Public schools in Apple Valley, CA
16 open public schools with an address in Apple Valley, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
15,102
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
22.3:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Apple Valley public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in Apple Valley, CA: 11 elementary, 2 high, 3 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 15,102 students, an average of 1,007 per school. The largest campus is Apple Valley High (2,211 students), and the largest elementary school is Sitting Bull Academy (1,695).
Apple Valley Unified operates the most schools here (15), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 22.3:1, similar to the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 71% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Apple Valley
Elementary schools in Apple Valley
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Valley Virtual Academy Apple Valley Unified · Alternative School | KG–08 | 173 | 17.3:1 | |
| Desert Knolls Elementary Apple Valley Unified | KG–06 | 582 | 21.6:1 | |
| Mariana Academy Apple Valley Unified | KG–08 | 781 | 25.1:1 | |
| Phoenix Academy Apple Valley Unified | KG–08 | 1,213 | 20.9:1 | |
| Rancho Verde Elementary Apple Valley Unified | KG–06 | 748 | 24.1:1 | |
| Rio Vista School of Applied Learning Apple Valley Unified | KG–06 | 927 | 25.1:1 | |
| Sandia Academy Apple Valley Unified | KG–08 | 848 | 21.6:1 | |
| Sitting Bull Academy Apple Valley Unified | KG–08 | 1,695 | 24.8:1 | |
| Sycamore Rocks Elementary Apple Valley Unified | KG–06 | 667 | 21.4:1 | |
| Vanguard Preparatory Apple Valley Unified | KG–08 | 1,153 | 24.2:1 | |
| Yucca Loma Elementary Apple Valley Unified | KG–06 | 616 | 22.8:1 |
High schools in Apple Valley
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Valley High Apple Valley Unified | 09–12 | 2,211 | 23.9:1 | |
| Granite Hills High Apple Valley Unified | 09–12 | 1,791 | 22.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Apple Valley
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy for Academic Excellence Academy for Academic Excellence District · Charter | KG–12 | 1,489 | 21.8:1 | |
| Apple Valley Unified Preschool Special Education Apple Valley Unified | Not reported | — | — | |
| High Desert Premier Academy Apple Valley Unified · Alternative School | KG–12 | 208 | 15:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White26.9%
- Hispanic59.9%
- Black6.8%
- Asian1.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial4.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Apple Valley schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (15,102 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Apple Valley
How many public schools are in Apple Valley, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in Apple Valley: 11 elementary, 2 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 15,102 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Apple Valley?
Schools with an address in Apple Valley belong to 2 education agencies, led by Apple Valley Unified (15 schools), Academy for Academic Excellence District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Apple Valley?
Apple Valley High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Apple Valley, with 2,211 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Apple Valley?
Yes. 1 of the 16 public schools in Apple Valley are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Academy for Academic Excellence. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Apple Valley schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Apple Valley public schools is 22.3:1, similar to the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Apple Valley guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities