Best High Schools in Alameda County, California
Part of our Best Schools in Alameda County guide.
Introduction
Alameda County is home to some of the most academically competitive public high schools in California — and honestly, in the entire country. Stretching from the bay-side city of Alameda to the inland suburbs of Fremont, Pleasanton, and Dublin, this county offers families a wide range of communities, each with its own character and school culture. Whether you're drawn to a tight-knit small-city feel or a larger, diverse suburban environment, there's a good chance a top-performing high school comes with the zip code.
The schools on this list stand out because they consistently score at the very top of California's academic assessments — not just in one subject, but across English, Math, and Science. If you're a family weighing a move to the East Bay or trying to figure out which Alameda County city gives your kids the strongest academic foundation, this guide is a great place to start.
1. Mission San Jose High — Fremont Unified, Fremont
Mission San Jose High is widely regarded as one of the best public high schools in California, and the numbers back that up — 99th percentile in English, 100th in Math, and 99th in Science, earning an overall ranking in the 100th percentile statewide. The school sits in the Mission San Jose neighborhood of Fremont, a community that takes academics seriously and where families with high educational expectations tend to gravitate. It's a competitive environment, and students here are often bound for highly selective colleges. If you're a family that prioritizes rigorous coursework and a culture of academic achievement, Mission San Jose is about as good as it gets in California public education.
2. Piedmont High — Piedmont City Unified, Piedmont
Piedmont is one of those small, almost storybook cities tucked inside Oakland that operates its own independent school district — and that autonomy shows in the quality of its schools. Piedmont High scores in the 99th percentile across English, Math, and Science, landing an overall 99th percentile ranking. The city itself is affluent, walkable, and deeply community-oriented, with parents who are highly engaged in school life. Families who want a smaller-district feel — where administrators actually know students' names — alongside elite academic outcomes will find Piedmond High a compelling option.
3. American High — Fremont Unified, Fremont
American High is another standout from Fremont Unified, sitting in the 99th percentile overall with scores of 99th in English, 98th in Math, and 97th in Science. Fremont as a city has become one of the Bay Area's most diverse and academically driven communities, and American High reflects that energy well. It appeals strongly to families who want a large, multicultural school environment where academic expectations are high but the school still feels welcoming and well-rounded. Fremont itself offers a suburban lifestyle with solid housing options and relatively easier access to both Silicon Valley and the broader East Bay.
4. Irvington High — Fremont Unified, Fremont
Irvington High completes a remarkable trio of top-tier high schools within Fremont Unified, scoring 98th in English, 99th in Math, and 99th in Science for an overall 98th percentile ranking. The school has a strong reputation particularly in STEM, which fits well with Fremont's identity as a city closely tied to the tech industry. Families who are drawn to Fremont for its diversity and career-minded community will find Irvington a natural fit — especially those with students who have a particular interest in math and science. The fact that three schools in the same district all rank this highly says a lot about the overall strength of Fremont Unified.
5. Albany High — Albany City Unified, Albany
Albany is a small, progressive, and surprisingly affordable city sandwiched between Berkeley and El Cerrito — and its high school punches well above its size. Albany High scores 95th in English, 98th in Math, and 96th in Science, earning an overall 97th percentile ranking. Albany City Unified is a small district, which means decisions are made closer to the community and families tend to feel more connected to what's happening in their schools. This is a school that tends to appeal to families who appreciate a mix of academic rigor and a more open, intellectually curious school culture — very much in the spirit of its Berkeley-adjacent location.
Score Trends — Top 5
Mission San Jose High continues its strong performance with steady gains in both subjects, posting English scores of 146 (up 12 points) and Math at 138 (up 8 points)—solid improvements that keep the school competitive. Piedmont High experienced the most dramatic turnaround in this group, with Math scores surging from 73 to 108 (+35 points) and English jumping from 110 to 139 (+29 points), making it a standout success story for 2025. American High held essentially flat across both subjects, with English remaining at 132 and Math edging up just 1 point to 88, suggesting the school may need to focus on growth initiatives. Irvington High showed modest gains in both English (109 to 113) and Math (85 to 88), staying consistent but not breaking through to higher performance levels. Albany High presents a mixed picture—Math improved meaningfully from 62 to 73 (+11), but English declined slightly from 95 to 92, indicating the school may be successfully targeting math support while needing to shore up English instruction.
