Saddleback Valley Unified
Saddleback Valley Unified has 26 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 55.0/100 — 11.2 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Portola Hills Elementary at 75/100, where 49.4% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,689 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 5 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.2%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Solid 53.9/100 | 21 | 28.9% | 12.4% |
| High | Solid 59.3/100 | 5 | 22.0% | 26.8% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Saddleback Valley Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Saddleback Valley Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 59.3.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +0.3pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.
Consistency: Score range of 47.6 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 15.2%, 2.9pp above the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.5%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Portola Hills Elementary leads the district at 75 with 49.4% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Saddleback Valley Unified
Hidden gems: 6 schools in Saddleback Valley Unified are classified as Growth Engine (5) 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
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Saddleback Valley Unified spends $12,689 per student in current expenditures — $2,126 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (21)
Saddleback Valley Unified has 21 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 53.9 — 10.2 points above the state average of 43.8. 3 of 21 elementary schools score above 70.
District-wide growth averages +0.3pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Portola Hills Elementary with a Scope Score of 75 and 49.4% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portola Hills Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 49.4% | Strong 75/100 |
| 2 | Foothill Ranch Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 46.1% | Strong 74/100 |
| 3 | De Portola Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 44.3% | Strong 71/100 |
| 4 | Valencia Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 42.6% | Solid 67/100 |
| 5 | Trabuco Mesa Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Solid Base | 47.7% | Solid 64/100 |
| 6 | Melinda Heights Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 29.2% | Solid 58/100 |
| 7 | Del Cerro Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Culture First | 35.2% | Solid 58/100 |
| 8 | Rancho Canada Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 28.6% | Solid 57/100 |
| 9 | La Madera Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 33.1% | Solid 56/100 |
| 10 | Montevideo Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 29.8% | Solid 55/100 |
| 11 | Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 31.1% | Solid 55/100 |
| 12 | Lake Forest Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Culture First | 24.5% | Solid 52/100 |
| 13 | Robinson Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 28.2% | Solid 50/100 |
| 14 | Ralph A. Gates DLI Magnet Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 17.0% | Developing 47/100 |
| 15 | Trabuco Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 16.8% | Developing 45/100 |
| 16 | Linda Vista Magnet Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 19.0% | Developing 44/100 |
| 17 | Del Lago Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 16.0% | Developing 44/100 |
| 18 | Lomarena Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Culture First | 22.0% | Developing 43/100 |
| 19 | Cielo Vista Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 13.6% | Developing 43/100 |
| 20 | Glen Yermo Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Culture First | 18.3% | Developing 42/100 |
| 21 | Olivewood Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified On the Rise | 14.6% | Developing 33/100 |
High Schools (5)
Saddleback Valley Unified has 5 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 59.3 — 11.9 points above the state average of 47.5. 1 of 5 high schools score above 70.
The highest-scoring high school is Trabuco Hills High with a Scope Score of 72 and 35.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trabuco Hills High Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 35.5% | Strong 72/100 |
| 2 | Mission Viejo High Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 29.4% | Solid 69/100 |
| 3 | El Toro High Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 24.7% | Solid 65/100 |
| 4 | Laguna Hills High Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 19.4% | Solid 63/100 |
| 5 | Silverado High Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 0.8% | Needs Support 28/100 |
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 Saddleback Valley 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