Los Cerritos Ranch House · Photo: Dan Cathcart, photographer · Public domainLong Beach’s public schools outscore 58% of California districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Long Beach, 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 96% 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.
Long Beach’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 592 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Long Beach’s, its schools beat 64%, higher than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in reading, below in math
Reading proficiency is 47% and math 33% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 83% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $21,042 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
45 elementary schools, then 19 middle and nine high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 9% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Intellectual Virtues Academy, Clear Passage Educational Center, College Bridge Academy, The Education Corps, Intellectual Virtues Academy of Long Beach, Lakewood Christian Schools (private), St. Anthony High School (private), Bethany Baptist Elementary (private), St. Cyprian Elementary School (private), St. Barnabas Parish School (private), St. Cornelius Elementary (private), Bethany Lutheran School (private), Westerly School of Long Beach (private), Los Altos Grace School (private), St. Anthony Parish School (private), Maple Village Waldorf School (private), St. Lucy School (private), Oakwood Academy (private), Our Lady of Refuge School (private), Pacific Baptist School (private), First Baptist Church School (private), St. Athanasius Elementary School (private), Gethsemane Baptist Christian School (private), The Muse Academy (private), Marina Montessori (private), Huntington Academy (private), Oaktree Preschool (private), Montessori Childrens House (private), Montessori School-Eureka (private), Beach Cities Learning Long Beach (private), United Faith Community Day Care Center (private) and Success Work College Preparatory 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 Long Beach’s grade
B: better than 58% of California school districts, #374 of 847 California towns. Test scores are above the California average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Long Beach, with each school’s own grade.
Long Beach’s public schools are run by Long Beach Unified School District, which also serves Avalon, Lakewood and Signal Hill. 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.
Close to the state in reading
Long Beach vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Long Beach’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | B | Long Beach Unified |
| Lakewood | B | Long Beach Unified K–12 · Bellflower Unified K–12 |
| Hawaiian Gardens | A− | ABC Unified |
| Carson | B− | Los Angeles Unified |
| Los Angeles | B− | Los Angeles Unified |
| Compton | B− | Compton Unified |
| Seal Beach | A | Los Alamitos Unified K–12 · Huntington Beach Union High 9–12 |
| Paramount | C+ | Paramount Unified |
| Los Alamitos | B+ | Los Alamitos Unified K–12 · Anaheim Union High 7–12 |
Every school in Long Beach
103 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: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Long Beach Unified School District ROP).
Questions about Long Beach’s schools
Are Long Beach’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of California: the public schools Long Beach children attend outscore 58% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #374 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 64%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Long Beach in?
Long Beach Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 62,255 students in 82 schools (2024–25).
Where do Long Beach kids go to high school?
One of 9 high schools, depending on your address: Polytechnic High, Millikan High, Wilson High, Jordan High, Cabrillo High, Ernest S. McBride Sr. High, Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science, Renaissance High School for the Arts and Richard D. Browning High.
What is Long Beach’s graduation rate?
83% of the class of 2023 in Long Beach Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Long Beach spend per student?
$21,042 in Long Beach Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Long Beach?
Yes: Lakewood Christian Schools (religious, grades PK–8, 469 students), St. Anthony High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 431 students), Bethany Baptist Elementary (religious, grades PK–8, 358 students), St. Cyprian Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 309 students), St. Barnabas Parish School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 305 students), St. Cornelius Elementary (Catholic, grades PK–8, 297 students), Bethany Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 186 students), Westerly School of Long Beach (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 177 students), Los Altos Grace School (religious, grades PK–4, 172 students), St. Anthony Parish School (Catholic, grades K–8, 167 students), Maple Village Waldorf School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 157 students), St. Lucy School (Catholic, grades K–8, 156 students), Oakwood Academy (religious, grades PK–5, 147 students), Our Lady of Refuge School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 143 students), Pacific Baptist School (religious, grades PK–12, 134 students), First Baptist Church School (religious, grades K–12, 101 students), St. Athanasius Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 97 students), Gethsemane Baptist Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 76 students), The Muse Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 67 students), Marina Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 65 students), Huntington Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 51 students), Oaktree Preschool (religious, grades PK–K, 42 students), Montessori Childrens House (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 38 students), Montessori School-Eureka (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 38 students), Beach Cities Learning Long Beach (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 31 students), United Faith Community Day Care Center (religious, grades K–2, 11 students) and Success Work College Preparatory Academy (special education, grades 2–11, 7 students). Long Beach also has 5 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Long Beach families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Long Beach → 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.