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Elementary Schools in San Clemente, California: San Clemente students aren't just reaching proficiency — many go beyond it.

2024–25 data7 schools · avg 56.8/100

San Clemente, California has 7 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 56.8/100 — 18.0 points above the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Vista del Mar Elementary at 71/100, where 51.0% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. San Clemente schools average 37.4% exceeded standard (state: 21.4%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction shows how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Of 7 schools, 3 Growth Engines and 1 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 14.4% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

How San Clemente schools compare

San Clemente has 7 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 56.8/100 — 18.0 points above the state average of 38.9 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Vista del Mar Elementary with a Scope Score of 71 and 51.0% of students exceeding standard.

Students here are going past the bar, not just to it. San Clemente schools average 37.4% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.4%.

Chronic absenteeism in San Clemente averages 14.4% — 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

Hidden Gem

Despite a 63% free-or-reduced-lunch rate, San Onofre Elementary posts a Scope Score of 70 — 94th percentile statewide.

Elementary school archetypes in San Clemente

3 Growth Engine1 High Ceiling1 Strong All-Around1 On the Rise1 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 4 schools in San Clemente are classified as Growth Engine (3) 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

For the data nerds

Every school in San Clemente

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP · levels never mixed

Figures
Score range · elementary37.4 – 70.5
33.2 pts SchoolScope composite
Chronic absenteeismstate avg 17.9% (level-matched)

Elementary Schools (7)

avg 56.8/1007 ranked elementary schools5 Strong, 2 Solid
#SchoolExceededScore
1Vista del Mar Elementary
Capistrano Unified High Ceiling
51.0%Strong
71/100
2San Onofre Elementary
Fallbrook Union Elementary Growth Engine
49.9%Strong
70/100
3Truman Benedict Elementary
Capistrano Unified Growth Engine
45.2%Strong
69/100
4Concordia Elementary
Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around
43.2%Strong
59/100
5Las Palmas Elementary
Capistrano Unified Growth Engine
28.8%Strong
50/100
6Clarence Lobo Elementary
Capistrano Unified On the Rise
19.7%Solid
42/100
7Marblehead Elementary
Capistrano Unified Building Momentum
23.9%Solid
37/100

Middle Schools (3)

avg 63.8/1003 ranked middle schools3 Strong
#SchoolExceededScore
1Bernice Ayer Middle
Capistrano Unified Growth Engine
42.5%Strong
77/100
2Vista del Mar Middle
Capistrano Unified Building Momentum
44.5%Strong
66/100
3Shorecliffs Middle
Capistrano Unified Building Momentum
25.3%Strong
49/100

High Schools (1)

avg 71.1/1001 ranked high schools1 Strong
#SchoolExceededScore
1San Clemente High
Capistrano Unified Strong All-Around
33.4%Strong
71/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 11 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools · Download this data (CSV)

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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about San Clemente

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 San Clemente good?
San Clemente's 7 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 56.8/100, which is 18.0 points above the state average. 37.4% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.4%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (42%), met or exceeded (proficient) (23%), grade 3-to-5 growth (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in San Clemente?
The highest-scoring elementary school in San Clemente is Vista del Mar Elementary with a Scope Score of 71/100 and 51.0% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do San Clemente schools compare to the state average?
San Clemente elementary schools average a Scope Score of 56.8/100 — 18.0 points above the state average of 38.9. The exceeded rate averages 37.4% vs. 21.4% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 14.4% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in San Clemente?
San Clemente has 7 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's composite rating (0–100), built from publicly available California school data across academic-performance and school-climate signals. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — showing how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Full methodology and weights.