Of Irvine Unified’s 31 public elementary schools, 27 sit between the 77th and the 98th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Elementary · 31 schools
from 67th to 99th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests
2
2
4
6
12
5
0Needs Support
0Developing
2Solid
29Strong
← lower percentilehigher →
Each column counts the schools in one five-percentile step; the number above it is that count.
Middle and high school pictures
Middle · 12 schools
from 85th to 99th · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests
1
4
7
0Needs Support
0Developing
0Solid
12Strong
High · 5 schools
from 88th to 94th · among 1,498 California high schools we score · spring 2025 tests
Northwood High: 94th percentile, Strong
Portola High: 90th percentile, Strong
Woodbridge High: 89th percentile, Strong
University High: 89th percentile, Strong
Irvine High: 88th percentile, Strong
0Needs Support
0Developing
0Solid
5Strong
← lower percentilehigher →
Each column counts the schools in one five-percentile step; the number above it is that count. One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 5 of the 43 ranked schools teach two levels, so they appear in more than one picture.
The average elementary school in Irvine Unified had 9 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.
Middle schools
Which middle schools in Irvine Unified score highest?
Vista Verde is highest, at the 99th percentile.
That’s higher than 99 in 100 of the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Highest in Irvine Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean
The average middle school in Irvine Unified had 7 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.
High schools
Which high schools in Irvine Unified score highest?
Northwood High is highest, at the 94th percentile.
That’s higher than 94 in 100 of the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).
Highest in Irvine Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean
The average high school in Irvine Unified had 10 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100.
1 high school not ranked statewide
Creekside HighContinuation high school: compared only with other continuation schools
The district
Where does Irvine Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?
Irvine Unified spent $16,178 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
The typical California district spent $20,491. About 60 cents of every Irvine Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.
Spending by function
Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.
Share by function, 2024–25
Instruction60%
Instruction support13%
Student services12%
Administration3%
Buildings & maintenance10%
Other2%
Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.
What the district plans
$288.3 million
planned in its 2026–27 plan for 52 funded actions in 5 goals. That’s 45% of its $646.8 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the district reports what it spent in a later plan.
The plan in short
Source: the district’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 226 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.
Where the money goes
Three actions take 82% of the money; their titles are below. The plan itself puts 98% of it toward staff.
Staffing: Certificated Teachers $213.2 million
Action 2 $11.7 million
Action 3 $11.4 million
49 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help
12 of the plan’s 52 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.
Actions whose titles name catch-up help or English learners
Catch-up help $10.7 million
English learners $0.8 million
Largest of these
Academic Intervention-Intensive Actions$4.8 million
Summer School-Strategic/Intensive Actions$2.1 million
Direct Site Funding to Support Interventions$1.5 million
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth) and what its goals measure
For high-need students
It plans $28.5 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $27.6 million and estimates it spent $27.4 million, within 1% of the plan.
$27.4 million spent (estimated)$27.6 million planned
What its goals measure
Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.
What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure
2024–25
2025–26
Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 2 and 4
75%
74%
down 1 pt
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 2 and 4
71%
71%
no change
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoals 1 and 4
9 in 100
9 in 100
no change
Suspended at least onceGoal 1
0.9%
0.9%
no change
Goal 5 tracks named schools and Goal 3 tracks other measures, so they aren’t shown here.
Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.
Goal 1Create an engaging, inclusive school climate and a multi-tiered system of support to ensure personal and…$38.0 million13% of action budgets
“Create an engaging, inclusive school climate and a multi-tiered system of support to ensure personal and academic growth for all students” p. 32 ↗
16 funded actions
Largest funded actions
Staffing: Student Behavior, engagement, health, and mental wellness-Strategic/Intensive Actions$11.7 millionaction 1.13 · p. 179 ↗
Staffing: Student Behavior, Engagement, Health and Mental wellness-Actions to Support All Students$11.4 millionaction 1.1 · p. 177 ↗
Increased/Improved Staffing Support: Student behavior, engagement, health, and mental wellness$5.1 millionaction 1.7 · p. 177 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Targeted Staffing: Student mental health and wellness-Actions to Support Some Students$3.6 millionaction 1.8 · p. 177 ↗
Staffing: Mental Health and Wellness-Strategic/Intensive Actions$1.9 millionaction 1.15 · p. 179 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $228,949 is state funding counted toward those services
11 more funded actions in this goal
Staffing: Language Development Department - Strategic/Intensive Actions · action 1.14 · p. 179 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.9 million
Student Support Services Staff · action 1.2 · p. 177 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.9 million
Behavior Systems-Strategic/Targeted Actions to Support · action 1.9 · p. 178 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $490,244 is state funding counted toward those services$0.7 million
Parent Education/Engagement-Strategic Actions · action 1.12 · p. 178 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
LTEL Support-Language Development Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSA) · action 1.18 · p. 179 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
School Climate Social Emotional-Learning-Actions to Support All Students · action 1.4 · p. 177 ↗$0.3 million
School Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism-Targeted · action 1.11 · p. 178 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
School Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism-Strategic/Intensive Actions · action 1.17 · p. 179 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
Behavior System Support-Intensive Actions · action 1.16 · p. 179 ↗$0.1 million
Behavior Systems-Actions to Support All Students · action 1.3 · p. 177 ↗$0.1 million
Parent Engagement Actions-Strategic/Intensive · action 1.19 · p. 179 ↗under $0.1 million
How the plan measures it · 14 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 32 ↗.
