Public school · Newport-Mesa Unified · Costa Mesa, California

Costa Mesa High — Rating & test scores

Costa Mesa · 7–12 · 1,730 students (2024–25)

48thpercentileDeveloping

The dots are California’s 1,498 scored public high schools, placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests. Why not spring 2026? High school scores include graduation and college-readiness records, which the state publishes a year after the tests. How it’s built →

Scope Score
55

Weighted composite · 2024–25
A weighted mix of seven measures.

See this school’s score factors ↓
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100

In 2024–25, 94% of the class graduated in four years (281 of 299); across California, 89%.

Source
Source
CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students
students who started 9th grade together: 299
Comparison
California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

This rating covers grade 11. Costa Mesa High teaches 7–12: grades 7 and 8 results ↓

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Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

In grade 11, spring 2026, 16% of students tested in English (reading and writing) scored Advanced, against 27% across California. Advanced is the top of the state’s four levels.

Sources
The sentence above
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026. All students tested in grade 11. California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 414,559 in English tested).

Common questions

How do I get in?

Ask Newport-Mesa Unified which school serves your address. Evidence ↓

Is Costa Mesa High a good high school?

Costa Mesa High scores higher than 48 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools: 48th percentile, Developing, spring 2025. Evidence ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 16 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 11 in 100 at the average Newport-Mesa Unified high school. 3.0% of students (50 of 1,672) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. Evidence ↓

More questions (5)

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 26 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. Evidence ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 37% of low-income students in grades 7, 8 and 11 at Costa Mesa High scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 43% for the same group across California. Evidence ↓

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 22 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26. Evidence ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

82% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. Evidence ↓

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Next steps, ready to copy. Evidence ↓

Academic achievement

How did students here do on state tests?

Below California in both subjects.

State tests (CAASPP), grade 11, spring 2026

In grade 11, spring 2026, 52% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 26% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”).

Source
Source
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026
Students
all students tested in grade 11: 234 in English, 231 in math
Comparison
California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 414,559 in English, 413,523 in math tested). The comparisons use the same grade and year.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standard

English

Grade 11 · spring 2026 · 234 tested

Advanced
16%
Proficient
36%
Below the standard
48%
This school52%
California57%
Newport-Mesa Unified62%

52% Proficient or Advanced in grade 11.

Math

Grade 11 · spring 2026 · 231 tested

Advanced
10%
Proficient
16%
Below the standard
74%
This school26%
California32%
Newport-Mesa Unified40%

26% Proficient or Advanced in grade 11.

Results for each grade, spring 2026English and math · grades 7, 8 and 11 · every level, with tested counts

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English

English, grades 7 and 8: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 7Grade 8
Proficient or Advanced40%37%
Advanced10%14%
Proficient30%23%
Developing level26%25%
Minimal34%38%
Tested228283
California51%49%
Difference−11−12
English, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 11
Proficient or Advanced52%
Advanced16%
Proficient36%
Developing level28%
Minimal20%
Tested234
California57%
Difference−5

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math

Math, grades 7 and 8: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 7Grade 8
Proficient or Advanced33%29%
Advanced12%15%
Proficient21%14%
Developing level24%23%
Minimal43%48%
Tested225276
California38%36%
Difference−5−7
Math, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 11
Proficient or Advanced26%
Advanced10%
Proficient16%
Developing level23%
Minimal51%
Tested231
California32%
Difference−6

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

New to these scores? Read CAASPP scores explained: how to read your child’s report →

How do the middle grades do?

Well below California in English; below it in math. In grades 7 and 8, spring 2026, 38% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 31% in math, against 50% and 37% across California.

English

Grades 7 and 8 · spring 2026 · 511 tested

Advanced
12%
Proficient
26%
Below the standard
62%
This school38%
California50%
Newport-Mesa Unified57%

38% Proficient or Advanced in grades 7 and 8.

Math

Grades 7 and 8 · spring 2026 · 501 tested

Advanced
13%
Proficient
18%
Below the standard
69%
This school31%
California37%
Newport-Mesa Unified48%

31% Proficient or Advanced in grades 7 and 8.

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 26 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

Have results changed?

