Photo: The original uploader was AllyUnion at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0Cerritos’s public schools outscore 84% of California districts
On the state math tests, 49% of Cerritos’s students scored proficient, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Cerritos, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.
From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Cerritos’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 64% and math 49% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $19,156 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Ten elementary schools, then four middle and three high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Valley Christian Schools (private), Valley Christian School, System (private), Valley Christian High School (private), Kindercare Learning Center (private) and CL Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Cerritos’s grade
A−: better than 84% of California school districts, #132 of 847 California towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cerritos, with each school’s own grade.
9th grade in Cerritos · depends on your address
Cerritos High
Grades 9–12 · 1,996 students · 24:1 students per teacher
Gahr (Richard) High
Grades 9–12 · 1,631 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Whitney (Gretchen) High
Grades 7–12 · 1,024 students · 26:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Cerritos · depends on your address
Cerritos High
Grades 9–12 · 1,996 students · 24:1 students per teacher
Gahr (Richard) High
Grades 9–12 · 1,631 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Whitney (Gretchen) High
Grades 7–12 · 1,024 students · 26:1 students per teacher
Cerritos’s public schools are run by ABC Unified School District, which also serves Artesia and Hawaiian Gardens. Parts of Cerritos (2% of its land) are served by Bellflower Unified instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Cerritos vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Cerritos’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Cerritos | A− | ABC Unified |
| Artesia | A− | ABC Unified |
| Lakewood | B | Long Beach Unified K–12 · Bellflower Unified K–12 |
| Norwalk | B+ | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified K–12 · Little Lake City Elementary K–8 · Whittier Union High 9–12 |
| La Palma | B+ | Centralia Elementary K–6 · Buena Park Elementary K–8 · Cypress Elementary K–6 |
| Santa Fe Springs | B+ | Little Lake City Elementary K–8 · Los Nietos Elementary K–8 · Norwalk-La Mirada Unified K–12 |
| Bellflower | B− | Bellflower Unified |
Every school in Cerritos
22 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (ABC Secondary (Alternative) and ABC Virtual Academy).
Questions about Cerritos’s schools
Are Cerritos’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Cerritos children attend outscore 84% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #132 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 82%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Cerritos in?
ABC Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 17,570 students in 30 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Cerritos are served by Bellflower Unified.
Where do Cerritos kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Cerritos High, Gahr (Richard) High and Whitney (Gretchen) High.
What is Cerritos’s graduation rate?
95% of the class of 2023 in ABC Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Cerritos spend per student?
$19,156 in ABC Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Cerritos?
Yes: Valley Christian Schools (religious, grades PK–12, 1,299 students), Valley Christian School, System (religious, grades PK–12, 1,269 students), Valley Christian High School (religious, grades 9–12, 521 students), Kindercare Learning Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 119 students) and CL Academy (nonsectarian, grades 1–11, 52 students).
Parents talk
What Cerritos families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cerritos → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.