California's Best Elementary Charter Public Schools
Celebrating Charter School Excellence
California Distinguished Schools
The California Department of Education honors exceptional schools with the California Distinguished School Award. Below is a list of charter elementary schools that received the distinction in 2025. Schools recognized in 2025 will hold the title for two years, with the next opportunity for elementary schools to receive this recognition taking place in 2027.
Northern California/Bay Area
- Capri Elementary, Santa Clara, Campbell Union
- Forest Hill Elementary, Santa Clara, Campbell Union
- Hickman Elementary, Stanislaus, Hickman Community Center
- Kings River-Hardwick Elementary, Kings, Kings River-Hardwick Unified
- Maria Montessori Charter Academy, Placer, Rocklin Unified
- Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Elementary, Sacramento, Natomas Unified
- Nord Country, Butte, Chico Unified
- Redding School of the Arts, Shasta, Columbia Elementary
- Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep, Santa Clara, SCCOE
- Twin Rivers Charter, Sutter, Yuba City Unified
Greater LA/Ventura/Santa Barbara
- Adelante Charter, Santa Barbara, SBUSD
- Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy, LACOE
- Beckford Charter for Enriched Studies, LAUSD
- Carpenter Community Charter, LAUSD
- Colfax Charter Elementary, LAUSD
- Community Magnet Charter Elementary, LAUSD
- Hesby Oaks Leadership Charter, LAUSD
- ICEF Vista Elementary Academy, LAUSD
- ISANA Cardinal Academy, LAUSD
- ISANA Octavia Academy, LAUSD
- ISANA Palmati Academy, LAUSD
- Lashon Academy, LACOE
- Magnolia Science Academy 7, LAUSD
- N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts, LAUSD
- Open Charter Magnet, LAUSD
- Peabody Charter, Santa Barbara, SBUSD
- PUC Community Charter Elementary, LAUSD
- San Jose Charter Academy, West Covina Unified
Southern California/San Diego
- Dual Language Immersion North County, San Diego, SDCOE
- Heritage K-8 Charter, San Diego, SDUSD
- Irvine International Academy, Orange, OCDE
- JCS – Manzanita, San Diego, SDCOE
- LaVerne Elementary Preparatory Academy, San Bernardino, Hesperia Unified
- Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley, Orange, OCDE
- Sixth Street Prep, San Bernardino, Victor Elementary
- The Heights Charter, San Diego, SDUSD
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report publishes annual rankings of elementary, middle and high schools across the country. Below are the highest-ranked charter public schools among California elementary schools in the 2027 rankings.
- Ranked #1 – Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter, El Dorado Hills
- Ranked #8 – Bullis Charter, Los Altos
- Ranked #21 – Yu Ming Charter, Oakland
- Ranked #32 – Union Street Charter, Arcata
- Ranked #71 – Irvine International Academy, Irvine
- Ranked #91 – Carpenter Community Charter, Studio City
Niche
Niche is a leading school search and review platform used by millions of families to research and compare schools. More than 21 million people use Niche annually to research K–12 schools for their children. Drawing on Niche’s 2026 rankings and data, we’ve highlighted the highest-ranked charter elementary schools in California, based on academic performance, school culture, student experiences and other measures.
- Ranked #47 – Yu Ming Charter School, Oakland
- Ranked #76 – Oxford Preparatory Academy – Saddleback Valley, Lake Forest
- Ranked #88 – Goethe International Charter School, Los Angeles
What is a Charter School?
California's charter schools are tuition-free, public, and open to all students. California charter public schools have rigorous curriculum programs and unique educational approaches. In exchange for operational freedom and flexibility, charter schools are subject to higher levels of accountability than traditional public schools. Charter schools offer high-quality education options to communities.