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Irvine Unified

Above Average2024–25 data36 schools · avg 69.1/100

Irvine Unified has 36 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 69.1/100 — 25.4 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Santiago Hills Elementary at 92/100, where 66.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,060 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 7 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 11.3%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
69.1
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
59.9
31.8 – 91.7
Avg Exceeded %
44.5%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
11.3%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
36
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementarySolid
68.9/100
3046.2%9.6%
HighStrong
70.0/100
635.6%19.4%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Irvine Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
68.9
avg score · 30 schools
+27 more elementary schools
High
70.0
avg score · 6 schools
Northwood High
Strong
82/100
Portola High
Strong
78/100
Woodbridge High
Strong
77/100
+3 more high schools

District Analysis

Strongest level: Irvine Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 70.0.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +1.0pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.

Consistency: Score range of 59.9 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 11.3%, 6.9pp above the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.2%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Santiago Hills Elementary leads the district at 92 with 66.6% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Irvine Unified

12 High Ceiling7 Growth Engine6 Strong All-Around2 Solid Base7 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 8 schools in Irvine Unified are classified as Growth Engine (7) or On the Rise — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

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

Student demographics

Hispanic
13.7%
White
24.3%
Asian
47.0%
Black
2.4%
Other
12.6%
Free/Reduced Lunch
23%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Irvine Unified spends $13,060 per student in current expenditures — $1,755 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$13,060
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
35,660
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 20.1%
$10,874 → $13,060
Spending Efficiency
5.29
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 56%Support 43%Other 1%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$59,726–$137,884
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
1,811
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (30)

Irvine Unified has 30 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 68.9 — 25.2 points above the state average of 43.8. 1 of 30 elementary schools have Scope Scores above 90.

District-wide growth averages +1.0pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Santiago Hills Elementary with a Scope Score of 92 and 66.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Santiago Hills Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
66.6%Strong
92/100
2Eastshore Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
61.1%Strong
83/100
3Turtle Rock Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
62.8%Strong
83/100
4Deerfield Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
55.7%Strong
82/100
5Bonita Canyon Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
53.7%Strong
78/100
6Brywood Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
56.9%Strong
77/100
7Vista Verde
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
51.9%Strong
77/100
8Stonegate Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
57.2%Strong
76/100
9Westpark Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
52.5%Strong
76/100
10Stone Creek Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
53.0%Strong
75/100
11Canyon View Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
55.8%Strong
75/100
12Irvine Unified School District Virtual Academy
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
52.6%Strong
72/100
13Loma Ridge Elementary
Irvine Unified Building Momentum
46.6%Strong
70/100
14Eastwood Elementary
Irvine Unified Growth Engine
41.5%Solid
69/100
15College Park Elementary
Irvine Unified Building Momentum
49.1%Solid
69/100
16Beacon Park
Irvine Unified Building Momentum
46.0%Solid
68/100
17Meadow Park Elementary
Irvine Unified Growth Engine
43.9%Solid
68/100
18Woodbury Elementary
Irvine Unified Building Momentum
45.0%Solid
68/100
19Cadence Park
Irvine Unified Growth Engine
41.0%Solid
67/100
20Portola Springs Elementary
Irvine Unified Building Momentum
42.3%Solid
66/100
21Solis Park
Irvine Unified Growth Engine
43.9%Solid
65/100
22Plaza Vista
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
38.0%Solid
63/100
23Alderwood Elementary
Irvine Unified Solid Base
38.0%Solid
61/100
24Cypress Village Elementary
Irvine Unified Solid Base
42.5%Solid
60/100
25Springbrook Elementary
Irvine Unified Growth Engine
35.0%Solid
58/100
26Northwood Elementary
Irvine Unified Growth Engine
34.7%Solid
57/100
27University Park Elementary
Irvine Unified Building Momentum
30.6%Solid
56/100
28Culverdale Elementary
Irvine Unified Growth Engine
29.9%Solid
54/100
29Greentree Elementary
Irvine Unified Culture First
31.9%Solid
54/100
30Oak Creek Elementary
Irvine Unified On the Rise
27.8%Solid
50/100

High Schools (6)

Irvine Unified has 6 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 70.0 — 22.6 points above the state average of 47.5. 5 of 6 high schools score above 70.

The highest-scoring high school is Northwood High with a Scope Score of 82 and 47.2% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Northwood High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
47.2%Strong
82/100
2Portola High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
41.1%Strong
78/100
3Woodbridge High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
41.9%Strong
77/100
4University High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
39.0%Strong
76/100
5Irvine High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
40.0%Strong
75/100
6Creekside High
Irvine Unified Building Momentum
4.5%Developing
32/100

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 Irvine Unified

  • 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 resources are distributed across schools within the district

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Irvine Unified a good school district?
Irvine Unified has 36 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 69.1/100, which is 25.4 points above the California state average of 43.8. 44.5% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Irvine Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Irvine Unified is Santiago Hills Elementary with a Scope Score of 92/100 and 66.6% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Irvine Unified spend per student?
Irvine Unified spends $13,060 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Irvine Unified?
Teacher salaries in Irvine Unified range from $59,726–$137,884 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
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-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.