6. Dublin High — Dublin Unified, Dublin
Dublin has grown rapidly over the past decade into one of the East Bay's most sought-after suburban communities, and Dublin High has grown right along with it — now ranking in the 96th percentile overall, with 94th in English, 98th in Math, and 96th in Science. The school serves a newer, fast-growing community with a lot of young families who've relocated to the Tri-Valley area for its excellent quality of life and relative affordability compared to closer-in Bay Area cities. If you're considering Dublin for its newer housing developments and family-friendly neighborhoods, you can feel confident the high school is operating at a genuinely elite level academically.
7. Amador Valley High — Pleasanton Unified, Pleasanton
Pleasanton is one of those cities that consistently shows up on "best places to live in California" lists, and Amador Valley High is a big part of why families choose to put down roots there. The school ranks in the 96th percentile overall, with scores of 96th in English, 98th in Math, and 90th in Science. Pleasanton has a classic suburban feel — good restaurants, tree-lined streets, active youth sports leagues — and Amador Valley fits that community well, offering strong academics alongside a well-rounded high school experience. Families who want competitive academics without quite the pressure-cooker intensity of the top Fremont schools often find Pleasanton to be the sweet spot.
8. Foothill High — Pleasanton Unified, Pleasanton
Pleasanton's second high school, Foothill High, also earns a spot in the 96th percentile overall, with 95th in English, 96th in Math, and 92nd in Science — making Pleasanton Unified one of the most consistently strong districts in the county. Foothill tends to have a slightly different community feel than Amador Valley, drawing from different neighborhoods within Pleasanton, but the academic quality is right there alongside its cross-town counterpart. For families moving to Pleasanton, it's worth knowing that whichever school your student is zoned for, they're getting access to a genuinely excellent education. The Tri-Valley lifestyle — easier commutes, more space, and a strong sense of community — comes with real academic dividends here.
9. Alameda High — Alameda Unified, Alameda
Alameda High offers something a little different from the inland suburban schools on this list — it's located on Alameda Island, a charming, walkable city with a small-town feel that's just minutes from Oakland. The school scores 90th in English, 90th in Math, and 95th in Science, earning an overall 92nd percentile ranking. Alameda has a unique, close-knit community identity, with historic architecture, a thriving local dining scene, and a strong sense of civic pride. Families who want a high-quality school in a city with real character — rather than a newer suburban development — will find Alameda High an appealing option that holds its own academically against much of the competition in the county.
10. Washington High — Fremont Unified, Fremont
Rounding out the list is Washington High, the fourth Fremont Unified school to make the top 10, scoring 91st in English, 92nd in Math, and 89th in Science for an overall 92nd percentile ranking. The fact that Fremont Unified places four schools in Alameda County's top 10 is genuinely remarkable and speaks to the district's consistent investment in academic quality across all its campuses. Washington High serves a diverse student body and offers families in its attendance zone access to a strong academic program at a school that, in most other counties in California, would be the clear number-one. Fremont's continued growth and its proximity to the job centers of Silicon Valley make it an increasingly attractive destination for ambitious families.
Score Trends — #6-10
Dublin High delivered impressive improvements across the board, with English rising 17 points to 89 and Math jumping an eye-catching 31 points from 42 to 73, marking one of the district's strongest turnarounds. Amador Valley High also impressed with balanced growth in both English (83 to 106, +23) and Math (53 to 78, +25), showing that targeted interventions can yield substantial results in both core subjects. Foothill High made incremental progress with English at 95 (up 4) and Math climbing from 48 to 62 (+14), suggesting that while the school is moving in the right direction, there's room for acceleration. Alameda High emerged from negative Math scores (-5) to a respectable 15, while English improved 14 points to 80, representing a significant remediation success. Washington High rounded out the strongest performers overall, with English surging 23 points to 88 and Math catapulting from -2 to 32 (+34), demonstrating that schools starting from lower baselines can achieve remarkable gains with focused effort.
