Whittier Elementary School (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2025)

1800 Whittier Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

whittier.nmusd.us

Serving 457 students in grades Kindergarten-6, Whittier Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 27% (which is lower than the California state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 30% (which is lower 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 99% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the California state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2025)

Grades: Kindergarten-6
Enrollment: 457 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 99%
: Bottom 50% in CA
: 27% (Btm 50%)
: 30% (Btm 50%)
: 10-14% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Whittier Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

School Overview

Whittier Elementary School's student population of 457 students has declined by 26% over five school years.

The teacher population of 28 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-6

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Whittier Elementary School
Kind	59
1	64
2	60
3	72
4	57
5	69
6	76

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Total Students

457 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School
2023	476
2022	494
2021	423
2020	619
2019	619
2018	700
2017	700
2016	718
2015	729
2014	748
2013	741
2012	772
2011	799
2010	701
2009	652
2008	550
2007	572
2006	594
2005	638
2004	607
2003	654
2002	649
2001	585
2000	614
1999	688
1998	677
1997	909
1996	802
1995	682
1994	665
1993	721
1992	653
1991	569
1990	526
1989	507
1988	495
1987	477

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

28 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School
2023	24
2022	27
2021	20
2020	28
2019	28
2018	28
2017	28
2016	28
2015	28
2014	28
2013	33
2012	34
2010	32
2009	34
2008	34
2007	33
2006	33
2005	35
2004	37
2003	43
2002	42
2001	38
2000	38
1999	38
1998	39
1997	43
1996	29
1995	26
1994	26
1993	29
1992	27
1991	27
1990	24

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School Rankings

Whittier Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 9,523 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Whittier Elementary School is 0.06, 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)

#6033 out of 9523 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2010-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School
2023	#6033
2022	#6308
2019	#6412
2018	#7166
2017	#8437
2016	#7742
2015	#7335
2013	#6492
2012	#6682
2011	#7920
2010	#6279

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27%

34%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2023	27%	34%	48%
2022	23%	33%	47%
2021	26%	34%	46%
2019	26%	40%	52%
2018	24%	39%	51%
2017	15%	38%	49%
2016	20%	37%	50%
2015	17%	34%	47%
2013	52%	59%	68%
2012	56%	59%	67%
2011	44%	58%	65%

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30%

47%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2022)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2022	30%	47%	58%
2019	40%	51%	63%
2018	30%	50%	51%
2017	23%	48%	58%
2016	21%	48%	57%
2015	17%	44%	54%
2013	38%	57%	65%
2012	40%	58%	66%
2011	35%	56%	64%
2010	39%	54%	63%

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10-14%

29%

Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

21:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2023	20:1	22:1	20:1
2022	18:1	21:1	20:1
2021	21:1	22:1	21:1
2020	22:1	23:1	23:1
2019	22:1	23:1	23:1
2018	25:1	23:1	25:1
2017	25:1	23:1	25:1
2016	26:1	24:1	25:1
2015	26:1	24:1	25:1
2014	27:1	24:1	26:1
2013	23:1	24:1	24:1
2012	23:1	23:1	24:1
2010	22:1	21:1	23:1
2009	19:1	20:1	22:1
2008	16:1	18:1	19:1
2007	17:1	21:1	22:1
2006	18:1	20:1	22:1
2005	18:1	21:1	23:1
2004	16:1	21:1	22:1
2003	15:1	20:1	21:1
2002	15:1	20:1	22:1
2001	15:1	20:1	22:1
2000	16:1	21:1	21:1
1999	18:1	21:1	22:1
1998	17:1	21:1	22:1
1997	21:1	23:1	23:1
1996	28:1	25:1	25:1
1995	26:1	25:1	25:1
1994	25:1	25:1	25:1
1993	25:1	25:1	26:1
1992	24:1	24:1	23:1
1991	21:1	24:1	23:1
1990	22:1	24:1	23:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

12%

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2022)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2022	1%	12%	6%
2021	1%	12%	6%
2014	1%	11%	6%
2013	1%	11%	6%
2012	1%	11%	6%
2011	1%	11%	6%
2010	1%	11%	6%
2009	1%	11%	6%
2008	2%	12%	7%
2007	1%	12%	6%
2006	2%	12%	6%
2005	2%	12%	7%
2004	1%	12%	7%
2003	2%	11%	6%
2002	1%	11%	7%
2001	1%	11%	6%
1997	1%	11%	7%
1994	1%	11%	8%
1993	2%	11%	8%
1992	1%	11%	8%
1991	1%	11%	9%

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Hispanic

97%

56%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2023	97%	55%	47%
2022	96%	56%	47%
2021	98%	56%	47%
2020	98%	55%	45%
2019	98%	55%	45%
2018	99%	54%	45%
2017	99%	54%	45%
2016	100%	54%	46%
2015	100%	54%	44%
2014	99%	53%	44%
2013	99%	53%	44%
2012	98%	52%	43%
2011	98%	51%	42%
2010	98%	50%	42%
2009	97%	49%	42%
2008	96%	50%	41%
2007	97%	49%	41%
2006	95%	48%	41%
2005	95%	47%	40%
2004	95%	46%	39%
2003	94%	45%	39%
2002	95%	44%	38%
2001	94%	43%	38%
2000	96%	42%	36%
1999	96%	41%	35%
1998	96%	40%	34%
1997	92%	40%	34%
1996	92%	39%	32%
1995	90%	38%	30%
1994	88%	37%	29%
1993	78%	36%	27%
1992	74%	35%	25%
1991	74%	34%	23%

