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Public school district · California

Irvine Unified.Many schools. Many different stories.

Compare elementary, middle, and high schools across Irvine Unified—and look beyond a single district average.

Santiago Hills ElementaryDeerfield ElementaryNorthwood HighTurtle Rock ElementaryEastshore ElementaryWoodbridge HighPortola HighUniversity HighIrvine HighBrywood ElementaryWestpark ElementaryBonita Canyon ElementaryStone Creek ElementaryIrvine Unified School District Virtual AcademyVista VerdeCanyon View ElementaryLoma Ridge ElementaryStonegate ElementaryEastwood ElementaryCadence ParkCollege Park ElementaryBeacon ParkMeadow Park ElementaryWoodbury ElementaryPortola Springs ElementaryPlaza VistaSolis ParkAlternative Education-San Joaquin HighAlderwood ElementarySpringbrook ElementaryUniversity Park ElementaryCypress Village ElementaryNorthwood ElementaryCulverdale ElementaryGreentree ElementaryOak Creek ElementaryCreekside HighIrvine UnifiedN ↑
37 schools mapped · Location contextOpen map →
School locations · boundary unavailable
The K–12 path at a glance
Elementary30 schools
avg 64.8/10028 Strong, 2 Solid
High7 schools
avg 68.6/1006 Strong, 1 Solid

Each level is scored on its own scale — elementary, middle, and high are never ranked against each other.

Stage 1 of 2

The elementary years

The elementary schools average 64.8/100 — 25.9 points above the state average, with 28 of 30 in the Strong band.

0100
Strong Solid Developing Needs Support district avg state avg

44 points separate the strongest and weakest of these 30 elementary schools — the average hides more than it tells.

The strength

Santiago Hills Elementary (90/100) holds the Strong band — 66.6% of its students exceed the state standard, against a level average of 46.2%. 3 schools here rank as Growth Engines — returning cohorts gaining more than most schools statewide.

The catch

44 points separate the top and bottom elementary schools — the district average won't predict the school in front of you.

99th percentile · StrongScope Score 90/100
99th percentile · StrongScope Score 82/100
98th percentile · StrongScope Score 80/100

All 30 elementary schools, ranked, in the appendix →

Stage 2 of 2

The high school years

The high schools average 68.6/100 — 14.6 points above the state average, with 6 of 7 in the Strong band.

0100

49 points separate the strongest and weakest of these 7 high schools — the average hides more than it tells.

1 continuation/alternative school not plotted — it ranks within its own class, not on this statewide axis.

The strength

Northwood High (81/100) holds the Strong band — 47.2% of its students exceed the state standard, against a level average of 34.0%. 5 schools classify as Strong All-Around — no weak dimension we measure.

The catch

49 points separate the top and bottom high schools — the district average won't predict the school in front of you.

Northwood High
Strong All-Around
96th percentile · StrongScope Score 81/100
Woodbridge High
Strong All-Around
95th percentile · StrongScope Score 78/100
Portola High
Strong All-Around
94th percentile · StrongScope Score 78/100

All 7 high schools, ranked, in the appendix →

What it means for your family

If you're choosing a neighborhood

Compare schools at your child’s level before deciding on an address. The strongest attendance-zone candidate is Santiago Hills Elementary at 90/100 — confirm the exact boundary with the district before the house.

If you already live here

No charters or magnets among the ranked schools here, so the main lever is an intra-district transfer — California districts run them on their own windows and criteria. If your zoned school sits low in the appendix below, ask the district office for this year's dates.

If your kid is enrolled now

A band is a position, not a prophecy — 5 campuses here rank as Growth Engine (3) or On the Rise (2), their returning cohorts gaining more than most schools statewide. Ask your school two questions: what happens for a kid who arrives behind, and what the classroom looks like for one who arrives ahead.

The strongest-scoring run through the district:

Santiago Hills Elementary 99th percentile · StrongScope Score 90/100Northwood High 96th percentile · StrongScope Score 81/100

Top scorers at each level — not necessarily one zoned sequence. Confirm feeder patterns and enrollment zones with the district, and visit before you decide.

What this page can't see: whether a campus feels safe and glad at 8 a.m. If a path above looks workable, the next step is a visit.

Irvine Unified has 37 public schools in this SchoolScope results directory. Compare schools by their primary reporting level below.

2024–25 CAASPP reporting · SchoolScope analysis. Directory coverage, not a complete inventory of every campus. Each school appears at its primary reporting level; K–8 and K–12 campuses can serve additional grades. Sources and methodology →

One district, three stages

The average changes with the journey.

Elementary schools

Explore elementary →
Lower reported resultsHigher reported results

30 comparable schools · average 64.8/100 · range 45.6–89.8

High schools

Explore high →
Lower reported resultsHigher reported results

6 comparable schools · average 74.7/100 · range 57.9–81.4

Explore Irvine Unified by place.

