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Schools in 92626 — Costa Mesa, California: 92626 schools average 4.7 points above the state — but the range is 41.8 points wide.

92626 has 12 ranked schools in Costa Mesa, averaging a Scope Score of 47.3/100 — 4.7 points above the state average of 42.6 (a state average weighted to 92626's own mix of school levels; CDE CAASPP 2025). Scores range from 32.2 to 74.0, a 41.8-point spread. 2 schools rank in the 90th percentile or above statewide.

How 92626 schools perform

The top-ranked school is Early College High with a Scope Score of 74 and 60.0% of students exceeding standard.

Students here are going past the bar, not just to it. Schools here average 25.4% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.0%, itself weighted to 92626's own level mix.

Cohort growth among 92626's elementary schools — the returning cohort, 2023 G3 → 2025 G5 — averages +72 scale-score points across 4 schools in 92626 with a large enough tested cohort. Scale scores rise with grade for nearly every school, so this describes the cohort's trajectory, not a ranking against other zip codes — worth examining school by school.

Chronic absenteeism across 92626 averages 19.4%, near the state average of 19.2%, weighted to 92626's own level mix. CDE CAASPP 2025.

How 92626 compares to nearby zip codes

ZipCityMilesSchoolsAvg Scorevs 92626
92626Costa Mesa1247.3/100
92627Costa Mesa2.4842.4/100-4.9
92704Santa Ana3.11735.1/100-12.2
92660Newport Beach3.2557.8/100+10.4
92707Santa Ana3.41028.7/100-18.6
92708Fountain Valley3.71366.0/100+18.7

Source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

School archetypes in 92626

2 Culture First1 High Ceiling1 Solid Base8 Building Momentum1 not compared

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

All schools in 92626

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Figures
Score range32.2 – 74.0
41.8 pts SchoolScope composite
Chronic absenteeismstate avg 19.2% (level-matched)

Elementary Schools (9)

avg 44.8/1009 ranked elementary schools4 Solid, 3 Strong, +2 more
#SchoolExceededScore
1Maude B. Davis Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
49.7%92nd percentile · StrongScope Score 66/100
2California Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Solid Base
36.1%83rd percentile · StrongScope Score 56/100
3Adams Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Culture First
28.0%77th percentile · StrongScope Score 51/100
4Sonora Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Culture First
27.7%67th percentile · SolidScope Score 44/100
5Killybrooke Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
31.9%66th percentile · SolidScope Score 43/100
6California Pacific Charter- Los Angeles
Acton-Agua Dulce Unified Building Momentum
19.5%54th percentile · SolidScope Score 37/100
7California Pacific Charter - San Diego
Warner Unified Building Momentum
21.8%52nd percentile · SolidScope Score 36/100
8Paularino Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
21.2%50th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 36/100
9College Park Elementary
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
15.5%46th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 34/100

High Schools (4)

avg 54.9/1003 ranked high schools1 verdict withheld1 Strong, 1 Solid, +1 more
#SchoolExceededScore
1Early College High
Newport-Mesa Unified High Ceiling
60.0%91st percentile · StrongScope Score 74/100
2Costa Mesa High
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
18.2%67th percentile · SolidScope Score 59/100
3Monte Vista High/Cloud Campus
Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum
0.0%5th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 32/100
ACCESS Juvenile Hall
Orange County Department of Education court and community school
0.8%Not ranked
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 12 schools in 92626Methodology · Explore all schools

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 92626

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 92626 (Costa Mesa) good?
92626 has 12 ranked schools in Costa Mesa, averaging a Scope Score of 47.3/100 — 4.7 points above the state average, a benchmark weighted to 92626's own mix of school levels. 25.4% of students exceed the state standard on average. Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in 92626?
The highest-scoring school in zip code 92626 is Early College High with a Scope Score of 74/100 and 60.0% of students exceeding the state standard. See full methodology.
How do 92626 schools compare to the state average?
Schools in zip code 92626 average a Scope Score of 47.3/100 — 4.7 points above the state average of 42.6, a state average weighted to zip code 92626's own mix of school levels. The exceeded rate averages 25.4% vs. 21.0% statewide (also level-weighted).
How many schools are in zip code 92626?
Zip code 92626 has 12 ranked 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. Full methodology and weights.