Photo: Azusa Tarn · CC BY-SA 4.0Irvine’s public schools outscore 92% of California districts
In Irvine, 68% of tested students are proficient in math, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Irvine, 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 98% 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.
Irvine’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 75% and math 68% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $17,163 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
29 elementary schools, then 11 middle and five high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 80% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Irvine International Academy, Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy, C4l Academy (private), Crean Lutheran High School (private), TVT Community Day School (private), New Horizon Elementary School - Irvine (private), New Horizon School Irvine (private), Pacific Academy (private), Turtle Rock Preschool & Kindergarten (private), Northwood Montessori of Irvine (private), Spectrum Montessori at Portola Springs (private), University Montessori School (private), Irvine Montessori School (private), Westpark Montessori School of Irvine (private), Great Foundations Montessori (private), Leport School Spectrum South (private), Spectrum Montessori at Woodbury (private), Jenny Hart Early Education Center (private), Leport Montessori Irvine Mandarin (private), Village Montessori School of Irvine (private), Franklin Academy (private), Leport Montessori School (private), Blair Academy (private), Mardan School (private), Leport Montessori Irvine Woodbridge (private), The Craig School (private), Fusion Academy Newport Beach (private), Bethel Classical Academy (private), Leport Montessori Irvine Westpark (private), Kindercare Learning Cener (private), Expanding Montessori (private), Milestones Montessori of Irvine (private), Irvine Chinese Immersion School (private) and Westcliff Preparatory Academy (private) are in town. Excel Academy Charter, Alternative Education-San Joaquin High and Irvine Unified School District Virtual Academy, online schools, are based here too; they aren’t counted as local schools. 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 Irvine’s grade
A: better than 92% of California school districts, #61 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 Irvine, with each school’s own grade.
Irvine’s public schools are run by Irvine Unified School District. Parts of Irvine (8%, 4% and 4% of its land) are served by Tustin Unified, Saddleback Valley Unified and Santa Ana Unified instead. 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
Irvine vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Irvine’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Irvine | A | Irvine Unified |
| Tustin | A− | Tustin Unified |
| Newport Beach | A− | Newport-Mesa Unified |
| Lake Forest | A− | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| Santa Ana | C+ | Santa Ana Unified |
| Laguna Hills | A− | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| Laguna Woods | A− | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| Costa Mesa | A− | Newport-Mesa Unified K–12 · Huntington Beach Union High 9–12 |
Every school in Irvine
84 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 Learning Center).
Questions about Irvine’s schools
Are Irvine’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Irvine children attend outscore 92% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #61 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 96%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Irvine in?
Irvine Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 37,948 students in 44 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Irvine are served by Tustin Unified, Saddleback Valley Unified and Santa Ana Unified.
Where do Irvine kids go to high school?
One of 5 high schools, depending on your address: Portola High, University High, Northwood High, Woodbridge High and Irvine High.
What is Irvine’s graduation rate?
95% of the class of 2023 in Irvine Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Irvine spend per student?
$17,163 in Irvine Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Irvine?
Yes: C4l Academy (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 1,237 students), Crean Lutheran High School (religious, grades 9–12, 1,092 students), TVT Community Day School (religious, grades PK–12, 826 students), New Horizon Elementary School - Irvine (religious, grades K–8, 417 students), New Horizon School Irvine (religious, grades PK–8, 417 students), Pacific Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 223 students), Turtle Rock Preschool & Kindergarten (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 210 students), Northwood Montessori of Irvine (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 182 students), Spectrum Montessori at Portola Springs (religious, grades PK–K, 166 students), University Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 153 students), Irvine Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 152 students), Westpark Montessori School of Irvine (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 130 students), Great Foundations Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 126 students), Leport School Spectrum South (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 126 students), Spectrum Montessori at Woodbury (religious, grades PK–K, 119 students), Jenny Hart Early Education Center (religious, grades PK–K, 105 students), Leport Montessori Irvine Mandarin (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 98 students), Village Montessori School of Irvine (nonsectarian, grades PK–3, 93 students), Franklin Academy (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 88 students), Leport Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 74 students), Blair Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–7, 65 students), Mardan School (special education, grades 1–12, 62 students), Leport Montessori Irvine Woodbridge (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 59 students), The Craig School (special education, grades 3–8, 54 students), Fusion Academy Newport Beach (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 50 students), Bethel Classical Academy (religious, grades K–7, 41 students), Leport Montessori Irvine Westpark (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 37 students), Kindercare Learning Cener (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 33 students), Expanding Montessori (nonsectarian, grades K, 24 students), Milestones Montessori of Irvine (nonsectarian, grades K–2, 21 students), Irvine Chinese Immersion School (nonsectarian, grades K, 10 students) and Westcliff Preparatory Academy (nonsectarian, grades 8–12, 9 students). Irvine also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Irvine families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Irvine → 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.