By Marcus Walton, Director, Communications & Special Projects, Contra Costa County Office of Education
PLEASANT HILL, Calif.— According to U.S. News & World Report, six Contra Costa County elementary and middle schools are among the top-ranked schools in California in its 2027 Best K-8 Schools rankings.
Wagner Ranch Elementary School in the Orinda Union School District (OUSD) ranked No. 36 among California elementary schools, followed by Happy Valley Elementary School in the Lafayette School District (LAFSD) at No. 37. Creekside Elementary School in San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) ranked No. 85 and Lafayette Elementary School in LAFSD ranked No. 92. Orinda Intermediate School in OUSD ranked No. 46 and Windemere Ranch Middle School in the SRVUSD ranked No. 61 among California middle schools.
“Congratulations to these school communities on this prestigious distinction.” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “The rankings reflect the dedication of educators, administrators, staff, families, and community members who work together to create environments where students can learn and thrive academically. These schools are examples of what can be achieved when scholars are surrounded by strong resources, engaged families, and supportive communities.”
For the 2027 rankings, U.S. News & World Report analyzed more than 107,223 pre-K, elementary, and middle schools. 46,713 elementary schools and 24,756 middle schools across the country were evaluated as part of its 2027 Best K-8 Schools rankings.
The rankings were based on publicly available standardized test data from state education agencies and the U.S. Department of Education. Schools were evaluated on average student proficiency in reading/language arts and math. While considering the proficiency and performance in each subject, the report also accounts for socioeconomic context when interpreting test results. The methodology webpage of the report states, “The top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students.”
Contra Costa County Schools in the Top 100 of the 2027 U.S. News Best K-8 Rankings
Elementary School Rankings
- No. 36: Wagner Ranch Elementary School — Orinda Union School District
- No. 37: Happy Valley Elementary School — Lafayette School District
- No. 85: Creekside Elementary School – San Ramon Valley Unified School District
- No. 92: Lafayette Elementary School – Lafayette School District
Middle School Rankings
- No. 46: Orinda Intermediate School — Orinda Union School District
- No. 61: Windemere Ranch Middle School – San Ramon Valley Unified School District
According to U.S. News & World Report, the top-ranked schools achieve strong academic results while effectively serving students across socioeconomic groups.
About Contra Costa County Office of Education
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,225 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of the county’s most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.
CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county’s 286 schools or 18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at www.cocoschools.org.
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