Santa Ana Unified: Santa Ana Unified high schools lead at 42.7. A 42.6-point spread across all schools shows this is a district of contrasts.
Santa Ana Unified has 54 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 36.8/100 — 8.0 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Middle College High at 61/100, where 43.9% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,998 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.6%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 35.9/100 | 38 | 9.8% | 15.8% |
| Middle | Developing 32.8/100 | 6 | 8.3% | 15.4% |
| High | Developing 42.7/100 | 10 | 12.2% | 31.2% |
Santa Ana Unified's high schools average 42.7/100 — within 1.0 points of the state average.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Santa Ana Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Santa Ana Unified has 54 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 36.8/100 — 8.0 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Santa Ana Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 42.7.
District-wide elementary growth averages +0.7pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are making incremental gains.
Score range of 42.6 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 18.6%, 0.7pp near the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 2.6%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Middle College High leads the district at 61 with 43.9% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Santa Ana Unified
Hidden gems: 14 schools in Santa Ana Unified are classified as On the Rise (13) or Growth Engine — 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
Santa Ana Unified spends $15,998 per student in current expenditures — $1,184 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 Santa Ana Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (38)
Santa Ana Unified has 38 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 35.9 — 8.9 points below the state average of 44.8.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +0.7pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy with a Scope Score of 53 and 16.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy Santa Ana Unified Culture First | 16.8% | Solid 53/100 |
| 2 | John Muir Fundamental Elementary Santa Ana Unified Culture First | 28.9% | Solid 50/100 |
| 3 | Wilson Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 13.0% | Developing 47/100 |
| 4 | Adams Elementary Santa Ana Unified Growth Engine | 11.7% | Developing 46/100 |
| 5 | Greenville Fundamental Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 19.5% | Developing 46/100 |
| 6 | Orange County Educational Arts Academy Santa Ana Unified Culture First | 15.2% | Developing 45/100 |
| 7 | Santiago Elementary Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 14.4% | Developing 44/100 |
| 8 | Andrew Jackson Elementary Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 11.6% | Developing 43/100 |
| 9 | Fremont Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 13.1% | Developing 42/100 |
| 10 | Monte Vista Elementary Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 8.2% | Developing 40/100 |
| 11 | George Washington Carver Elementary Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 8.6% | Developing 40/100 |
| 12 | Jefferson Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 11.5% | Developing 38/100 |
| 13 | Advanced Learning Academy Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 16.0% | Developing 38/100 |
| 14 | Jim Thorpe Fundamental Santa Ana Unified Culture First | 19.1% | Developing 37/100 |
| 15 | John F. Kennedy Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 8.9% | Developing 37/100 |
| 16 | Martin Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 10.7% | Developing 37/100 |
| 17 | Madison Elementary Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 11.0% | Developing 36/100 |
| 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 3.6% | Developing 35/100 |
| 19 | Diamond Elementary Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 6.1% | Developing 35/100 |
| 20 | Martin R. Heninger Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 8.4% | Developing 35/100 |
| 21 | Heroes Elementary Santa Ana Unified Culture First | 8.1% | Developing 35/100 |
| 22 | Washington Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 7.6% | Developing 35/100 |
| 23 | Roosevelt Walker Academy Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 6.8% | Developing 34/100 |
| 24 | Carl Harvey Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 6.3% | Developing 33/100 |
| 25 | Garfield Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 10.3% | Developing 33/100 |
| 26 | Sierra Preparatory Academy Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 9.7% | Developing 33/100 |
| 27 | Abraham Lincoln Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 4.8% | Developing 33/100 |
| 28 | McFadden Institute of Technology Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 2.8% | Developing 33/100 |
| 29 | Thomas A. Edison Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 6.7% | Developing 31/100 |
| 30 | Lowell Elementary Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 3.5% | Developing 30/100 |
| 31 | Edward B. Cole Academy Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 12.8% | Developing 30/100 |
| 32 | Manuel Esqueda Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 8.7% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 33 | Wallace R. Davis Elementary Santa Ana Unified Culture First | 13.7% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 34 | Monroe Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 2.8% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 35 | Pio Pico Elementary Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 2.9% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 36 | Romero-Cruz Academy Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 1.8% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 37 | Taft Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 3.7% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 38 | Franklin Elementary Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 4.4% | Needs Support 21/100 |
Middle Schools (6)
Santa Ana Unified has 6 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.8 — 9.8 points below the state average of 42.6.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +1.7pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Douglas MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate with a Scope Score of 50 and 16.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 16.1% | Developing 50/100 |
| 2 | Gonzalo Felicitas Mendez Fundamental Intermediate Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 15.2% | Developing 48/100 |
| 3 | Julia C. Lathrop Intermediate Santa Ana Unified On the Rise | 5.3% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 4 | Raymond A. Villa Fundamental Intermediate Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 4.7% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 5 | Gerald P. Carr Intermediate Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 6.3% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 6 | Willard Intermediate Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 2.0% | Needs Support 20/100 |
High Schools (10)
Santa Ana Unified has 10 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 42.7 — within 1.0 points of the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Middle College High with a Scope Score of 61 and 43.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle College High Santa Ana Unified Strong All-Around | 43.9% | Solid 61/100 |
| 2 | Segerstrom High Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 19.9% | Solid 59/100 |
| 3 | Hector G. Godinez Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 21.0% | Solid 59/100 |
| 4 | Saddleback High Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 5.6% | Developing 46/100 |
| 5 | Santa Ana High Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 7.1% | Developing 45/100 |
| 6 | Valley High Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 10.1% | Developing 44/100 |
| 7 | Century High Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 8.2% | Developing 42/100 |
| 8 | Nova Academy Early College High Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 4.3% | Developing 31/100 |
| 9 | Cesar E. Chavez High Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 0.7% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 10 | Lorin Griset Academy Santa Ana Unified Building Momentum | 1.0% | Needs Support 18/100 |
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