Stockton's educational landscape varies considerably by district and neighborhood. Families in physician-preferred areas of north and northwest Stockton have access to the city's strongest public schools, a well-regarded private school system anchored by Saint Mary's High School, and meaningful higher education options including the oldest chartered university in California. Families with specific school priorities have workable options, and private school tuition at this income level is an accessible cost.
Three primary school districts serve Stockton families, and the district your child attends depends on your home's location.
Lincoln Unified serves north and northwest Stockton, including the Spanos Park, Lincoln Village, and Brookside neighborhoods. It is the higher-performing of Stockton's primary districts and the one most commonly associated with physician family housing choices. Schools in Spanos Park and Sherwood Manor fall within LUSD boundaries and post math and reading proficiency scores that meet or exceed California statewide averages.
SUSD is the city's primary district, serving central and south Stockton with more than 50 elementary, middle, and high schools and approximately 40,000 students. The district offers strong specialty programs including health careers academies, a Public Safety Academy, STEM pathways, AVID programs, and award-winning arts and music programs. Families seeking the strongest academic environments within SUSD often look to charter options.
Several well-regarded charter schools operate within or near Stockton.
Stockton has approximately 120 private schools across Catholic, Christian, and independent traditions.
Saint Mary's High School The premier private high school in Stockton and one of the top 20 percent of private high schools in California. Founded in 1876, Saint Mary's is a Catholic co-educational college prep school on a 25-acre campus. It enrolls approximately 876 students in grades 9-12 with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. Ninety percent of graduates attend four-year colleges. Tuition is approximately $13,300 per year. AP courses are offered across 10 disciplines, and students may earn dual college credit through San Joaquin Delta College or the University of the Pacific.
All Saints Academy of Stockton A highly regarded Catholic K-8 school offering a structured religious and academic program.
St. Luke School Catholic elementary school affiliated with St. Luke Parish in north Stockton.
Stockton Christian School and Stockton Montessori School Non-religious alternatives offering K-12 and early childhood programs respectively.
University of the Pacific The oldest chartered university in California (1851), located on a 175-acre campus in Stockton's Lincoln Village neighborhood. UOP enrolls approximately 5,000 to 7,000 students and offers more than 80 undergraduate and 50 graduate programs across its Stockton, Sacramento, and San Francisco campuses. The university includes a law school, dental school, and health sciences programs. In 2024, the Wall Street Journal ranked UOP 87th among all U.S. universities and 11th among private universities in the West. The campus is home to the Faye Spanos Concert Hall and the Conservatory of Music, and has served as a filming location for productions including Raiders of the Lost Ark and Flubber.
California State University Stanislaus, Stockton Campus CSU Stanislaus operates a campus in Stockton offering undergraduate and graduate programs, providing a public university option within the city.
San Joaquin Delta College A community college serving the greater Stockton area with strong transfer and vocational programs. Partners with Saint Mary's High School and Middle College High School to offer dual enrollment.
Humphreys University A private university in Stockton offering law and business programs.
