Capistrano Unified: Capistrano Unified schools score 17.5 points above the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 3.0 points.
Capistrano Unified has 63 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 62.3/100 — 17.5 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Canyon Vista Elementary at 84/100, where 61.8% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,431 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 7 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 13.9%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Solid 61.4/100 | 41 | 38.6% | 12.4% |
| Middle | Solid 67.0/100 | 13 | 39.8% | 13.0% |
| High | Solid 59.6/100 | 9 | 30.2% | 22.0% |
Capistrano Unified's middle schools average 67.0/100 — 24.4 points above the state average with +2.0pp grade-to-grade growth.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Capistrano Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Capistrano Unified has 63 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 62.3/100 — 17.5 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Capistrano Unified's middle schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 67.0.
District-wide elementary growth averages -3.0pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.
Score range of 50.9 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 13.9%, 4.1pp below the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 1.8%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Canyon Vista Elementary leads the district at 84 with 61.8% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Capistrano Unified
Hidden gems: 11 schools in Capistrano Unified are classified as Growth Engine (7) or On the Rise (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
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Capistrano Unified spends $12,431 per student in current expenditures — $2,383 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
Every school in Capistrano Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (41)
Capistrano Unified has 41 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 61.4 — 16.5 points above the state average of 44.8. 12 of 41 elementary schools score above 70.
Growth averages -3.0pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Canyon Vista Elementary with a Scope Score of 84 and 61.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canyon Vista Elementary Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 61.8% | Strong 84/100 |
| 2 | Las Flores Elementary Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 51.8% | Strong 82/100 |
| 3 | Philip J. Reilly Elementary Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 57.0% | Strong 78/100 |
| 4 | Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 54.5% | Strong 78/100 |
| 5 | Chaparral Elementary Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 63.5% | Strong 77/100 |
| 6 | Castille Elementary Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 51.1% | Strong 74/100 |
| 7 | Wagon Wheel Elementary Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 51.6% | Strong 73/100 |
| 8 | Vista del Mar Elementary Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 51.0% | Strong 73/100 |
| 9 | Carl Hankey Elementary Capistrano Unified Growth Engine | 35.9% | Strong 73/100 |
| 10 | Truman Benedict Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 45.2% | Strong 72/100 |
| 11 | Oso Grande Elementary Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 56.7% | Strong 71/100 |
| 12 | Ladera Ranch Elementary Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 51.9% | Strong 70/100 |
| 13 | Esencia Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 46.1% | Solid 69/100 |
| 14 | Marian Bergeson Elementary Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 50.2% | Solid 68/100 |
| 15 | Laguna Niguel Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 52.3% | Solid 68/100 |
| 16 | Moulton Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 46.3% | Solid 68/100 |
| 17 | John Malcom Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 41.1% | Solid 66/100 |
| 18 | George White Elementary Capistrano Unified Growth Engine | 39.9% | Solid 66/100 |
| 19 | Community Roots Academy Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 42.6% | Solid 66/100 |
| 20 | Arroyo Vista Elementary Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 38.4% | Solid 66/100 |
| 21 | Bathgate Elementary Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 44.2% | Solid 65/100 |
| 22 | Capistrano Home/Virtual Capistrano Unified Solid Base | 38.0% | Solid 64/100 |
| 23 | Concordia Elementary Capistrano Unified Solid Base | 43.2% | Solid 62/100 |
| 24 | Don Juan Avila Elementary Capistrano Unified Solid Base | 45.9% | Solid 61/100 |
| 25 | Tijeras Creek Elementary Capistrano Unified Solid Base | 45.2% | Solid 58/100 |
| 26 | Palisades Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 33.5% | Solid 57/100 |
| 27 | Oak Grove Elementary Capistrano Unified Solid Base | 48.1% | Solid 57/100 |
| 28 | Viejo Elementary Capistrano Unified Growth Engine | 23.0% | Solid 57/100 |
| 29 | Las Palmas Elementary Capistrano Unified Growth Engine | 28.8% | Solid 55/100 |
| 30 | Richard Henry Dana Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 32.6% | Solid 54/100 |
| 31 | Wood Canyon Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 25.5% | Solid 52/100 |
| 32 | Del Obispo Elementary Capistrano Unified On the Rise | 21.7% | Solid 51/100 |
| 33 | Clarence Lobo Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 19.7% | Solid 50/100 |
| 34 | Harold Ambuehl Elementary Capistrano Unified Growth Engine | 31.1% | Developing 49/100 |
| 35 | San Juan Elementary Capistrano Unified On the Rise | 13.0% | Developing 43/100 |
| 36 | Hidden Hills Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 22.0% | Developing 42/100 |
| 37 | Journey Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 13.9% | Developing 42/100 |
| 38 | OCASA College Prep Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 15.5% | Developing 41/100 |
| 39 | California Connections Academy Southern California Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 15.8% | Developing 39/100 |
| 40 | Marblehead Elementary Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 23.9% | Developing 39/100 |
| 41 | Kinoshita Elementary Capistrano Unified On the Rise | 9.7% | Developing 33/100 |
Middle Schools (13)
Capistrano Unified has 13 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 67.0 — 24.4 points above the state average of 42.6. 5 of 13 middle schools score above 70.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +2.0pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Ladera Ranch Middle with a Scope Score of 79 and 50.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ladera Ranch Middle Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 50.6% | Strong 79/100 |
| 2 | Arroyo Vista Middle Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 52.2% | Strong 79/100 |
| 3 | Bernice Ayer Middle Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 42.5% | Strong 75/100 |
| 4 | Fred Newhart Middle Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 43.9% | Strong 74/100 |
| 5 | Las Flores Middle Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 45.0% | Strong 72/100 |
| 6 | Esencia Middle Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 42.6% | Solid 69/100 |
| 7 | Vista del Mar Middle Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 44.5% | Solid 67/100 |
| 8 | Don Juan Avila Middle Capistrano Unified Growth Engine | 39.3% | Solid 66/100 |
| 9 | Aliso Viejo Middle Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 39.7% | Solid 66/100 |
| 10 | Carl Hankey Middle Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 35.8% | Solid 61/100 |
| 11 | Niguel Hills Middle Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 35.8% | Solid 61/100 |
| 12 | Shorecliffs Middle Capistrano Unified On the Rise | 25.3% | Solid 52/100 |
| 13 | Marco Forster Middle Capistrano Unified Growth Engine | 19.6% | Solid 51/100 |
High Schools (9)
Capistrano Unified has 9 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 59.6 — 15.9 points above the state average of 43.7. 1 of 9 high schools score above 70.
The highest-scoring high school is Tesoro High with a Scope Score of 74 and 50.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesoro High Capistrano Unified High Ceiling | 50.6% | Strong 74/100 |
| 2 | Aliso Niguel High Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 42.1% | Solid 68/100 |
| 3 | San Juan Hills High Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 37.8% | Solid 67/100 |
| 4 | Capistrano Valley High Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 39.9% | Solid 67/100 |
| 5 | San Clemente High Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 33.4% | Solid 64/100 |
| 6 | Dana Hills High Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around | 25.0% | Solid 59/100 |
| 7 | California Preparatory Academy Capistrano Unified Culture First | 22.1% | Solid 56/100 |
| 8 | Opportunities for Learning - Capistrano Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 18.1% | Developing 47/100 |
| 9 | Capistrano Union High Capistrano Unified Building Momentum | 2.4% | Developing 35/100 |
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.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology