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Ladera RanchPhoto: Branden Pinney · Public domain
A
Schools in Ladera Ranch · Capistrano Unified School District

Ladera Ranch’s public schools outscore 88% of California districts

57% of students in Ladera Ranch’s public schools are proficient in math, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Ladera Ranch, 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.

#86of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
70%
▲ 23 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
57%
▲ 24 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
96%
▲ 10 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.4K
▼ 18% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
22.9
CA 21.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
6
16,805 students on the public path
In brief

Ladera Ranch’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 183 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Ladera Ranch’s, its schools beat 70%, lower than their 88% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

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 ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and six high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 8% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Montessori of Ladera Ranch (private) and Pacific Preschool (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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Ladera Ranch’s grade

A Test scoresA− Graduation

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.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 88%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (183)Better than 70%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 21,838 test results and a graduating class of 4,008 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Ladera Ranch’s students in the tested grades sat them (21,847 in math, 21,830 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Ladera Ranch, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
6–8Ladera Ranch MiddleCapistrano Unified School DistrictNo scores
9–126 high schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A

Ladera Ranch’s public schools are run by Capistrano Unified School District, which also serves Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo 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.

Capistrano Unified School DistrictGrades K–12 · 58 schools · 40,251 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 22.9 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$17,395CA $21,206 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading70%
State average 46.7% · 21830 students tested
Math57%
State average 33.1% · 21847 students tested

Ladera Ranch vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Ladera Ranch’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Ladera RanchACapistrano Unified
San Juan CapistranoACapistrano Unified
Mission ViejoACapistrano Unified K–12 · Saddleback Valley Unified K–12

All 2 neighbors share Capistrano Unified with Ladera Ranch, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Ladera Ranch

12 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).

District schools in Ladera Ranchby address
Oso Grande Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
867 students27:1Rate it →
Chaparral Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
604 students23:1Rate it →
Ladera Ranch Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
580 students24:1Rate it →
Ladera Ranch Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
1,064 students23:1Rate it →
Also serving Ladera Ranchin other towns
San Clemente High
High · Grades 9–12 · San Clemente
A
2,740 students24:1Rate it →
San Juan Hills High
High · Grades 9–12 · San Juan Capistrano
A
2,641 students23:1Rate it →
Aliso Niguel High
High · Grades 9–12 · Aliso Viejo
A
2,563 students24:1Rate it →
Tesoro High
High · Grades 9–12 · Las Flores
A
2,030 students23:1Rate it →
Capistrano Valley High
High · Grades 9–12 · Mission Viejo
A
1,991 students22:1Rate it →
Dana Hills High
High · Grades 9–12 · Dana Point
A−
1,725 students22:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Montessori of Ladera Ranch
Elementary · Grades PK–1
Private · Nonsectarian
176 students8:1Rate it →
Pacific Preschool
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
96 studentsRate it →

Questions about Ladera Ranch’s schools

Are Ladera Ranch’s schools good?

By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Ladera Ranch 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 70%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Ladera Ranch in?

Capistrano Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 40,251 students in 58 schools (2024–25).

Where do Ladera Ranch kids go to high school?

One of 6 high schools, depending on your address: San Clemente High, San Juan Hills High, Aliso Niguel High, Tesoro High, Capistrano Valley High and Dana Hills High.

What is Ladera Ranch’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 Ladera Ranch 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 Ladera Ranch?

Yes: Montessori of Ladera Ranch (nonsectarian, grades PK–1, 176 students) and Pacific Preschool (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 96 students).

Parents talk

What Ladera Ranch families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Ladera Ranch → 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.