U.S. News & World Report has released its 2026 Best K-8 Schools rankings. The report highlights top elementary and middle schools in the United States. More than a dozen schools from Orange County, California, are listed among the state’s top 100 schools. The rankings use student achievement in math and reading/language arts, along with socioeconomic data from the U.S. Department of Education.
The report reviewed over 70,000 public schools nationwide. However, the K-8 rankings compare schools only within each state. This year, several Orange County elementary and middle schools are included in the top 100. Jack L. Weaver Elementary is ranked No. 12, Ethan B. Allen Elementary is No. 31, and Golden Elementary is No. 56.
Orange County middle schools also received high rankings. Oxford Academy is ranked No. 3 in the state. Vista Verde School is No. 11, and Robert C. Fisler Elementary is No. 22. Other schools in the top 50 include Orange County School of the Arts (No. 42) and Sierra Vista Middle (No. 49)…