Elementary Schools in Placentia, California: Placentia schools aren't just reaching proficiency — they're pushing students beyond it.
Placentia, California has 10 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 56.0/100 — 17.2 points above the state average of 38.8. The highest-scoring school is Golden Elementary at 94/100, where 70.1% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Placentia schools average 36.5% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 10 schools, 1 Growth Engine and 2 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 12.6% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Schools | Avg Score | Exceeded | vs State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 10 | Solid 56.0/100 | 36.5% | +17.2 |
| High | 4 | Solid 55.3/100 | 22.4% | +8.7 |
| Middle | 1 | Developing 30.6/100 | 8.2% | -7.5 |
How Placentia schools compare
Placentia has 10 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 56.0/100 — 17.2 points above the state average of 38.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
The top-ranked school is Golden Elementary with a Scope Score of 94 and 70.1% of students exceeding standard.
These schools are pushing students past the bar, not just to it. Placentia schools average 36.5% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.3%.
Chronic absenteeism in Placentia averages 12.6% — below the state average of 17.9%.
How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page
School archetypes in Placentia
Hidden gems: 3 schools in Placentia are classified as On the Rise (2) 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
Every school in Placentia
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified High Ceiling | 70.1% | Strong 94/100 |
| 2 | El Dorado High Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Strong All-Around | 35.1% | Strong 71/100 |
| 3 | Sierra Vista Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified High Ceiling | 51.4% | Strong 71/100 |
| 4 | Valencia High Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Strong All-Around | 32.8% | Solid 68/100 |
| 5 | Brookhaven Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Solid Base | 44.8% | Solid 60/100 |
| 6 | Charles Wagner Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Solid Base | 41.6% | Solid 59/100 |
| 7 | John O. Tynes Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Growth Engine | 32.8% | Solid 53/100 |
| 8 | Van Buren Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Culture First | 39.4% | Solid 52/100 |
| 9 | Parkview Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Building Momentum | 30.5% | Solid 51/100 |
| 10 | Buena Vista Virtual Academy Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Building Momentum | 19.1% | Solid 51/100 |
| 11 | Morse Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Culture First | 29.3% | Developing 46/100 |
| 12 | Ruby Drive Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified On the Rise | 16.1% | Developing 38/100 |
| 13 | Melrose Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified On the Rise | 8.9% | Developing 36/100 |
| 14 | El Camino Real Continuation High Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Building Momentum | 2.5% | Developing 31/100 |
| 15 | Valadez Middle School Academy Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified Building Momentum | 8.2% | Developing 31/100 |
Free to download, CC BY 4.0 with attribution.
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.
Private Schools in Placentia
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
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 school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology
Frequently asked questions
Are the schools in Placentia good?
What is the best elementary school in Placentia?
How do Placentia schools compare to the state average?
How many schools are in Placentia?
What does the Scope Score measure?
Related
Plus 20 licensed preschools. Browse preschools in Placentia →