Thurston Middle School

2100 Park Ave.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(School attendance zone shown in map)
10/
10
Top 10%
Serving 519 students in grades 6-8, Thurston Middle School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 65% (which is higher than the California state average of 33%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 76% (which is higher than the California state average of 47%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is lower than the California state level of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the California state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Grades: 6-8
  • Enrollment: 519 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 35%
  • : Top 10% in CA
  • : 65% (Top 10%)
  • : 76% (Top 10%)
  • : 63% (Top 10%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Thurston Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

School Overview

Thurston Middle School's student population of 519 students has declined by 30% over five school years.
The teacher population of 32 teachers has declined by 13% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 6-8
Total Students
519 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
32 teachers
School Calendar

School Rankings

Thurston Middle School ranks within the top 10% of all 9,602 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Thurston Middle School is 0.54, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (CA)
#807 out of 9602 schools
(Top 10%)
65%
33%
76%
47%
63%
29%
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
21:1
American Indian
n/a
1%
Asian
5%
12%
Hispanic
11%
56%
Black
1%
5%
White
65%
20%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
18%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
0.54
Eligible for Free Lunch
17%
54%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
8%
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Thurston Middle School's ranking?
Thurston Middle School is ranked #807 out of 9,602 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in California.
What schools are Thurston Middle School often compared to?
Thurston Middle Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Laguna Beach High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
65% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 33% CA state average), while 76% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).
How many students attend Thurston Middle School?
519 students attend Thurston Middle School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
65% of Thurston Middle School students are White, 18% of students are Two or more races, 11% of students are Hispanic, 5% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Thurston Middle School?
Thurston Middle School has a student ration of 16:1, which is lower than the California state average of 21:1.
What grades does Thurston Middle School offer ?
Thurston Middle School offers enrollment in grades 6-8
What school district is Thurston Middle School part of?
Thurston Middle School is part of Laguna Beach Unified School District.

School Reviews

Review Thurston Middle School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

What is Project-Based Learning?
What is Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning has been highly touted by some educators as a viable option to traditional learning models. We’ll take a look at what project-based learning is and why it is getting so much attention today.
What is an Online High School
What is an Online High School
Find information about Online High Schools - what they are and how they work.
“Smart Snacks” Standards Coming to School Vending Machines Nationwide
“Smart Snacks” Standards Coming to School Vending Machines Nationwide
We explore new federal regulations that will ban junk food from public schools. This means no more sweets and soda in cafeteria lines, vending machines and snacks sold in other locations around the schools.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Grades: 6-8
  • Enrollment: 519 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 35%
  • : Top 10%
  • : 65% (Top 10%)
  • : 76% (Top 10%)
  • : 63% (Top 10%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Quick Links