Best Schools in Orange County, CA
Orange County, CA has 880 public schools (107 high, 90 middle, 594 elementary) serving 499,886 students. On average they score 48% on state proficiency tests against a projected 45%, so schools in Orange County exceed expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Orange County, CA
The top high schools in Orange County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Oxford Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Anaheim Union High • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 1289 Students
2. Early College High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newport-mesa Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 201 Students
3. Troy High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fullerton Joint Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2584 Students
4. Eunice Sato Academy Of Math & Science
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Long Beach Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 481 Students
5. Legacy Magnet Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tustin Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 806 Students
6. Tesoro High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Capistrano Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2217 Students
7. Northwood High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2251 Students
8. Ocsa
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ocsa District • Charter • Grades 7 - 12 • 2252 Students
9. Middle College High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Ana Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 381 Students
10. La Quinta High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Garden Grove Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2111 Students
Best Middle Schools in Orange County, CA
The top middle schools in Orange County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Sierra Vista Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1126 Students
2. Arroyo Vista Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Capistrano Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 301 Students
3. Rancho San Joaquin Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 807 Students
4. Fulton (harry C.) Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fountain Valley Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 710 Students
5. Ladera Ranch Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Capistrano Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1196 Students
6. Thurston Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Laguna Beach Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 537 Students
7. Lakeside Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 635 Students
8. Jeffrey Trail Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1077 Students
9. Las Flores Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Capistrano Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 571 Students
10. Oak Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Los Alamitos Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1003 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Orange County, CA
The top elementary schools in Orange County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Golden Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Placentia-yorba Linda Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 759 Students
2. Ethan B. Allen Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Garden Grove Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 618 Students
3. Santiago Hills Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 548 Students
4. Jack L. Weaver Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Los Alamitos Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 630 Students
5. Canyon Vista Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Capistrano Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 467 Students
6. Anaheim Hills Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orange Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 511 Students
7. Orchard Hills
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Tustin Unified • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 1373 Students
8. Margaret Landell Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cypress Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 689 Students
9. Newland (william T.) Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fountain Valley Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 497 Students
10. Vista Verde
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Irvine Unified • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 801 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Orange County, CA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Orange County, CA has a total population of 3,186,989 with 27% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 87%, and 44% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Orange County, 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 Orange County, CA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
23.57 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.25 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
19.32 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Orange County, CA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Orange County, 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 Orange County, CA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Orange County, CA
How many schools are in Orange County, CA?
Orange County, CA has 880 public schools: 107 high schools, 90 middle schools and 594 elementary schools, serving 499,886 students in total.
How do schools in Orange County perform on state tests?
On average, 880 schools in Orange County score 48% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 45%, so on average schools in Orange County exceed expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Orange County?
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 Orange County, CA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 38%
- Projected: 34%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 31%
- Projected: 28%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 32%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 38%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 19%
- Projected: 23%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 37%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 23%
- Projected: 23%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 36%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Orange County
40 places in Orange County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (40)
- Santa Ana (75)
- Anaheim (66)
- Garden Grove (51)
- Irvine (50)
- Huntington Beach (32)
- Orange (26)
- Fullerton (23)
- Costa Mesa (22)
- Mission Viejo (21)
- Placentia (17)
- Westminster (17)
- Tustin (16)
- Buena Park (14)
- Fountain Valley (14)
- La Habra (14)
- Yorba Linda (12)
- San Juan Capistrano (11)
- Newport Beach (10)
- San Clemente (10)
- Aliso Viejo (8)
- Cypress (8)
- Laguna Niguel (8)
- Lake Forest (8)
- Los Alamitos (8)
- Rancho Santa Margarita (8)
- Brea (7)
- La Palma (5)
- Ladera Ranch (4)
- Laguna Beach (4)
- Laguna Hills (4)
- Villa Park (4)
- Dana Point (3)
- Midway City (3)
- Trabuco Canyon (3)
- Corona Del Mar (2)
- Capistrano Beach (1)
- Coto De Caza (1)
- Foothill Ranch (1)
- Seal Beach (1)
- Stanton (1)
School districts (27)
- Garden Grove Unified (64 schools)
- Capistrano Unified (59 schools)
- Santa Ana Unified (51 schools)
- Irvine Unified (43 schools)
- Orange Unified (40 schools)
- Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified (34 schools)
- Saddleback Valley Unified (33 schools)
- Newport-Mesa Unified (31 schools)
- Tustin Unified (28 schools)
- Anaheim Elementary (24 schools)
- Anaheim Union High (21 schools)
- Fullerton Elementary (20 schools)
- Westminster (16 schools)
- Ocean View (14 schools)
- Brea-Olinda Unified (10 schools)
- Fountain Valley Elementary (10 schools)
- La Habra City Elementary (9 schools)
- Los Alamitos Unified (9 schools)
- Magnolia Elementary (9 schools)
- Centralia Elementary (8 schools)
- Fullerton Joint Union High (8 schools)
- Huntington Beach City Elementary (8 schools)
- Huntington Beach Union High (8 schools)
- Buena Park Elementary (7 schools)
- Cypress Elementary (6 schools)
- Laguna Beach Unified (4 schools)
- Savanna Elementary (4 schools)