English results were lower than in 2025; math results were similar. English went from 58% to 52% and math stayed at 26%.

Ask: How does the school check what’s working in English?

All four levelsThe state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal, with tested counts
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school16%36%28%20%234
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · Newport-Mesa Unified30%32%22%16%1,367
Math, grade 11 · This school10%16%23%51%231
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · Newport-Mesa Unified20%20%25%35%1,366
English, grades 7 and 8 · This school12%26%26%36%511
English, grades 7 and 8 · California19%31%23%27%838,600
English, grades 7 and 8 · Newport-Mesa Unified22%35%23%20%2,381
Math, grades 7 and 8 · This school13%18%23%46%501
Math, grades 7 and 8 · California21%16%23%40%838,896
Math, grades 7 and 8 · Newport-Mesa Unified29%19%23%29%2,374

Below the standard combines the state’s Developing and Minimal levels, its two lowest. Data source: California Department of Education, spring 2026. The state comparison combines CDE’s rows for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation). The district row combines its public schools in the same grades, weighted by students tested.

Grade 11 tests are one part of the picture. Graduation, readiness and college destinations answer different questions below.

Each grade’s results: English ↑ · Math ↑

Results since 20178 tested years shown

Chart and table: 2017–2026.

English top two levels, grade 11
This schoolCalifornia
0%50%100%20172022202652%57%
Math top two levels, grade 11
This schoolCalifornia
0%50%100%20172022202626%32%

The lines break across the COVID years, when state testing was waived or optional.

In grade 11, the share at the state’s top two levels in English went from 50% in 2017 to 52% in 2026. In math, it went from 30% in 2017 to 26% in 2026, with 2025 and 2026 about the same. Each year is a different group of students.

Each year’s results and tested counts

English · top two levels · grade 11
YearThis schoolCalifornia
201750%
282 tested
60%
444,040 tested
201849%
282 tested
56%
439,134 tested
201956%
270 tested
57%
439,947 tested
202261%
256 tested
55%
427,007 tested
202351%
259 tested
55%
442,128 tested
202452%
282 tested
56%
435,296 tested
202558%
247 tested
57%
432,651 tested
202652%
234 tested
57%
414,559 tested
Math · top two levels · grade 11
YearThis schoolCalifornia
201730%
282 tested
32%
442,457 tested
201825%
284 tested
31%
437,883 tested
201927%
271 tested
32%
438,107 tested
202226%
258 tested
27%
424,390 tested
202323%
260 tested
27%
440,912 tested
202420%
281 tested
28%
434,711 tested
202526%
250 tested
30%
431,903 tested
202626%
231 tested
32%
413,523 tested

What you can do

Who can act on Costa Mesa High’s results?

Newport-Mesa Unified’s board decides Costa Mesa High’s plan.

The state hasn’t placed Costa Mesa High in a support program. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source 

What has the state flagged?

The state is giving Newport-Mesa Unified extra help in 2026. It qualified on the 2025 California School Dashboard. The county office must help the district for at least three years, including a review of its yearly plan.

Extra help for Newport-Mesa Unified: CDE’s assistance status file for the 2025 California School Dashboard. Source 

When is the plan set, and how can you take part?

Newport-Mesa Unified’s board must adopt its yearly plan (LCAP) by July 1, after at least one public hearing at an earlier meeting.

How to take part

  • Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
  • Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
  • Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
  • Read the midyear report, due by February 28.
  • Read Newport-Mesa Unified’s 2026–27 plan (LCAP, PDF) 

Life at school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

94% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25.

State graduation, readiness, college-going, attendance and suspension records

That compares with 89% across California. 54% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 82% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

94%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 281 of 299 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

54%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 162 of 299 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

50%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 142 of 281 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

82% enrolled in college within 12 months · 263 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓24 · 9%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓18 · 7%
  • California community college153 · 58%
  • In-state private15 · 6%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year7 · 3%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year0 · 0%
  • Not enrolled46 · 17%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

What could my child study here?

