Saddleback Valley Unified: Saddleback Valley Unified elementary schools lead at 53.7. A 54.8-point spread across all schools shows this is a district of contrasts.
Saddleback Valley Unified has 27 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 53.3/100 — 8.5 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Portola Hills Elementary at 78/100, where 49.4% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,689 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 5 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 16.0%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Solid 53.7/100 | 22 | 28.5% | 13.5% |
| High | Solid 51.5/100 | 5 | 22.0% | 26.7% |
Saddleback Valley Unified's elementary schools average 53.7/100 — 8.9 points above the state average.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Saddleback Valley Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Saddleback Valley Unified has 27 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 53.3/100 — 8.5 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Saddleback Valley Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 53.7.
District-wide elementary growth averages -0.2pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — growth is essentially flat.
Score range of 54.8 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 16.0%, 2.0pp near the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 1.5%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Portola Hills Elementary leads the district at 78 with 49.4% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Saddleback Valley Unified
Hidden gems: 6 schools in Saddleback Valley Unified are classified as Growth Engine (5) or On the Rise — 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
Saddleback Valley Unified spends $12,689 per student in current expenditures — $2,126 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 Saddleback Valley Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (22)
Saddleback Valley Unified has 22 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 53.7 — 8.9 points above the state average of 44.8. 2 of 22 elementary schools score above 70.
Growth is essentially flat at -0.2pp.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Portola Hills Elementary with a Scope Score of 78 and 49.4% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portola Hills Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 49.4% | Strong 78/100 |
| 2 | Foothill Ranch Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 46.1% | Strong 73/100 |
| 3 | De Portola Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 44.3% | Solid 68/100 |
| 4 | Valencia Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Solid Base | 42.6% | Solid 63/100 |
| 5 | Rancho Canada Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 28.6% | Solid 59/100 |
| 6 | Melinda Heights Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 29.2% | Solid 59/100 |
| 7 | Del Cerro Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Culture First | 35.2% | Solid 58/100 |
| 8 | Trabuco Mesa Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Solid Base | 47.7% | Solid 57/100 |
| 9 | La Madera Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 33.1% | Solid 57/100 |
| 10 | Montevideo Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 29.8% | Solid 56/100 |
| 11 | Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 31.1% | Solid 55/100 |
| 12 | Lake Forest Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Culture First | 24.5% | Solid 54/100 |
| 13 | Ralph A. Gates DLI Magnet Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 17.0% | Solid 51/100 |
| 14 | Robinson Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 28.2% | Solid 50/100 |
| 15 | Trabuco Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 16.8% | Developing 49/100 |
| 16 | Del Lago Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 16.0% | Developing 47/100 |
| 17 | Linda Vista Magnet Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Growth Engine | 19.0% | Developing 46/100 |
| 18 | Cielo Vista Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 13.6% | Developing 46/100 |
| 19 | SVUSD Virtual Academy (Alternative) Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 20.9% | Developing 44/100 |
| 20 | Lomarena Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Culture First | 22.0% | Developing 41/100 |
| 21 | Glen Yermo Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified Culture First | 18.3% | Developing 39/100 |
| 22 | Olivewood Elementary Saddleback Valley Unified On the Rise | 14.6% | Developing 32/100 |
High Schools (5)
Saddleback Valley Unified has 5 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.5 — 7.8 points above the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Trabuco Hills High with a Scope Score of 62 and 35.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trabuco Hills High Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 35.5% | Solid 62/100 |
| 2 | Mission Viejo High Saddleback Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 29.4% | Solid 60/100 |
| 3 | El Toro High Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 24.7% | Solid 58/100 |
| 4 | Laguna Hills High Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 19.4% | Solid 55/100 |
| 5 | Silverado High Saddleback Valley Unified Building Momentum | 0.8% | Needs Support 24/100 |
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