Lancaster splits its schools across several elementary (K–8) districts and a single high-school district — the Antelope Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD), which runs every comprehensive public high school serving the city.
The high-school district: AVUHSD
The single most important fact for Lancaster buyers: the public high schools are not run by an elementary district. They belong to the Antelope Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD). AVUHSD high schools serving Lancaster include:
- Antelope Valley High School — the AV’s flagship, in west Lancaster.
- Lancaster High School.
- Eastside High School — in east Lancaster (an AVUHSD school, not a Lancaster Elementary district school).
- Quartz Hill High School — in the Quartz Hill area, serving the western Lancaster border; a frequent school-quality draw.
- Highland High School — on the Palmdale side, serving portions of east AV.
The elementary (K-8) districts
Below the high-school level, Lancaster homes fall into one of several separate K–8 districts depending on location:
- Lancaster Elementary School District
- Eastside Union School District (distinct from Eastside High, which is AVUHSD)
- Westside Union School District
- Wilsona School District (serves the northeast corner)
Charter and specialty options in the area include Galileo STEM Academy and Desert Rose Elementary. Because the K–8 district depends entirely on the parcel, confirm both the elementary district and the assigned AVUHSD high school for any specific address.
Edwards AFB and military families
Families connected to Edwards Air Force Base face an extra wrinkle: on-base housing on the federal reservation is generally served by the Muroc Joint Unified School District arrangement (and DoDEA programs may apply for some on-base situations), which is different from buying a Lancaster home off base. If you’re weighing on-base vs. off-base, the school assignment is one of several factors — see our Edwards AFB relocation guide for the full picture, and verify current school jurisdiction directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What high school district serves Lancaster?
The Antelope Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD). It runs Antelope Valley High, Lancaster High, Eastside High, and Quartz Hill High, among others. Elementary grades are run by separate K-8 districts.
Is Eastside High part of the Lancaster Elementary district?
No. Eastside High School is an AVUHSD school. Eastside Union School District is a separate K-8 district — the similar names cause frequent confusion.
Which homes feed Quartz Hill High?
Quartz Hill High serves the western Lancaster / Quartz Hill border, and its attendance area is a known school-quality draw. The exact feeder boundary is set by address — verify with AVUHSD.
How do schools work for Edwards AFB families?
On-base housing has its own school jurisdiction that differs from buying off base in Lancaster. Confirm the current arrangement directly; it’s one factor in the on-base vs. off-base decision.
Where do I check current Lancaster school performance?
The California School Dashboard. Scores update periodically, so pull them live for any specific school rather than relying on a static figure.
