Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences

Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences brings a creative, dual-focus energy to El Centro, a close-knit desert city near the US-Mexico border that's proud of its tight community ties and agricultural roots. Sitting right around the middle of the pack statewide, it's a solid choice for families who want something beyond the traditional public school experience — particularly those drawn to the arts-and-sciences framing that gives kids exposure to both creative and analytical thinking from an early age. For families living in Imperial Valley who want a charter option with a distinctive identity, Ballington offers a genuinely different feel from the neighborhood's traditional schools.