Top Rankings
Capistrano Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 15 public middle schools serving 9,185 students in Capistrano Unified School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Capistrano Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 55% (versus the California public middle school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 69% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 48% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
59 Schools
3,501 Schools
# Students
40,733 Students
1,854,363 Students
# Teachers
1,881 Teachers
87,821 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
22:1
22:1
District Rank
Capistrano Unified School District, which is ranked #146 of all 1,925 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 96% has decreased from 97% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#144 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
70%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
29%
Graduation Rate
96%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.64
0.64
# American Indian Students
49 Students
9,887 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
3,437 Students
201,760 Students
% Asian Students
9%
11%
# Hispanic Students
11,011 Students
1,009,980 Students
% Hispanic Students
27%
55%
# Black Students
322 Students
97,908 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
21,173 Students
413,325 Students
% White Students
52%
22%
# Hawaiian Students
57 Students
7,600 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
4,632 Students
109,003 Students
% of Two or more races Students
11%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
3,362
90,358
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,643
70,728
# Students in 2nd Grade:
2,686
73,359
# Students in 3rd Grade:
2,793
73,090
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,906
76,068
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,880
82,191
# Students in 6th Grade:
2,973
289,122
# Students in 7th Grade:
3,037
439,549
# Students in 8th Grade:
3,132
441,705
# Students in 9th Grade:
3,334
59,696
# Students in 10th Grade:
3,507
51,846
# Students in 11th Grade:
3,643
51,149
# Students in 12th Grade:
3,837
55,419
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $17,576 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,974. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,064 is less than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$716 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$614 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,576
$19,974
Spending / Student
$15,064
$18,396
Best Capistrano Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Ladera Ranch Middle School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
29551 Sienna Pkwy.
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
(949) 234-5922
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
(949) 234-5922
Grades: 6-8
| 1,100 students
Rank: #22.
Arroyo Vista Middle School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
23371 Arroyo Vista
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 234-5951
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 234-5951
Grades: 6-8
| 330 students
Rank: #33.
Las Flores Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
25862 Antonio Pkwy.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 589-6543
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 589-6543
Grades: 6-8
| 559 students
Rank: #44.
Vista Del Mar Middle School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1130 Avenue Talega
San Clemente, CA 92673
(949) 234-5955
San Clemente, CA 92673
(949) 234-5955
Grades: 6-8
| 529 students
Rank: #55.
Don Juan Avila Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
26278 Wood Canyon Dr.
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 362-0348
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 362-0348
Grades: 6-8
| 891 students
Rank: #66.
Aliso Viejo Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
111 Park Ave.
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 831-2622
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 831-2622
Grades: 6-8
| 799 students
Rank: #77.
Capistrano Home/virtual
Alternative School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
32972 Calle Perfecto
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-9374
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-9374
Grades: K-8
| 91 students
Rank: #88.
Esencia Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5 Aprender St.
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
(949) 234-9900
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
(949) 234-9900
Grades: 6-8
| 284 students
Rank: #99.
Bernice Ayer Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1271 Sarmentoso
San Clemente, CA 92673
(949) 366-9607
San Clemente, CA 92673
(949) 366-9607
Grades: 6-8
| 878 students
Rank: #1010.
Fred Newhart Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
25001 Veterans Way
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(949) 855-0162
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(949) 855-0162
Grades: 6-8
| 1,083 students
Rank: #1111.
Niguel Hills Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
29070 Shark Bay
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 234-5360
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 234-5360
Grades: 6-8
| 733 students
Rank: #1212.
Carl Hankey Middle School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
27252 Nubles
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(949) 234-5315
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(949) 234-5315
Grades: 6-8
| 175 students
Rank: #1313.
Shorecliffs Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
240 Via Socorro
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 498-1660
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 498-1660
Grades: 6-8
| 679 students
Rank: #1414.
Marco Forster Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
25601 Camino Del Avion
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-5907
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-5907
Grades: 6-8
| 1,040 students
Rank: n/an/a
Bridges Community Day
Alternative School
31576 El Camino Real
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-5302
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-5302
Grades: 7-12
| 14 students
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