Private special-education school · nonsectarian · Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Foundations Cognitive Schools

1–11 · 38 students, not counting pre-K (2025–26)

30161-C Avenida De Las Banderas, Rancho Santa Margarita 92688(949) 482-0383
Questions to ask
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Foundations Cognitive Schools is a private school for students in special education. California private schools don’t take the state tests, so there are no results we can fairly compare. We don’t score or rank private schools.

Common questions

How long is the school day?

7 hours in the 2021–22 federal survey. Ask for current hours and care. Evidence ↓

How do I apply?

Call (949) 482-0383 and ask which grades have openings, how to apply and by when. Evidence ↓

What are the free public options nearby?

Your assigned public elementary school depends on your address; the nearest are listed below, each placed among California’s public elementary schools on spring 2026 tests. Evidence ↓

More questions (3)

How big is it?

38 students, not counting pre-K, in the private school affidavit the school files with the state (California Department of Education), 2025–26. Evidence ↓

What does a year cost?

Ask the school for the total yearly cost, including fees, and how financial aid works.

Does Foundations Cognitive Schools have state test results?

No. Private schools in California don’t take the state tests (CAASPP), so there is no state testing data for Foundations Cognitive Schools to score. Evidence ↓

Life at school

What would my child’s day be like?

The school reported a 7-⁠hour day in 2021–22.

NCES private-school survey, 2021–22

  • School typeSpecial-education school with no religious affiliationNCES survey 2021–22

Ask: What does a typical day look like in my child’s grade, and when does it start and end?

Students

Who goes to Foundations Cognitive Schools?

In 2025–26, the school reported 38 students to the state.

CDE private school affidavit, 2025–26

The count leaves out pre-K.

Ask: How many children are in my child’s class, and how many adults?

Source recordsNCES survey · ZIP-area census
Grades1–11
Enrollment38 K–12 and ungraded students
StudentsCoeducational
School day7 hours
AffiliationNonsectarian
School typeSpecial-education school with no religious affiliation (NCES term: “Nonsectarian (Special Education)”)
ZIP-area community recordCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 92688
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 92688 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$152,528
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)49%
ZIP-area population43,320
Median age39.1 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. See all schools in ZIP code 92688 →

The ZIP area comes from the school’s directory address; it does not verify where the campus is.

Source: CDE Private School Affidavit (2025–26)

Public options

What are the free public options nearby?

Three district or charter elementary schools and two middle schools sit within 2 miles.

Public schools · straight-line distance from this school’s address

Elementary

The 3 nearestPercentile among California elementary schools, spring 2026

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

District schools are assigned by your home address. Charters run their own admissions.

Public schools at other levels (2)Middle

Middle

The 2 nearestPercentile among California middle schools, spring 2026

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

Next steps

How do I visit Foundations Cognitive Schools, and what should I ask?

Questions for your visit

  1. How do students come to the school? Ask whether districts place students here through a special-education plan (IEP), or families apply directly.
  2. Which therapies and services are part of the day? Ask how many students each adult works with.
More questions to ask (10) and the map
  1. How many students leave each year, and why? If many families leave, ask what they told the school.
  2. Where do students go after they finish here? Ask for the list of colleges and other paths recent graduates went on to.
  3. What is the full cost, and what financial aid is there? Ask about every fee on top of tuition, and how aid is decided.
  4. Who accredits the school? Accreditation means an outside group reviewed the school. Ask which group, and when it last visited.
  5. What does a typical day look like in my child’s grade, and when does it start and end?
  6. How many children are in my child’s class, and how many adults?
  7. How would teaching, student support and school expectations work for my child?
  8. Which grades have openings, and what are the application steps and dates?
  9. How are my child’s IEP goals set, reviewed and shared with our family?
  10. What transition services help students plan for life, training or work after school?

Location and visiting

Get directions  (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
30161-C Avenida De Las Banderas, Rancho Santa Margarita 92688

Directory location · Explore nearby schools on the map. Confirm visit arrangements with the school.

Data sources: CDE Private School Affidavit · U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey