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Laguna Hills Civic Center from westPhoto: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−
Schools in Laguna Hills · Saddleback Valley Unified School District

Laguna Hills’s public schools outscore 81% of California districts

On the state math tests, 50% of Laguna Hills’s students scored proficient, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Laguna Hills, 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.

#156of 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
59%
▲ 12 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
50%
▲ 17 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 6 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.4K
▼ 18% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
22.7
CA 21.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
5,879 students on the public path
In brief

Laguna Hills’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 59% and math 50% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,411 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then four middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

New Vista School (private), Guidepost Montessori at Alicia (private) and Pathway School Inc. (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 Laguna Hills’s grade

A− Test scoresB− Graduation

A−: better than 81% of California school districts, #156 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 81%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (431)Better than 78%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 12,282 test results and a graduating class of 2,121 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Laguna Hills’s students in the tested grades sat them (12,294 in math, 12,270 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–63 schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
7–84 middle schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
9–12Laguna Hills HighSaddleback Valley Unified School DistrictA−

Laguna Hills’s public schools are run by Saddleback Valley Unified School District, which also serves Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita. 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.

Saddleback Valley Unified School DistrictGrades K–12 · 33 schools · 22,646 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 22.7 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$17,411CA $21,206 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading59%
State average 46.7% · 12270 students tested
Math50%
State average 33.1% · 12294 students tested

Laguna Hills vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Laguna Hills’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Laguna HillsA−Saddleback Valley Unified
Laguna WoodsA−Saddleback Valley Unified
Laguna NiguelACapistrano Unified
Aliso ViejoACapistrano Unified
Mission ViejoACapistrano Unified K–12 · Saddleback Valley Unified K–12
IrvineAIrvine Unified
Lake ForestA−Saddleback Valley Unified

3 of the 6 neighbors share Saddleback Valley Unified with Laguna Hills, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Laguna Hills

11 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 Laguna Hillsby address
Valencia Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6
525 students27:1Rate it →
Lomarena Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6
487 students22:1Rate it →
San Joaquin Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6
221 students19:1Rate it →
Laguna Hills High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
1,317 students21:1Rate it →
Also serving Laguna Hillsin other towns
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Rancho Santa Margarita
1,153 students24:1Rate it →
Serrano Intermediate
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Lake Forest
868 students22:1Rate it →
La Paz Intermediate
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Mission Viejo
713 students22:1Rate it →
Los Alisos Intermediate
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Mission Viejo
595 students21:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
New Vista School
High · Grades 7–12
Private · Special education
62 students4:1Rate it →
Guidepost Montessori at Alicia
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
52 students26:1Rate it →
Pathway School Inc.
Elementary · Grades 3–8
Private · Religious
39 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Laguna Hills’s schools

Are Laguna Hills’s schools good?

By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Laguna Hills children attend outscore 81% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #156 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 78%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Laguna Hills in?

Saddleback Valley Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 22,646 students in 33 schools (2024–25).

Where do Laguna Hills kids go to high school?

Laguna Hills High, with 1,317 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Laguna Hills’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Saddleback Valley Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Laguna Hills spend per student?

$17,411 in Saddleback Valley Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Laguna Hills?

Yes: New Vista School (special education, grades 7–12, 62 students), Guidepost Montessori at Alicia (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 52 students) and Pathway School Inc. (religious, grades 3–8, 39 students).

Parents talk

What Laguna Hills families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Laguna Hills → 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.