How We Rank Schools
Our rankings are based on student performance data across three subjects: English (weighted at 40%), Math (weighted at 40%), and Science (weighted at 20%). We compare schools against all other public schools in California to generate percentile scores, so a school in the 99th percentile is outperforming 99% of schools statewide. More recent academic years are weighted more heavily than older data to ensure our rankings reflect where schools stand today, not just where they've been.
Compare Schools Yourself
Rankings are a helpful starting point, but every family's priorities are different. If you want to dig deeper and compare specific schools side by side — whether you're deciding between two neighborhoods or two districts — head over to our school comparison tool at /compare. You can stack up any schools in the county and look at the numbers that matter most to you.
Top 41 Rankings
| Rank | School | District | City | English | Math | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mission San Jose High | Fremont Unified | Fremont | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| 2 | Piedmont High | Piedmont City Unified | Piedmont | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 3 | American High | Fremont Unified | Fremont | 99 | 98 | 99 |
| 4 | Irvington High | Fremont Unified | Fremont | 98 | 99 | 98 |
| 5 | Albany High | Albany City Unified | Albany | 95 | 98 | 97 |
| 6 | Dublin High | Dublin Unified | Dublin | 94 | 98 | 96 |
| 7 | Amador Valley High | Pleasanton Unified | Pleasanton | 96 | 98 | 96 |
| 8 | Foothill High | Pleasanton Unified | Pleasanton | 95 | 96 | 96 |
| 9 | Alameda High | Alameda Unified | Alameda | 90 | 90 | 92 |
| 10 | Washington High | Fremont Unified | Fremont | 91 | 92 | 92 |
| 11 | KIPP King Collegiate High | San Lorenzo Unified | San Lorenzo | 92 | 84 | 87 |
| 12 | Granada High | Livermore Valley Joint Unified | Livermore | 76 | 81 | 83 |
| 13 | Castro Valley High | Castro Valley Unified | Castro Valley | 70 | 85 | 80 |
| 14 | Berkeley High | Berkeley Unified | Berkeley | 55 | 79 | 73 |
| 15 | James Logan High | New Haven Unified | Union City | 62 | 71 | 69 |
| 16 | John F. Kennedy High | Fremont Unified | Fremont | 64 | 68 | 67 |
| 17 | Leadership Public Schools - Hayward | Hayward Unified | Hayward | 67 | 61 | 62 |
| 18 | Oakland Charter High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 53 | 58 | 59 |
| 19 | Livermore High | Livermore Valley Joint Unified | Livermore | 47 | 60 | 58 |
| 20 | Oakland Unity High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 69 | 59 | 57 |
| 21 | Arroyo High | San Lorenzo Unified | San Lorenzo | 45 | 51 | 51 |
| 22 | Newark Memorial High | Newark Unified | Newark | 48 | 51 | 50 |
| 23 | Latitude 37.8 High | SBE - Latitude 37.8 High | Oakland | 40 | 50 | 48 |
| 24 | AIMS College Prep High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 26 | 69 | 43 |
| 25 | ARISE High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 40 | 46 | 38 |
| 26 | Hayward High | Hayward Unified | Hayward | 33 | 32 | 37 |
| 27 | Mt. Eden High | Hayward Unified | Hayward | 35 | 20 | 30 |
| 28 | Lighthouse Community Charter High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 30 | 25 | 29 |
| 29 | Emery Secondary | Emery Unified | Emeryville | 24 | 39 | 24 |
| 30 | San Leandro High | San Leandro Unified | San Leandro | 16 | 23 | 24 |
| 31 | Oakland Technical High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 11 | 21 | 24 |
| 32 | Oakland High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 15 | 35 | 24 |
| 33 | Skyline High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 10 | 19 | 23 |
| 34 | San Lorenzo High | San Lorenzo Unified | San Lorenzo | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 35 | MetWest High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 36 | Tennyson High | Hayward Unified | Hayward | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 37 | LPS Oakland R & D Campus | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 38 | Alternatives in Action | Alameda County Office of Education | Oakland | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 39 | McClymonds High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 40 | Fremont High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 41 | Castlemont High | Oakland Unified | Oakland | 1 | 2 | 1 |