Photo: Coolsheep2 · CC BY-SA 4.0Santa Ana’s public schools score below 63% of California districts on tests and graduation
18% of students in Santa Ana’s public schools are proficient in math, below the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Santa Ana, 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.
Santa Ana’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 590 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Santa Ana’s, its schools beat 19%, lower than their 37% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 30% of tested students were proficient in reading and 18% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $24,720 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
34 elementary schools, then 14 middle and six high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 17% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Magnolia Science Academy Santa Ana, Nova Academy Early College High, Scholarship Prep - Orange County, El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy, Vista Condor Global Academy, Ednovate - Legacy College Prep., Samueli Academy, Edward B. Cole Academy, Orange County Educational Arts Academy, Ocsa, Citrus Springs Charter, Vista Heritage Global Academy, Advanced Learning Academy, Vista Meridian Global Academy, Calvary Christian School (private), St. Joseph Elementary School (private), St. Anne School (private), St. Barbara School (private), Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School (private), Irvine Hebrew Day School (private), South Coast Metro Children's Village (private), Bethel Baptist School (private), Santa Clara Day Nursery (private), The Open School (private), Love 2 Learn Preschool & Kindergarten (private), Kinderland Academy (private), Sunflower Perschool & Kindergarten. (private) and Storybook 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.
What’s behind Santa Ana’s grade
C+: better than 37% of California school districts, #653 of 847 California towns. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Santa Ana, with each school’s own grade.
Santa Ana’s public schools are run by Santa Ana Unified School District. Parts of Santa Ana (14%, 7% and 4% of its land) are served by Garden Grove Unified, Tustin Unified and Orange 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 below the state in reading
Santa Ana vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Santa Ana’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana | C+ | Santa Ana Unified |
| Tustin | A− | Tustin Unified |
| Orange | B+ | Orange Unified K–12 · Anaheim Union High 7–12 |
| Garden Grove | A− | Garden Grove Unified K–12 · Huntington Beach Union High 9–12 |
| Fountain Valley | A− | Fountain Valley Elementary K–8 · Garden Grove Unified K–12 · Huntington Beach Union High 9–12 |
| Costa Mesa | A− | Newport-Mesa Unified K–12 · Huntington Beach Union High 9–12 |
| Irvine | A | Irvine Unified |
Every school in Santa Ana
85 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: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Mitchell Child Development, Santa Ana Virtual Academy and Orange Springs Charter).
Questions about Santa Ana’s schools
Are Santa Ana’s schools good?
On California’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Santa Ana children attend score below 63% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #653 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 19%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Santa Ana in?
Santa Ana Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 35,993 students in 51 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Santa Ana are served by Garden Grove Unified, Tustin Unified and Orange Unified.
Where do Santa Ana kids go to high school?
One of 6 high schools, depending on your address: Santa Ana High, Segerstrom High, Valley High, Hector G. Godinez, Century High and Saddleback High.
What is Santa Ana’s graduation rate?
90% of the class of 2023 in Santa Ana Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Santa Ana spend per student?
$24,720 in Santa Ana Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Santa Ana?
Yes: Calvary Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 421 students), St. Joseph Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 232 students), St. Anne School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 222 students), St. Barbara School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 192 students), Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School (nonsectarian, grades K–6, 94 students), Irvine Hebrew Day School (religious, grades K–8, 91 students), South Coast Metro Children's Village (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 91 students), Bethel Baptist School (religious, grades PK–12, 76 students), Santa Clara Day Nursery (Catholic, grades PK–K, 72 students), The Open School (nonsectarian, grades 1–12, 70 students), Love 2 Learn Preschool & Kindergarten (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 52 students), Kinderland Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 33 students), Sunflower Perschool & Kindergarten. (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 28 students) and Storybook Preschool (nonsectarian, grades K, 12 students). Santa Ana also has 14 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Santa Ana families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Santa Ana → 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.