Districts nearby

DistrictAverage scoreRanked schoolsTop schoolDistance
Irvine Unifiedthis district66.4 / 10036Santiago Hills Elementary—
Tustin Unified56.8 / 10027Orchard Hills4.0 mi
Newport-Mesa Unified54.6 / 10023Corona del Mar High7.2 mi
Saddleback Valley Unified51.1 / 10020Foothill Ranch Elementary7.4 mi
Laguna Beach Unified68.0 / 1004Laguna Beach High9.5 mi
Capistrano Unified65.0 / 10025Ladera Ranch Middle9.9 mi

Averages blend every school level in a district and carry no score band. Compare a level at a time in the spreads above, then open the schools. Distances run between school-location centers.

Cities served

City pages include schools from other districts too. Check the district named on each school profile.

Patterns across the district

What kinds of schools are here?

Patterns worth exploring.

Choose a pattern to find matching schools in the lists below. Open a profile to see the underlying measures and questions to ask on a visit.

How patterns are defined →

Archetypes describe reported patterns, not school quality or fit. Available measures differ by school level.

Schools in Irvine Unified

Browse by level, then compare the evidence behind each profile.

Map ↗

Elementary schools in Irvine Unified · 30 schools

CompareSchoolExceededScore
Santiago Hills Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
66.6%99th percentile · StrongScope Score 90/100
Deerfield Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
55.7%99th percentile · StrongScope Score 82/100
Turtle Rock Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
62.8%98th percentile · StrongScope Score 80/100
Eastshore Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
61.1%98th percentile · StrongScope Score 80/100
Brywood Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
56.9%97th percentile · StrongScope Score 74/100
Westpark Elementary
Irvine Unified High Ceiling
52.5%96th percentile · StrongScope Score 74/100

High schools in Irvine Unified · 7 schools

CompareSchoolExceededScore
Northwood High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
47.2%96th percentile · StrongScope Score 81/100
Woodbridge High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
41.9%95th percentile · StrongScope Score 78/100
Portola High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
41.1%94th percentile · StrongScope Score 78/100
University High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
39.0%94th percentile · StrongScope Score 77/100
Irvine High
Irvine Unified Strong All-Around
40.0%93rd percentile · StrongScope Score 75/100
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High
Irvine Unified Culture First
24.0%65th percentile · SolidScope Score 58/100
Compare selected schools

Select two to four schools at the same level. Rankings and score bands compare each school with its own enrollment group.

District finance · FY 2024–25

Where the district's dollars go.

Irvine Unified spent $16,178 per student in FY 2024–25 — $4,313 less than the median California district ($20,491), about 21% lower. About 60 cents of every dollar goes to classroom instruction.

Current expense per student

Current expense of education per unit of average daily attendance, from the district's annual SACS filing to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus. Spending is context, not a measure of school quality.

Share by function

  • Instruction60%
  • Instruction support13%
  • Student services12%
  • Administration3%
  • Buildings & maintenance10%
  • Other2%

Shares of the same current-expense total, by SACS function. Names are simplified from the filing's own categories.

The system behind the schools

The people behind the classrooms — district-grain context that never enters a school's score.

People
Teacher salary range$59,726–$137,884
Teaching staff1,811 · FTE
District enrollment35,660 · students
Who attends
Hispanic 13.7% · White 23.2% · Black 2.2% · Asian 48.2% · Other 12.7%
Free/reduced lunch22% · economic need indicator

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule 2024–25 · CDE enrollment (district averages)

See how the school years fit together.

Explore the next stage, then verify the schools available for your address.

These are browsing links, not a feeder path. Assignments vary by residence, program, permits, and available space.

Looking beyond Irvine Unified?

Explore public, private, and early-learning options.

Know what you’re comparing.

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.

Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 37 schoolsMethodology · Download this data (CSV)

Free to download, CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

Frequently asked questions

How many schools are listed in Irvine Unified?
This SchoolScope directory lists 37 public schools in Irvine Unified with 2024–25 reporting records. This is directory coverage, not a complete campus inventory. Each school appears under its primary reporting level; a K–8 or K–12 campus may serve additional grades.
Which schools have the highest scores in Irvine Unified?
Among comprehensive public schools listed here, the highest Scope Score at each primary reporting level is: Elementary: Santiago Hills Elementary (90/100). High: Northwood High (81/100). These are separate level rankings, not a single cross-level league table. A score does not establish fit or enrollment eligibility. See the methodology.
Can I compare elementary, middle, and high schools directly?
Compare schools at the same level and within the same enrollment group. Scope Score formulas and available measures differ by level. The plots show comprehensive public schools separately for each level; individual profiles explain their comparison group.
Does living in Irvine Unified guarantee a particular school?
A district outline does not establish assignment to an individual school. Attendance boundaries, programs, permits, and available space can affect enrollment. Confirm the requirements directly with the district.
What does a SchoolScope pattern mean?
Archetypes summarize patterns in publicly reported academic and school-climate measures. They describe reported results, not a school’s quality or a child’s fit. Open the school profile for reporting years, missing measures, and questions to ask. Read how the patterns are defined.
Where do these results come from?
The underlying public data comes from the California Department of Education, including CAASPP reporting for 2024–25. Scope Scores and archetypes are SchoolScope calculations, not official CDE ratings. View CDE data and SchoolScope’s methodology and limitations.