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 22 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

  • Math & Computer Science5
  • Sciences4
  • English2
  • History & Social Science6
  • World Languages & Cultures2
  • Arts3
Every approved AP course22 courses in 6 subjects
Math & Computer Science 5
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Computer Science A
  • Computer Science Principles
  • Statistics
Sciences 4
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics 1
English 2
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 6
  • Human Geography
  • Macroeconomics
  • Psychology
  • U.S. Government and Politics
  • United States History
  • World History: Modern
World Languages & Cultures 2
  • Chinese Language and Culture
  • Spanish Language and Culture
Arts 3
  • 2-D Art and Design
  • 3-D Art and Design
  • Drawing

Ask: How does the school help students who don’t go to college plan what comes next?

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 281 of 299 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 162 of 299 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 142 of 281 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
63
Admitted
44
Enrolled
21

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC IrvineApplied 52 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled 8
  • UC San DiegoApplied 42 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled 4
  • UCLAApplied 38 · Admitted under 3 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 28 · Admitted 8 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC RiversideApplied 24 · Admitted 23 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 22 · Admitted 4 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 18 · Admitted 15 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC DavisApplied 13 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC MercedApplied 11 · Admitted 11 · Enrolled under 3

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

  • Fall 2025Applied 63 · Admitted 44 · Enrolled 21
  • Fall 2024Applied 45 · Admitted 35 · Enrolled 18
  • Fall 2023Applied 64 · Admitted 38 · Enrolled 25
  • Fall 2022Applied 57 · Admitted 40 · Enrolled 22
  • Fall 2021Applied 65 · Admitted 42 · Enrolled 22
  • Fall 2020Applied 53 · Admitted 35 · Enrolled 17
  • Fall 2019Applied 50 · Admitted 29 · Enrolled 14
  • Fall 2018Applied 53 · Admitted 28 · Enrolled 16
  • Fall 2017Applied 47 · Admitted 20 · Enrolled 8
  • Fall 2016Applied 47 · Admitted 33 · Enrolled 20

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
83
Admitted
77
Enrolled
15

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 256 · Admitted 124 · Enrolled 17
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 205 · Admitted 174 · Enrolled 37
  • San Diego StateApplied 154 · Admitted 42 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 125 · Admitted 32 · Enrolled 7
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 95 · Admitted 71 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State LAApplied 50 · Admitted 45 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 42 · Admitted 39 · Enrolled —
  • San Francisco StateApplied 38 · Admitted 35 · Enrolled under 6
  • Chico StateApplied 31 · Admitted 28 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 27 · Admitted 27 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 24 · Admitted 23 · Enrolled —
  • San José StateApplied 20 · Admitted 17 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 16 · Admitted 15 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 16 · Admitted 16 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sonoma StateApplied 15 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State East BayApplied 14 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled —
  • Fresno StateApplied 13 · Admitted 12 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 13 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 12 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sacramento StateApplied 12 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled —
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 7 · Admitted 7 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied under 6 · Admitted — · Enrolled —
  • Stanislaus StateApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

  • Fall 2025Applied 83 · Admitted 77 · Enrolled 15
  • Fall 2024Applied 58 · Admitted 56 · Enrolled 19
  • Fall 2023Applied 77 · Admitted 71 · Enrolled 19
  • Fall 2022Applied 67 · Admitted 61 · Enrolled 12
  • Fall 2021Applied 76 · Admitted 66 · Enrolled 18

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

16 in 100 students were chronically absent in 2025–26. That means they missed 10% or more of school days. At the average Newport-Mesa Unified high school, 11 in 100 were. 3.0% of students were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school.

Source
Source
CDE chronic absenteeism and suspension files, 2025–26
Students
chronic absence: 259 of 1,647 students counted for it; suspension: 50 of 1,672 students enrolled during the year
Comparison
Each comparison is the rate at the average school (our average of school rates), not a pooled rate. Also: suspensions at the average Newport-Mesa Unified high school 1.9%.

Chronically absent, 2025–26

16 in 100This school
11 in 100At the average Newport-Mesa Unified high school
22 in 100At the average California high school

259 of 1,647 students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of school days.

Suspensions, 2025–26

3.0%

of students were suspended at least once (50 of 1,672). Average California high school 2.9%.

Ask: When a child starts missing school, who calls the family, and how soon?

