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Orange Unified

Above Average2024–25 data32 schools · avg 53.1/100

Orange Unified has 32 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 53.1/100 — 9.3 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Crescent Elementary at 80/100, where 57.5% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,360 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 4 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.6%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
53.1
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
54.1
26.3 – 80.4
Avg Exceeded %
25.4%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
15.6%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
32
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
Elementary51.92726.9%12.7%
High59.0517.2%31.4%

K–12 pipeline

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

Elementary
51.9
avg score · 27 schools
High
59.0
avg score · 5 schools

District Analysis

Strongest level: Orange Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 59.0.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -0.0pp (state avg: -3.0pp), growth is essentially flat.

Consistency: Score range of 54.1 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 15.6%, 2.5pp above the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 0.7%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Crescent Elementary leads the district at 80 with 57.5% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Orange Unified

5 Culture First5 On the Rise4 Growth Engine3 Strong All-Around11 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 9 schools in Orange Unified are classified as On the Rise (5) or Growth Engine (4) — 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
61.2%
White
21.2%
Asian
8.7%
Black
1.1%
Other
7.9%
Free/Reduced Lunch
61%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Orange Unified spends $13,360 per student in current expenditures — $1,454 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$13,360
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
25,420
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 19.4%
$11,193 → $13,360
Spending Efficiency
3.97
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 58%Support 39%Other 3%
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
$65,014–$136,010
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
1,062
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (27)

Orange Unified has 27 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.9 — 8.2 points above the state average of 43.8. 4 of 27 elementary schools score above 70.

Growth is essentially flat at -0.0pp.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Crescent Elementary with a Scope Score of 80 and 57.5% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScoreExceededMet+GrowthAbsentSusp.
1Crescent Elementary
Orange Unified High Ceiling
8057.5%82.7%+5.2pp6.6%0.6%
2Anaheim Hills Elementary
Orange Unified Growth Engine
7950.0%80.3%+6.0pp8.4%0.1%
3Nohl Canyon Elementary
Orange Unified High Ceiling
7653.0%78.3%+11.1pp5.3%0.9%
4Panorama Elementary
Orange Unified Strong All-Around
7246.2%77.7%+0.5pp4.4%0.1%
5McPherson Magnet
Orange Unified Building Momentum
7045.7%70.8%-2.5pp5.8%0.6%
6Running Springs Academy
Orange Unified Strong All-Around
6943.8%68.5%-1.3pp10.6%0.1%
7La Veta Elementary
Orange Unified Growth Engine
6436.6%51.3%+26.5pp15.3%0.8%
8Fletcher Mandarin Language & GATE Academy
Orange Unified Building Momentum
6441.7%64.0%-5.9pp10.5%0.5%
9Villa Park Elementary
Orange Unified Solid Base
6239.8%71.7%-9.7pp6.9%0.1%
10Canyon Rim Elementary
Orange Unified Solid Base
5933.9%65.6%-7.8pp6.3%0.1%
11Serrano Elementary
Orange Unified Growth Engine
5530.9%52.3%+8.2pp12.4%0.1%
12Linda Vista Elementary
Orange Unified Culture First
5222.9%54.0%+1.9pp7.4%0.2%
13Imperial Elementary
Orange Unified Culture First
5228.7%57.6%-24.9pp12.4%0.6%
14Chapman Hills Elementary
Orange Unified Culture First
5028.8%58.8%-3.0pp9.1%0.2%
15Palmyra GATE Magnet
Orange Unified Culture First
4822.9%46.5%-7.4pp13.5%0.3%
16Taft Elementary
Orange Unified Growth Engine
4718.4%43.0%+10.3pp14.6%0.1%
17Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science
Orange Unified Culture First
4418.1%44.3%-18.8pp11.7%1.1%
18California iInspire Academy
Orange Unified On the Rise
4415.2%37.0%+11.4pp7.1%0.1%
19Handy Elementary
Orange Unified On the Rise
4213.0%34.5%+4.3pp8.5%1.1%
20Prospect Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
3816.0%40.0%+1.3pp21.2%0.7%
21Olive Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
3712.8%34.8%+1.0pp18.0%0.4%
22West Orange Elementary
Orange Unified On the Rise
3613.6%41.4%+4.5pp20.4%0.1%
23Fairhaven Elementary
Orange Unified On the Rise
345.8%23.1%+14.6pp25.8%0.8%
24Sycamore Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
3411.1%35.5%-13.5pp21.7%0.2%
25Lampson Elementary
Orange Unified On the Rise
348.6%26.6%+16.0pp22.1%0.2%
26Esplanade Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
337.2%33.3%-16.9pp17.5%1.3%
27Cambridge Elementary
Orange Unified Building Momentum
264.5%18.1%-12.3pp18.8%0.5%

High Schools (5)

Orange Unified has 5 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 59.0 — 11.5 points above the state average of 47.5. 1 of 5 high schools score above 70.

The highest-scoring high school is Canyon High with a Scope Score of 77 and 35.8% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScoreExceededMet+AbsentSusp.
1Canyon High
Orange Unified Strong All-Around
7735.8%61.9%17.6%1.1%
2Villa Park High
Orange Unified Building Momentum
6420.7%43.3%17.2%1.3%
3El Modena High
Orange Unified Building Momentum
6220.9%42.5%20.6%1.0%
4Orange High
Orange Unified Building Momentum
508.6%25.9%29.9%4.3%
5Richland Continuation High
Orange Unified Building Momentum
420.0%2.5%71.7%1.2%

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 Orange 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 Orange Unified a good school district?
Orange Unified has 32 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 53.1/100, which is 9.3 points above the California state average of 43.8. 25.4% 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 Orange Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Orange Unified is Crescent Elementary with a Scope Score of 80/100 and 57.5% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Orange Unified spend per student?
Orange Unified spends $13,360 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 Orange Unified?
Teacher salaries in Orange Unified range from $65,014–$136,010 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.