Goal 2Ensure all students attain proficiency in essential standards through the implementation of standards…$18.0 million6% of action budgets
“Ensure all students attain proficiency in essential standards through the implementation of standards aligned, high quality instruction, assessment for learning, and instructional materials” p. 79 ↗
22 funded actions
Largest funded actions
Academic Intervention-Intensive Actions$4.8 millionaction 2.12 · p. 180 ↗
Professional Learning Communities (PLC)$2.7 millionaction 2.1 · p. 179 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Site Based Allocations for Unduplicated Student Support-Strategic Actions$2.1 millionaction 2.14 · p. 180 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Summer School-Strategic/Intensive Actions$2.1 millionaction 2.16 · p. 180 ↗
Instructional Support-Actions to Support All Students$1.4 millionaction 2.2 · p. 179 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
17 more funded actions in this goal
Instructional Supports-Actions to Support Student with Disabilities · action 2.22 · p. 181 ↗$0.6 million
Summer School-Targeted/Strategic Actions · action 2.10 · p. 180 ↗$0.6 million
Language Acquisition Support-Strategic/Intensive · action 2.13 · p. 180 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
Educational Technology (Ed Tech) Support-Actions to Support All Students · action 2.3 · p. 179 ↗$0.5 million
Academic Interventions - Actions · action 2.4 · p. 179 ↗$0.5 million
Language Acquisition Instructional Aides · action 2.18 · p. 181 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
Supplemental Academic Intervention Materials-Strategic/Intensive Actions · action 2.15 · p. 180 ↗$0.3 million
Language Acquisition Testing Support-ELPAC Coordinators/Short Term Testers · action 2.19 · p. 181 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $240,261 is state funding counted toward those services$0.3 million
Site English Learner TOSA Support · action 2.21 · p. 181 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
Summer School Actions to Support All Students · action 2.5 · p. 180 ↗$0.2 million
Professional Learning · action 2.7 · p. 180 ↗$0.2 million
Student Online Assessment Program · action 2.6 · p. 180 ↗$0.2 million
Instructional Support-Special Education · action 2.8 · p. 180 ↗$0.1 million
Professional Development for Teachers Supporting LTEL Students · action 2.20 · p. 181 ↗$0.1 million
Student Online Progress Monitoring Platform-Targeted Actions · action 2.11 · p. 180 ↗$0.1 million
Language Acquisition Program Support · action 2.9 · p. 180 ↗$0.1 million
Supplemental Academic Resources for ELD Summer Programs-Intensive Actions · action 2.17 · p. 181 ↗under $0.1 million
How the plan measures it · 18 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 79 ↗.