Chronic absence by grade2025–26 · per 100 students, with counts
  • Grades 7–8: 17 in 100, 91 of 548
  • Grades 9–12: 15 in 100, 168 of 1,099
Ask families and staff yourselfWhat to ask the people at Costa Mesa High

Ask current families how the school keeps them informed, and what happened when their child needed help. Ask staff how long teachers tend to stay.

Questions for your visit ↓

Teach here? Tell us Newport-Mesa Unified’s email domain so staff can answer our workplace questions.

Every learner

How do kids like mine do here?

Student groups, grade 11, spring 2026

Source
Source
California Department of Education, CAASPP research file, spring 2026
Students
grade 11; each row gives its tested count. Low-income is CDE’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged”.
Comparison
California: the same group in the same grades, CDE’s rows for the whole state combined and weighted by students tested (our calculation).
Costa Mesa HighSame group, California
  • Low-incomeEnglish · 182 tested48%Same group, California 49%
  • Low-incomeMath · 180 tested19%Same group, California 23%
  • Hispanic or LatinoEnglish · 159 tested47%Same group, California 49%
  • Hispanic or LatinoMath · 157 tested21%Same group, California 21%
  • WhiteEnglish · 34 tested53%Same group, California 68%
  • WhiteMath · 32 tested34%Same group, California 44%

Proficient or Advanced, grade 11, spring 2026.

Who are the students?

2025–26 · students counted
1. Hispanic or Latino: 69%2. White: 16%3. Two or more races: 5%4. Asian: 5%5. Pacific Islander: 1%6. Black or African American: <1%7. Filipino: <1%8. Not reported: <1%Unallocated share: 1%. 100% minus available shares; not a student group.Reported shares2025–26
  1. Hispanic or Latino69%
  2. White16%
  3. Two or more races5%
  4. Asian5%
  5. Pacific Islander1%
  6. Black or African American<1%
  7. Filipino<1%
  8. Not reported<1%
  9. American Indian or Alaska Native—
  10. Unallocated share1%
A dash means the share isn’t available; it isn’t zero. The unallocated share is what’s left after the shares we have; it isn’t a student group. “Not reported” is different: it is a category in the state’s own count of students. Source and comparisons: the full student mix below.

Are English learners moving up on the state’s English test?

63% of English learners here moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026.

Spring 2025 to spring 2026 · English learners with state English test (ELPAC) scores in both years

This school · 117 of 186 English learners63%
Newport-Mesa Unified · 890 of 1,65554%
California · 355,274 of 748,91647%

It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Data source: California Department of Education, 2026 Dashboard ↗.

Who are the families and teachers?

73%of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 1,267 of 1,730. California: 63%.

101teachers, 2024–25

13 yearsaverage experience, 2024–25

3%in their first year, 2024–25

90%of teaching positions with proper credential and placement, 2021–22

Ask: Which student groups does the school track most closely, and what does it do when one falls behind?

All group results, district comparisons and sources
Proficient or Advancedgrade 11 · spring 2026
Group and subjectHerevs Newport-Mesa Unifiedvs California
Low-income · 182 tested in English, 180 in math
English48%−452%−149%
Math19%−726%−423%
Hispanic or Latino · 159 tested in English, 157 in math
English47%−451%−249%
Math21%−526%021%
White · 34 tested in English, 32 in math
English53%−1871%−1568%
Math34%−1751%−1044%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Newport-Mesa Unified, and across California. No group that is behind across California does 10 or more points better here.

Asian, homeless and military-family students, students of two or more races, English learners and students with disabilities: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Black or African American, Filipino, American Indian or Alaska Native and Pacific Islander students and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.

Full student mix, comparisons and sources, 2025–26
Students, 2025–26Here
Hispanic or Latino69%
White16%
Two or more races5%
Asian5%
Pacific Islander1%
Black or African American<1%
Filipino<1%
Not reported<1%
American Indian or Alaska Native—

Data source: California Department of Education chronic-absence file, 2025–26. Shares are of the students the file counts for attendance (CDE’s “eligible enrollment”); unavailable categories are shown as a dash.