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Black

n/a

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1989-2020)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2020	1%	5%	1%
2019	1%	5%	1%
2002	1%	8%	1%
2001	1%	8%	1%
1997	1%	9%	1%
1996	1%	9%	1%
1995	1%	9%	1%
1994	1%	9%	1%
1993	1%	9%	1%
1992	2%	9%	1%
1991	2%	9%	1%
1990	1%	9%	1%
1989	1%	9%	1%

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White

20%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1989-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2023	1%	21%	39%
2022	2%	21%	40%
2021	1%	22%	41%
2020	1%	23%	44%
2019	1%	23%	44%
2018	1%	24%	45%
2017	1%	24%	45%
2012	1%	26%	49%
2011	1%	27%	50%
2010	1%	27%	50%
2009	2%	28%	50%
2008	2%	29%	51%
2007	2%	29%	52%
2006	3%	31%	52%
2005	3%	31%	52%
2004	4%	32%	53%
2003	4%	34%	54%
2002	3%	35%	54%
2001	4%	36%	55%
2000	4%	37%	56%
1999	4%	38%	57%
1998	4%	39%	58%
1997	6%	39%	58%
1996	7%	40%	60%
1995	9%	41%	61%
1994	10%	42%	62%
1993	19%	43%	64%
1992	23%	44%	66%
1991	23%	45%	67%
1990	29%	47%	70%
1989	32%	49%	73%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2022-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2023	2%	6%	7%
2022	1%	5%	6%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.06

0.63

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2023	0.06	0.64	0.62
2022	0.08	0.63	0.62
2021	0.04	0.62	0.61
2020	0.04	0.63	0.61
2019	0.04	0.63	0.61
2018	0.02	0.64	0.59
2017	0.02	0.64	0.59
2014	0.03	0.65	0.59
2013	0.02	0.65	0.59
2012	0.04	0.65	0.58
2011	0.04	0.67	0.58
2010	0.04	0.67	0.58
2009	0.06	0.71	0.58
2008	0.08	0.65	0.57
2007	0.06	0.67	0.57
2006	0.10	0.66	0.57
2005	0.10	0.67	0.57
2004	0.10	0.67	0.57
2003	0.12	0.67	0.56
2002	0.10	0.67	0.56
2001	0.12	0.67	0.56
2000	0.10	0.67	0.55
1999	0.10	0.67	0.55
1998	0.10	0.67	0.55
1997	0.15	0.67	0.55
1996	0.15	0.67	0.54
1995	0.18	0.67	0.54
1994	0.22	0.67	0.53
1993	0.36	0.67	0.52
1992	0.40	0.67	0.50
1991	0.41	0.67	0.49

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Eligible for

81%

54%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2023	81%	51%	42%
2022	64%	51%	33%
2021	82%	53%	42%
2020	83%	52%	40%
2019	83%	52%	40%
2018	83%	49%	35%
2017	83%	49%	35%
2016	85%	50%	38%
2015	84%	50%	38%
2014	68%	49%	39%
2013	100%	48%	41%
2012	100%	9%	8%
2011	90%	46%	37%
2010	90%	46%	34%
2009	91%	43%	38%
2008	88%	41%	33%
2007	91%	40%	32%
2006	90%	40%	34%
2005	91%	40%	35%
2004	93%	40%	32%
2003	93%	39%	32%
2002	93%	39%	30%
2001	21%	39%	24%
2000	77%	40%	31%
1999	92%	40%	33%
1998	87%	47%	32%
1997	95%	47%	36%
1996	95%	46%	39%
1995	95%	45%	36%
1994	95%	43%	34%
1993	89%	41%	32%

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Eligible for

11%

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2001-2023)
Year	Whittier Elementary School	California	Newport-Mesa Unified School District
2023	10%	8%	9%
2022	1%	7%	1%
2021	9%	6%	4%
2020	7%	7%	4%
2019	7%	7%	4%
2018	7%	9%	5%
2017	7%	9%	5%
2016	8%	9%	6%
2015	10%	9%	6%
2014	2%	9%	5%
2011	5%	8%	5%
2010	5%	9%	6%
2009	5%	10%	8%
2008	5%	10%	7%
2007	5%	10%	7%
2006	6%	9%	7%
2005	5%	9%	7%
2004	6%	9%	7%
2003	6%	9%	7%
2002	6%	8%	7%
2001	2%	8%	5%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Newport-Mesa Unified School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Whittier Elementary School's ranking?

Whittier Elementary School is ranked #6033 out of 9,523 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in California.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

27% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% CA state average), while 30% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).

How many students attend Whittier Elementary School?

457 students attend Whittier Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

97% of Whittier Elementary School students are Hispanic, 1% of students are Asian, 1% of students are White, and 1% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Whittier Elementary School?

Whittier Elementary School has a student ration of 16:1, which is lower than the California state average of 21:1.

What grades does Whittier Elementary School offer ?

Whittier Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-6

What school district is Whittier Elementary School part of?

Whittier Elementary School is part of Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

In what neighborhood is Whittier Elementary School located?

Whittier Elementary School is located in the Westside Costa Mesa neighborhood of Costa Mesa, CA. There are 4 other public schools located in Westside Costa Mesa.

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