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Schools in 92627 — Costa Mesa, California

92627 has 8 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 42.7 — 1.0 points near the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 25.3 to 62.0, a 36.7-point spread.

Avg Scope Score
42.7
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
36.7
25.3 – 62.0
Avg Exceeded %
15.5%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
20.4%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
8
With Scope Scores

How 92627 schools perform

The top-ranked school is Heinz Kaiser Elementary with a Scope Score of 62 and 38.4% of students exceeding standard.

Declining trajectory: Average proficiency drops by 6.0 percentage points from grade 3 to grade 5 across 92627. This pattern in test scores may reflect a variety of factors and is worth examining school by school.

Chronic absenteeism across 92627 averages 20.4%, below the state average of 18.1%.

How 92627 compares to nearby zip codes

Zip CodeCitySchoolsAvg Scorevs 92627
92627Costa Mesa842.7
92626Costa Mesa1053.3+10.5
92630Lake Forest752.2+9.5
92620Irvine972.8+30.1
92618Irvine766.3+23.6

School archetypes in 92627

1 Strong All-Around1 On the Rise6 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 1 school in 92627 is classified as 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

All schools in 92627

#SchoolScoreCountyExceededMet+AbsentSusp.
1Heinz Kaiser Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Strong All-Around
62Orange38.4%67.2%8.4%0.4%
2Estancia High
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
57Orange16.9%42.6%12.0%3.7%
3Back Bay High
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
46Orange0.0%8.4%71.0%4.8%
4Everett A. Rea Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified On the Rise
44Orange17.6%42.4%14.4%2.0%
5Victoria Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
44Orange24.4%47.4%12.8%2.8%
6Pomona Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
37Orange12.9%36.0%14.2%1.8%
7Wilson Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
27Orange6.5%24.6%14.5%4.9%
8Whittier Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
25Orange7.4%28.9%15.9%2.1%

Schools in 92627 on the map

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 92627

  • 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 Costa Mesa good?
Costa Mesa's 8 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 42.7/100, which is 1.0 points near the California state average of 43.8. 15.5% 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 Costa Mesa?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Costa Mesa is Heinz Kaiser Elementary with a Scope Score of 62/100 and 38.4% 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 Costa Mesa schools compare to the state average?
Costa Mesa elementary schools average a Scope Score of 42.7 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (1.0 points near). The exceeded rate averages 15.5% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.4% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 25.3 to 62.0, a 36.7-point spread.
How many schools are in Costa Mesa?
Costa Mesa has 8 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.