Public schools in Poway, CA
13 open public schools with an address in Poway, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
13
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
20,823
13 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
21.7:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
2
2 virtual
An overview of Poway public schools
The federal directory lists 13 public schools in Poway, CA: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. The 13 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 20,823 students, an average of 1,602 per school. The largest campus is Pacific Coast Academy (6,760 students), and the largest elementary school is Chaparral Elementary (858).
Poway Unified operates the most schools here (11), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 21.7:1, 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 2 charter schools, 2 virtual schools. 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 2 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 30% 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 Poway
Elementary schools in Poway
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaparral Elementary Poway Unified | KG–05 | 858 | 23.8:1 | |
| Garden Road Elementary Poway Unified | KG–05 | 508 | 20.9:1 | |
| Midland Elementary Poway Unified | KG–05 | 580 | 21.7:1 | |
| Painted Rock Elementary Poway Unified | KG–05 | 613 | 22.5:1 | |
| Pomerado Elementary Poway Unified | KG–05 | 305 | 20.1:1 | |
| Tierra Bonita Elementary Poway Unified | KG–05 | 377 | 22.8:1 | |
| Valley Elementary Poway Unified | KG–05 | 663 | 22:1 |
Middle schools in Poway
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadowbrook Middle Poway Unified | 06–08 | 972 | 21.2:1 | |
| Twin Peaks Middle Poway Unified | 06–08 | 1,164 | 21.5:1 |
High schools in Poway
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraxas Continuation High Poway Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 216 | 9.8:1 | |
| Poway High Poway Unified | 09–12 | 2,101 | 21.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Poway
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrillo Point Academy Cabrillo Point Academy District · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 5,706 | 31.9:1 | |
| Pacific Coast Academy Pacific Coast Academy District · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 6,760 | 35.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White50.2%
- Hispanic29.4%
- Black1.4%
- Asian8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial10.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 13 Poway schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (20,823 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Poway
How many public schools are in Poway, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 13 open public schools with a location address in Poway: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 20,823 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Poway?
Schools with an address in Poway belong to 3 education agencies, led by Poway Unified (11 schools), Cabrillo Point Academy District (1 school), Pacific Coast Academy 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 Poway?
Poway High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Poway, with 2,101 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Poway?
Yes. 2 of the 13 public schools in Poway are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Cabrillo Point Academy, Pacific Coast Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Poway schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Poway public schools is 21.7:1, 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 Poway 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