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%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 15 public middle schools serving 9,056 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 59% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), 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
3,459 Schools
# Students
40,251 Students
1,857,843 Students
# Teachers
1,758 Teachers
88,071 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
23:1
23:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Capistrano Unified School District, which is ranked #141 of all 1,903 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 97% has increased from 96% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#141 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Showing 2013–2023. View full 14-year historical data
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
34%
Showing 2013–2023. View full 14-year historical data
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
70%
47%
Showing 2012–2022. View full 13-year historical data
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
29%
Graduation Rate
97%
86.2%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 13-year historical data
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)19.5%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.64
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
9%
11%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Hispanic
27%
55%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Black
1%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% White
51%
22%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 15-year historical data
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $21,438 in this school district is less than the state median of $26,022. The school district revenue/student has grown by 28% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,082 is less than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$863 MM
$150,628 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending
$688 MM
$130,845 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Revenue / Student
$21,438
$26,022
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending / Student
$17,082
$22,604
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Best Capistrano Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 6-8 | 1,064 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #22.
Arroyo Vista Middle School
(Math: 69% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #33.
Las Flores Middle School
(Math: 67% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 593 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #44.
Vista Del Mar Middle School
(Math: 70% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 499 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #55.
Don Juan Avila Middle School
(Math: 63% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 863 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #66.
Capistrano Home/virtual
Alternative School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
32972 Calle Perfecto
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-9374
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-9374
Gr: K-8 | 82 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #77.
Esencia Middle School
(Math: 68% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #88.
Bernice Ayer Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1271 Sarmentoso
San Clemente, CA 92673
(949) 366-9607
San Clemente, CA 92673
(949) 366-9607
Gr: 6-8 | 919 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #99.
Aliso Viejo Middle School
(Math: 62% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 803 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1010.
Niguel Hills Middle School
(Math: 57% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 693 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1111.
Carl Hankey Middle School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
27252 Nubles
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(949) 234-5315
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(949) 234-5315
Gr: 6-8 | 181 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1212.
Fred Newhart Middle School
(Math: 57% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 1,105 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1313.
Shorecliffs Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
240 Via Socorro
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 498-1660
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 498-1660
Gr: 6-8 | 634 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1414.
Marco Forster Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
25601 Camino Del Avion
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-5907
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-5907
Gr: 6-8 | 930 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
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
Gr: 6-12 | 12 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
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