1441
Rank: #23 - 2923. - 29.
Redding Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6245
(from 8,842 to 2,597)
Grades: 1-8
5885 East Bonnyview Rd.
Redding, CA 96099
(530) 225-0406
Rank: #23 - 2923. - 29.
View Park Continuation
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6245
(from 8,842 to 2,597)
Grades: 9-12
4701 Rodeo Rd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
(323) 292-0331
Rank: #3030.
Fletcher Mandarin Language & Gate Academy
(Math: 58% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +6186
(from 7,688 to 1,502)
Grades: K-6
515 West Fletcher St.
Orange, CA 92865
(714) 997-6181
Rank: #3131.
Marshall Academy Of The Arts
(Math: 44% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6144
(from 8,254 to 2,110)
Grades: 6-8
5870 East Wardlow Rd.
Long Beach, CA 90808
(562) 429-7013
Rank: #3232.
Orange Cove High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +6052
(from 7,842 to 1,790)
Grades: 9-12
1700 Anchor Ave.
Orange Cove, CA 93646
(559) 626-5900
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Baker High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6049
(from 8,646 to 2,597)
Grades: 9-12
72100 School House Ln.
Baker, CA 92309
(760) 733-4567
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Solano Co Juve Detention Facility - Evergreen Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +6049
(from 8,646 to 2,597)
Grades: 7-12
740 Beck Ave.
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 399-4840
Rank: #3535.
Melrose Leadership Academy
(Math: 46% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +5895
(from 8,635 to 2,740)
Grades: K-8
4730 Fleming Ave.
Oakland, CA 94619
(510) 879-2152
Show 100 more public schools in CA (out of 9,439 total schools)
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