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Newport-Mesa Unified

Above Average2024–25 data28 schools · avg 55.5/100

Newport-Mesa Unified has 28 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 55.5/100 — 11.7 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Roy O. Andersen Elementary at 75/100, where 55.7% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $17,937 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 4 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 16.3%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
55.5
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
50.1
25.3 – 75.4
Avg Exceeded %
29.6%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
16.3%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
28
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
Elementary54.22132.0%12.3%
High59.1722.5%28.2%

K–12 pipeline

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

Elementary
54.2
avg score · 21 schools
High
59.1
avg score · 7 schools

District Analysis

Strongest level: Newport-Mesa Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 59.1.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -2.6pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 50.1 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 16.3%, 1.9pp near the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.6%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Roy O. Andersen Elementary leads the district at 75 with 55.7% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Newport-Mesa Unified

4 Strong All-Around4 Growth Engine3 High Ceiling2 Solid Base12 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 5 schools in Newport-Mesa Unified are classified as Growth Engine (4) 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
50.7%
White
35.2%
Asian
5.1%
Black
0.8%
Other
8.2%
Free/Reduced Lunch
56%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Newport-Mesa Unified spends $17,937 per student in current expenditures — $3,122 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$17,937
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
18,559
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 33.5%
$13,433 → $17,937
Spending Efficiency
3.09
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 58%Support 40%Other 2%
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
$66,494–$159,400
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
1,173
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (21)

Newport-Mesa Unified has 21 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 54.2 — 10.5 points above the state average of 43.8. 4 of 21 elementary schools score above 70.

Growth averages -2.6pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Roy O. Andersen Elementary with a Scope Score of 75 and 55.7% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScoreExceededMet+GrowthAbsentSusp.
1Roy O. Andersen Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified High Ceiling
7555.7%80.3%+5.8pp8.5%0.2%
2Newport Coast Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified High Ceiling
7554.4%80.2%+5.1pp10.0%0.1%
3Newport Heights Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Growth Engine
7247.4%73.7%+7.8pp8.0%0.7%
4Maude B. Davis Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
7049.7%76.4%-17.1pp8.6%0.3%
5Harbor View Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Strong All-Around
6946.6%78.1%+0.0pp6.2%0.4%
6Mariners Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Growth Engine
6744.4%72.6%+11.4pp7.2%1.0%
7Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Growth Engine
6535.6%66.2%+14.6pp13.3%0.6%
8Heinz Kaiser Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Strong All-Around
6238.4%67.2%-0.9pp8.4%0.4%
9California Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Solid Base
6236.1%66.5%-3.5pp8.9%0.6%
10Newport Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Solid Base
6140.3%68.0%-5.5pp13.4%0.4%
11Adams Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Culture First
5828.0%57.1%-5.4pp12.6%0.7%
12Eastbluff Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Growth Engine
5129.3%57.7%+8.5pp11.0%0.4%
13Sonora Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Culture First
5027.7%51.4%+2.2pp13.6%0.4%
14Killybrooke Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
4831.9%57.5%-21.6pp16.3%2.2%
15Everett A. Rea Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified On the Rise
4417.6%42.4%+20.3pp14.4%2.0%
16Victoria Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
4424.4%47.4%-1.4pp12.8%2.8%
17Paularino Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
4021.2%42.5%-15.2pp19.6%0.5%
18College Park Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
3815.5%40.3%-5.4pp20.7%1.0%
19Pomona Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
3712.9%36.0%-10.4pp14.2%1.8%
20Wilson Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
276.5%24.6%-17.2pp14.5%4.9%
21Whittier Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
257.4%28.9%-26.5pp15.9%2.1%

High Schools (7)

Newport-Mesa Unified has 7 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 59.1 — 11.6 points above the state average of 47.5. 2 of 7 high schools score above 70.

The highest-scoring high school is Corona del Mar High with a Scope Score of 75 and 32.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScoreExceededMet+AbsentSusp.
1Corona del Mar High
Newport-Mesa Unified Strong All-Around
7532.9%64.4%9.1%2.2%
2Early College High
Newport-Mesa Unified High Ceiling
7560.0%85.0%13.0%1.1%
3Newport Harbor High
Newport-Mesa Unified Strong All-Around
6929.6%55.8%15.6%1.2%
4Costa Mesa High
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
6018.2%42.4%20.5%3.9%
5Estancia High
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
5716.9%42.6%12.0%3.7%
6Back Bay High
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
460.0%8.4%71.0%4.8%
7Monte Vista High/Cloud Campus
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
320.0%16.7%55.9%3.2%

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 Newport-Mesa 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 Newport-Mesa Unified a good school district?
Newport-Mesa Unified has 28 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 55.5/100, which is 11.7 points above the California state average of 43.8. 29.6% 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 Newport-Mesa Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Newport-Mesa Unified is Roy O. Andersen Elementary with a Scope Score of 75/100 and 55.7% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Newport-Mesa Unified spend per student?
Newport-Mesa Unified spends $17,937 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 Newport-Mesa Unified?
Teacher salaries in Newport-Mesa Unified range from $66,494–$159,400 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.