Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 3.0Dana Point’s public schools outscore 88% of California districts
Math proficiency in Dana Point’s districts is 57%, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Dana Point, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.
From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Dana Point’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 70% and math 57% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 96% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $17,395 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Two elementary schools, then 13 middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 8% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
St. Edward Parish School (private), St. Edward the Confessor Parish School (private) and Monarch Bay Montessori Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Dana Point’s grade
A: better than 88% of California school districts, #86 of 847 California towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Dana Point, with each school’s own grade.
Kindergarten in Dana Point · depends on your address
Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Grades K–5 · 461 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Palisades Elementary
Grades K–5 · 332 students · 22:1 students per teacher · in Capistrano Beach
1st grade in Dana Point · depends on your address
Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Grades K–5 · 461 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Palisades Elementary
Grades K–5 · 332 students · 22:1 students per teacher · in Capistrano Beach
2nd grade in Dana Point · depends on your address
Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Grades K–5 · 461 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Palisades Elementary
Grades K–5 · 332 students · 22:1 students per teacher · in Capistrano Beach
3rd grade in Dana Point · depends on your address
Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Grades K–5 · 461 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Palisades Elementary
Grades K–5 · 332 students · 22:1 students per teacher · in Capistrano Beach
4th grade in Dana Point · depends on your address
Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Grades K–5 · 461 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Palisades Elementary
Grades K–5 · 332 students · 22:1 students per teacher · in Capistrano Beach
5th grade in Dana Point · depends on your address
Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Grades K–5 · 461 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Palisades Elementary
Grades K–5 · 332 students · 22:1 students per teacher · in Capistrano Beach
9th grade in Dana Point
Dana Hills High
Grades 9–12 · 1,725 students · 22:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Dana Point
Dana Hills High
Grades 9–12 · 1,725 students · 22:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Dana Point
Dana Hills High
Grades 9–12 · 1,725 students · 22:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Dana Point
Dana Hills High
Grades 9–12 · 1,725 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Dana Point’s public schools are run by Capistrano Unified School District, which also serves Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Dana Point vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Dana Point’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Dana Point | A | Capistrano Unified |
| Laguna Niguel | A | Capistrano Unified |
| San Clemente | A | Capistrano Unified |
| San Juan Capistrano | A | Capistrano Unified |
| Laguna Beach | A | Laguna Beach Unified |
3 of the 4 neighbors share Capistrano Unified with Dana Point, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Dana Point
19 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Early Childhood Center).
Questions about Dana Point’s schools
Are Dana Point’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Dana Point children attend outscore 88% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #86 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 89%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Dana Point in?
Capistrano Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 40,251 students in 58 schools (2024–25).
Where do Dana Point kids go to high school?
Dana Hills High, with 1,725 students; its own test results earn an A−.
What is Dana Point’s graduation rate?
96% of the class of 2023 in Capistrano Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Dana Point spend per student?
$17,395 in Capistrano Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Dana Point?
Yes: St. Edward Parish School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 801 students), St. Edward the Confessor Parish School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 800 students) and Monarch Bay Montessori Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 100 students).
Parents talk
What Dana Point families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Dana Point → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.