How the credential rate is counted

CDE SARC report 2024–25, measured 2021–22: 90% of teaching positions, 82.5 properly credentialed teaching-position FTE out of 91.6 total position FTE. This measures positions, not individual teachers.

Next steps

Which schools feed into Costa Mesa High, and how do I get in?

  1. Elementary
    88th · Strong · 2026Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder
  2. Middle
    42nd · Developing · 2026Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder
  3. High · this school
    Costa Mesa High
    Grades 7–12

Historical links and nearby options · confirm your child’s address and current assignment with the district. Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level. Explore schools on the map

All recorded links and nearby alternatives

Elementary links

  • Maude B. Davis Elementary

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

    88th percentile · Strong · elementary · 2026

  • College Park Elementary

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

    42nd percentile · Developing · elementary · 2026

  • Sonora Elementary

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

    81st percentile · Strong · elementary · 2026

Middle-school links

  • Charles W. Tewinkle Middle

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

    42nd percentile · Developing · middle · 2026

  • Horace Ensign Intermediate

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

    89th percentile · Strong · middle · 2026

Links do not guarantee placement. Charter, magnet, transfer and other admission routes can differ. Each school’s percentile compares it with California schools at its own level (continuation and alternative schools only with their own kind); the stages are not one ranking.

How do I get in?

Ask Newport-Mesa Unified which school serves your address.

Office: (714) 424-8700Administrator: Jeff Giles
2650 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa 92626

Directory location · Explore nearby schools on the map. Confirm which school serves your address with Newport-Mesa Unified.

Questions for your visit

  1. How does the school check what’s working in English? English: 58% in 2025 to 52% in 2026 here; California: 57% to 57%
  2. How does the school help students who don’t go to college plan what comes next?
  3. When a child starts missing school, who calls the family, and how soon? 16 in 100 chronically absent, 2025–26 (259 of 1,647 students); average Newport-Mesa Unified high school: 11 in 100
  4. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  5. What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?

Office (714) 424-87002650 Fairview Road, directions  (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Nearby high schoolsClosest first, by straight-line distance

The closest high schools, by straight-line distance from this campus. Distance isn’t an attendance boundary.

Nearby high schoolsPercentile among California high schools, 2025

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

Source records

Every figure on this page, with its source, grades, year and count.

Score factorssource values, index and weights · 2024–25 · ranked #772 of 1,498 California high schools we score · #4 of 5 in Newport-Mesa Unified
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate94%5825%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math18%5222%
Ready for college or career (state measure)54%5620%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math42%5518%
Chronically absent20 in 100585%
Suspension rate3.9% (71 of 1,806)495%
English learners: top level15%475%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests.

Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2024–255548#772California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspension
2018–199 in 1003.7% (72 of 1,926)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2421 in 1004.4% (82 of 1,843)
2024–2520 in 1003.9% (71 of 1,806)

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English74513%43%
2026 · Math73212%29%
2025 · English80718%50%
2025 · Math81415%29%
2024 · English85915%47%
2024 · Math85613%29%
2023 · English82713%45%
2023 · Math82514%29%
2022 · English79817%50%
2022 · Math80213%29%
2019 · English90916%51%
2019 · Math91816%33%
2018 · English92014%45%
2018 · Math92716%33%
2017 · English94812%45%
2017 · Math95716%34%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 7 · English28142%
2025 · Grade 8 · English27950%
2025 · Grade 11 · English24758%
2025 · Grade 7 · Math28227%
2025 · Grade 8 · Math28234%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math25026%
2024 · Grade 7 · English28649%
2024 · Grade 8 · English29141%
2024 · Grade 11 · English28252%
2024 · Grade 7 · Math28740%
2024 · Grade 8 · Math28827%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math28120%
2023 · Grade 7 · English29446%
2023 · Grade 8 · English27440%
2023 · Grade 11 · English25951%
2023 · Grade 7 · Math29237%
2023 · Grade 8 · Math27326%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math26023%
2022 · Grade 7 · English27445%
2022 · Grade 8 · English26847%
2022 · Grade 11 · English25661%
2022 · Grade 7 · Math27532%
2022 · Grade 8 · Math26930%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math25826%
2019 · Grade 7 · English32454%
2019 · Grade 8 · English31544%
2019 · Grade 11 · English27056%
2019 · Grade 7 · Math32736%
2019 · Grade 8 · Math32034%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math27127%
2018 · Grade 7 · English30850%
2018 · Grade 8 · English33037%
2018 · Grade 11 · English28249%
2018 · Grade 7 · Math31342%
2018 · Grade 8 · Math33033%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math28425%
2017 · Grade 7 · English33548%
2017 · Grade 8 · English33137%
2017 · Grade 11 · English28250%
2017 · Grade 7 · Math34039%
2017 · Grade 8 · Math33530%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math28230%