Goal 3Identify and mitigate barriers which may limit student access and achievement, provide additional support as…$232.1 million81% of action budgets
“Identify and mitigate barriers which may limit student access and achievement, provide additional support as needed, and ensure equity in allocation of resources” p. 111 ↗
12 funded actions
Largest funded actions
Staffing: Certificated Teachers$213.2 millionaction 3.1 · p. 181 ↗
Class Size-Reduction$8.4 millionaction 3.3 · p. 181 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Instructional Material Sufficiency$2.5 millionaction 3.10 · p. 182 ↗
College and Career Readiness-Broad Actions$1.7 millionaction 3.6 · p. 181 ↗
Direct Site Funding to Support Interventions$1.5 millionaction 3.9 · p. 182 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
7 more funded actions in this goal
Early Learning · action 3.4 · p. 181 ↗$1.1 million
College and Career Readiness-Targeted Actions · action 3.11 · p. 182 ↗$1.1 million
Graduation Support · action 3.5 · p. 181 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.0 million
District Class Size Support · action 3.2 · p. 181 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.8 million
Online Tutoring · action 3.7 · p. 182 ↗$0.7 million
Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) · action 3.8 · p. 182 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
Language Acquisition Supplemental Materials · action 3.12 · p. 182 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $5,000 is state funding counted toward those servicesunder $0.1 million
How the plan measures it · 10 measures · 3 quoted
Percentage of students completing at least one CTE Pathway CA College/Career Indicator-Student Level Datap. 113 ↗
Baseline
2022-23 ALL: 11.7% …
Target for year 3
2025-26 ALL: +2% …
Percentage of students completing CTE pathways AND met UC/CSU Requirements CA College/Career Indicator-Student Level Datap. 114 ↗
Baseline
2022-23 ALL: 8.7% …
Target for year 3
2025-26 ALL: +2% …
Percentage of Students Participating in 2 or More College Preparatory Coursesp. 114 ↗
Baseline
2022-23 ALL: 99.3% …
Target for year 3
2025-26 ALL: +.05% …
7 more measures in the plan’s table.
Goal 4 · Focus GoalProvide strategic and systemic support for Foster Youth and homeless students to reduce chronic absenteeism…$146,360under 1% of action budgets
“Provide strategic and systemic support for Foster Youth and homeless students to reduce chronic absenteeism rates and increase academic performance based on California Dashboard data in the areas of Chronic Absenteeism, English Language Arts and Mathematics by the end of the 2024-27 LCAP cycle” p. 128 ↗
1 funded action
Largest funded actions
Staffing: Support for Foster Youth-Strategic/Intensive Actions$146,360action 4.1 · p. 182 ↗
How the plan measures it · 8 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 128 ↗.
Goal 5 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy the end of the 2024–27 LCAP cycle, implement evidence-based services and supports for Creekside High…$25,700under 1% of action budgets
“By the end of the 2024–27 LCAP cycle, implement evidence-based services and supports for Creekside High School (CHS) students to increase the attendance rate by at least 2 percentage points above the 2023–24 baseline and to increase the proportion of students Prepared on the CCI Indicator by at least 2 percentage points, while reducing Not Prepared by at least 2 percentage points from the 2024 Dashboard baseline, for the ALL, SED, SWD, and HI student groups” p. 139 ↗
All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.
Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends
Student mix
2024–25 · October enrollment count, 38,483 students
1Asian51%
2White23%
3Hispanic or Latino12%
4Two or more races9%
5Filipino2%
6Black or African American2%
7Pacific Islander<1%
8Not reported<1%
9American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools. Rounded labels may not total 100%; segments use the original shares.
Free or reduced-price meals
21%
Across California, 63% of students qualify.
2024–25 · 7,872 of 38,286 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.
The district’s state records
Is the state giving the district extra help?
The state is giving Irvine Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.
How English learners moved up on the state’s English test
From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 62% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (2,266 of 3,647 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.
Which public schools in Irvine Unified rank highest?
Elementary: 2 schools at the 99th percentile (Strong): Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy and Santiago Hills Elementary. Middle: Vista Verde, 99th percentile (Strong). High: Northwood High, 94th percentile (Strong). Each percentile is among the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
Does living in the Irvine Unified district decide which school my child attends?
Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
More questions (5)
Are the public schools in Irvine Unified good?
Irvine Unified’s 31 public elementary schools run from the 67th to the 99th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 29 Strong and 2 Solid. Irvine Unified’s 12 public middle schools run from the 85th to the 99th percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 12 Strong. Irvine Unified’s 5 public high schools run from the 88th to the 94th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 5 Strong. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.
How does chronic absence in Irvine Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Irvine Unified had 9 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. The average middle school in Irvine Unified had 7 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in Irvine Unified had 10 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
How much does Irvine Unified spend per student?
Irvine Unified spent $16,178 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 60 cents of every Irvine Unified dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.
What is in Irvine Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $288.3 million into 52 funded actions in 5 goals, 45% of its $646.8 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $232.1 million, 81% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Where do these results come from?
California’s state tests (CAASPP): spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools, spring 2025 for high schools, and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Irvine Unified, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.