Laguna Beach Unified: Laguna Beach Unified schools score 23.0 points above the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 8.5 points.
Laguna Beach Unified has 4 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 67.9/100 — 23.0 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Top of the World Elementary at 74/100, where 53.0% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $24,293 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 10.8%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Solid 67.7/100 | 2 | 47.9% | 10.8% |
| Middle | Solid 67.6/100 | 1 | 38.9% | 6.6% |
| High | Solid 68.4/100 | 1 | 41.8% | 15.2% |
Laguna Beach Unified's high schools average 68.4/100 — 24.7 points above the state average.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Laguna Beach Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Laguna Beach Unified has 4 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 67.9/100 — 23.0 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Laguna Beach Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 68.4.
District-wide elementary growth averages -8.5pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.
Score range of 12.2 points — moderately consistent between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 10.8%, 7.1pp below the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 2.0%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Top of the World Elementary leads the district at 74 with 53.0% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Laguna Beach Unified
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Laguna Beach Unified spends $24,293 per student in current expenditures — $9,479 above 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 Laguna Beach Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (2)
Laguna Beach Unified has 2 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 67.7 — 22.9 points above the state average of 44.8. 1 of 2 elementary schools score above 70.
Growth averages -8.5pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Top of the World Elementary with a Scope Score of 74 and 53.0% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Top of the World Elementary Laguna Beach Unified High Ceiling | 53.0% | Strong 74/100 |
| 2 | El Morro Elementary Laguna Beach Unified Solid Base | 42.8% | Solid 62/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Laguna Beach Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 67.6 — 24.9 points above the state average of 42.6.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +5.0pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Thurston Middle with a Scope Score of 68 and 38.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thurston Middle Laguna Beach Unified Building Momentum | 38.9% | Solid 68/100 |
High Schools (1)
Laguna Beach Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 68.4 — 24.7 points above the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Laguna Beach High with a Scope Score of 68 and 41.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laguna Beach High Laguna Beach Unified Strong All-Around | 41.8% | Solid 68/100 |
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