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Elementary Schools in Orange, California

Near Average2024–25 data19 schools · avg 46.5/100

Orange, California has 19 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 46.5/100 — 2.8 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is McPherson Magnet at 70/100, where 45.7% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Orange schools average 18.8% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.1% (near the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
46.5
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
43.7
26.3 – 69.9
Avg Exceeded %
18.8%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
18.1%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
19
With Scope Scores

How Orange schools compare

Orange's 19 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 46.5 — 2.8 points above the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 26.3 to 69.9, a 43.7-point spread.

The top-ranked school is McPherson Magnet with a Scope Score of 70 and 45.7% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in Orange averages 18.1%, which is near the state average of 18.1%.

How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)

School archetypes in Orange

7 Culture First3 Strong All-Around9 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Schools in Orange ranked by Scope Score

#SchoolScoreCountyExceededMet+AbsentSusp.
1McPherson Magnet
Orange Unified Strong All-Around
70Orange45.7%70.8%5.8%0.6%
2La Veta Elementary
Orange Unified Strong All-Around
64Orange36.6%51.3%15.3%0.8%
3Fletcher Mandarin Language & GATE Academy
Orange Unified Strong All-Around
64Orange41.7%64.0%10.5%0.5%
4El Modena High
Orange Unified Building Momentum
62Orange20.9%42.5%20.6%1.0%
5Linda Vista Elementary
Orange Unified Culture First
52Orange22.9%54.0%7.4%0.2%
6Orange High
Orange Unified Building Momentum
50Orange8.6%25.9%29.9%4.3%
7Chapman Hills Elementary
Orange Unified Culture First
50Orange28.8%58.8%9.1%0.2%
8Palmyra GATE Magnet
Orange Unified Culture First
48Orange22.9%46.5%13.5%0.3%
9Taft Elementary
Orange Unified Culture First
47Orange18.4%43.0%14.6%0.1%
10Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science
Orange Unified Culture First
44Orange18.1%44.3%11.7%1.1%
11California iInspire Academy
Orange Unified Culture First
44Orange15.2%37.0%7.1%0.1%
12Handy Elementary
Orange Unified Culture First
42Orange13.0%34.5%8.5%1.1%
13Richland Continuation High
Orange Unified Building Momentum
42Orange0.0%2.5%71.7%1.2%
14Prospect Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
38Orange16.0%40.0%21.2%0.7%
15Olive Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
37Orange12.8%34.8%18.0%0.4%
16West Orange Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
36Orange13.6%41.4%20.4%0.1%
17Sycamore Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
34Orange11.1%35.5%21.7%0.2%
18Esplanade Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
33Orange7.2%33.3%17.5%1.3%
19Cambridge Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
26Orange4.5%18.1%18.8%0.5%

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Orange

  • Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
  • Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
  • Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
  • Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
  • Parent and community engagement levels
  • Quality of special education and gifted programs
  • How school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Orange good?
Orange's 19 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 46.5/100, which is 2.8 points above the California state average of 43.8. 18.8% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights six dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Orange?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Orange is McPherson Magnet with a Scope Score of 70/100 and 45.7% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Orange schools compare to the state average?
Orange elementary schools average a Scope Score of 46.5 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (2.8 points above). The exceeded rate averages 18.8% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.1% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 26.3 to 69.9, a 43.7-point spread.
How many schools are in Orange?
Orange has 19 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.