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Best Schools in Lake Forest, CA
Lake Forest, CA has 39 public schools (6 high, 6 middle, 26 elementary) serving 31,098 students. On average they score 58% on state proficiency tests against a projected 54%, so schools in Lake Forest meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Lake Forest, CA
The top high schools in Lake Forest, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Portola High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2293 Students
2. University High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2164 Students
3. Capistrano Valley High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Capistrano Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2029 Students
4. Trabuco Hills High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2579 Students
5. Mission Viejo High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1646 Students
6. El Toro High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2031 Students
Best Middle Schools in Lake Forest, CA
The top middle schools in Lake Forest, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Rancho San Joaquin Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 807 Students
2. Jeffrey Trail Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1077 Students
3. Newhart Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Capistrano Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1038 Students
4. La Paz Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 706 Students
5. Serrano Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 977 Students
6. Los Alisos Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 656 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Lake Forest, CA
The top elementary schools in Lake Forest, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley District • Charter • Grades KG - 5 • 680 Students
2. Portola Hills Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 742 Students
3. Castille Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Capistrano Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 505 Students
4. De Portola Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 595 Students
5. Solis Park
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 426 Students
6. Foothill Ranch Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 1056 Students
7. Loma Ridge Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 676 Students
8. Alderwood Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 812 Students
9. Cadence Park
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 924 Students
10. Del Cerro Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Saddleback Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 373 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Lake Forest, CA
City-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Lake Forest, CA has a total population of 65,506 with 24% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 93%, and 46% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Lake Forest, CA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Lake Forest, CA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
37.20 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
5.09 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
32.11 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Lake Forest, CA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Lake Forest, CA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Lake Forest, CA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Lake Forest, CA
How many schools are in Lake Forest, CA?
Lake Forest, CA has 39 public schools: 6 high schools, 6 middle schools and 26 elementary schools, serving 31,098 students in total.
How do schools in Lake Forest perform on state tests?
On average, 39 schools in Lake Forest score 58% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 54%, so on average schools in Lake Forest meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Lake Forest?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Lake Forest, CA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 59%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 56%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 59%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 60%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 67%
- Projected: 61%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 60%
- Projected: 55%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 56%
- Projected: 53%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 51%
- Projected: 51%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 54%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Every school in Lake Forest
9 of 9 schools in Lake Forest carry a SchoolGrade. Grade distribution:
A: 4B: 3C: 2
All 9 public schools we grade in Lake Forest. The ranked lists above show the top ten per level; every school has its own page.
High schools (1)
Middle and junior high schools (1)
Elementary and primary schools (6)
- La Madera Elementary
- Lake Forest Elementary
- Olivewood Elementary
- Ralph A Gates Dli Magnet Elementary
- Rancho Canada Elementary
- Santiago Steam Magnet Elementary
Other schools and academies (1)
Private schools (6)
Private schools have a SchoolGrade only where their state publishes their test results.