Current 2025–26 grade results are under Academic achievement, in Results for each grade. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide5185%23%56%16%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advancedvs districtvs California
Low-income56837%−8−6
Hispanic or Latino52436%−8−7
Students with disabilities1106%−9−10
Student groups: the state’s growth measureCalifornia School Dashboard 2025 · points above or below what the state expected · shown, not part of the score
GroupEnglishnCDE categoryMathnCDE category
All students−14529Moderate−19529Moderate
Low-income−17375Moderate−21374Minimal
Hispanic or Latino−14367Moderate−20365Moderate
English-only students−10280not categorized−17283not categorized
English learners−26146Minimal−20143Moderate
White−1684Moderate−1486Moderate
Students with disabilities−1783Moderate−1984Moderate
English learners only−2077not categorized−2174not categorized
Long-term English learners (grades 6–8 only)−2273Minimal−2571Minimal
Recently reclassified as fluent in English−3269not categorized−2069not categorized
Homeless−2140Minimal−2540Minimal
Two or more races−1535Moderate−1535Moderate
Asian−1432Moderate−1232Moderate

CDE reports scale-score points against the state’s expected score — not a percentage or percentile. The table keeps the group records SchoolScope imported for this school, including rows below our narrative display threshold. “Not categorized” means this imported CDE row has a growth value without a performance category. Long-term English learner counts cover grades 6–8 only (CDE’s rule), so that row is not comparable to the All students row. At least one estimate here is a CDE weighted estimate; that describes how CDE combines years, not a year-over-year trend. A group absent from this table has no imported record shown here. Its absence alone does not establish its size or performance. CDE growth covers grades 4–8; here that is grades 7 and 8. SchoolScope does not use these CDE figures in its Scope Score.

Growth recordsthe state’s student-by-student measure
California growth model · points vs expected

State model · English−14 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 7 and 8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

Weighted school estimate; assessments from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25

All students, grades 7 and 8

529 students

CDE growth category: Moderate

California growth model, English: −14 scale-score points versus the state's expectation, CDE category Moderate, against SchoolScope's +1-point median for California high school records.

State model · math−19 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 7 and 8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

Weighted school estimate; assessments from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25

All students, grades 7 and 8

529 students

CDE growth category: Moderate

California growth model, math: −19 scale-score points versus the state's expectation, CDE category Moderate, against SchoolScope's −6-point median for California high school records.

Source notes. CDE reports scale-score points against the state’s expected score for matched students, never a percentage. Among SchoolScope's retained California high school records, the median English estimate is +1 and the middle half fall between −9 and +7 scale-score points — the spread is wide, so read the figure against it, not its sign alone. CDE's 2025 Dashboard weighted school estimate uses assessments from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25; adjacent reporting editions should not be read as independent annual changes. The CDE measure covers grades 4–8; here that is grades 7 and 8, and it is not part of the Scope Score.

Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 20 in 100 → 2025–26 · 16 in 100 · −4 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 3.9% (71 of 1,806) → 2025–26 · 3.0% (50 of 1,672) · −0.9 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female10 in 10017 in 100+7 in 100
Male9 in 10014 in 100+5 in 100
Asian1 in 1005 in 100+4 in 100
Black or African American24 in 10012 in 100−12 in 100
Filipino4 in 10019 in 100+15 in 100
Hispanic or Latino9 in 10016 in 100+7 in 100
Pacific Islander19 in 10011 in 100−8 in 100
Two or more races9 in 10010 in 100+1 in 100
White11 in 10018 in 100+7 in 100
Students with disabilities16 in 10024 in 100+8 in 100
English learners9 in 10020 in 100+11 in 100
Foster youth60 in 10058 in 100−2 in 100
Homeless28 in 10030 in 100+2 in 100
Low-income11 in 10018 in 100+7 in 100
All students9 in 10016 in 100+7 in 100

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 54% · numerator 162 students classified Prepared · denominator 299 CCI students.
California · CCI overall PreparedCDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 73% · AP-pathway numerator 119 · denominator 162 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 162 of 299 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate
94%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
73%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
50%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
82%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes
YearAppliedAdmittedEnrolledMean GPA (applied)Mean GPA (admitted)Mean GPA (enrolled)
20256344213.803.894.01
20244535183.994.034.10
20236438253.984.144.23
20225740223.974.034.12
20216542223.854.014.14
20205335173.814.004.11
20195029143.743.893.96
20185328163.723.943.96
2017472083.593.813.97
20164733203.834.004.02

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately
CampusYearAppliedAdmittedEnrolled
Berkeley2025224under 3
Berkeley2024234under 3
Berkeley2023364under 3
Berkeley20222543
Berkeley202117under 3under 3
Davis2025136under 3
Davis2024125under 3
Davis20232211under 3
Davis2022134under 3
Davis20211910under 3
Irvine202552138
Irvine2024371710
Irvine2023451512
Irvine202245167
Irvine2021482213
Los Angeles202538under 3under 3
Los Angeles20243543
Los Angeles20234944
Los Angeles20223843
Los Angeles202135under 3under 3
Merced20251111under 3
Merced202277under 3
Merced20211010under 3
Riverside20252423under 3
Riverside2024118under 3
Riverside2023159under 3
Riverside20221394
Riverside2021136under 3
San Diego202542134
San Diego20242814under 3
San Diego20234012under 3
San Diego2022395under 3
San Diego2021328under 3
Santa Barbara2025288under 3
Santa Barbara2024168under 3
Santa Barbara20233210under 3
Santa Barbara2022148under 3
Santa Barbara20213393
Santa Cruz20251815under 3
Santa Cruz20241211under 3
Santa Cruz20232516under 3
Santa Cruz20221411under 3
Santa Cruz2021135under 3
Universitywide2025634421
Universitywide2024453518
Universitywide2023643825
Universitywide2022574022
Universitywide2021654222

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations
SubjectAuthorization recorded for
2-D Art and Designthis school
3-D Art and Designthis school
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Chinese Language and Culturethis school
Computer Science Athis school
Computer Science Principlesthis school
Drawingthis school
English Language and Compositionthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
Human Geographythis school
Macroeconomicsthis school
Physics 1this school
Psychologythis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
U.S. Government and Politicsthis school
United States Historythis school
World History: Modernthis school

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offeredoffered
AP course count20
AP enrollment (male/female)414
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentnot offered
Algebra I in grade 8offered
Calculus sections2
Physics sections6
Chemistry sections8
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)1,762

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California249%
California State University187%
California community college15358%
In-state private156%
Out-of-state, 4-year73%
Out-of-state, 2-year00%
Not enrolled4617%

263 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 83% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$17,937 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 18,559 pupils

California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records

School-level federal expenditures$165 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,730

Central federal expenditures attributed here$1,136 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,730

District current expense · FY 2024–25$28,980 per ADA

CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

How the California mean was selected

SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 56%Instruction support 15%Student services 8%Administration 8%Buildings & maintenance 12%Other 1%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$270,043,63256.32%56%
Instruction support$70,734,15214.75%15%
Student services$35,734,0337.45%8%
Administration$40,261,9878.40%8%
Buildings & maintenance$57,328,61111.96%12%
Other$5,340,1691.11%1%
Total$479,442,584100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $479,442,584 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$17,937 per pupil
2020$15,765 per pupil
2019$15,125 per pupil
2018$14,459 per pupil
2017$13,433 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders0.0%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 92626 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 92626 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$114,249
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)47%
ZIP-area population50,708
Median age37.9 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 92626 →

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Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026

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