Elementary Schools in Costa Mesa, California: Costa Mesa schools average 2.8 points above the state — but the range is 44.9 points wide.

Near Average2024–25 data13 schools · avg 46.5/100

Costa Mesa, California has 13 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 46.5/100 — 2.8 points above the state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Maude B. Davis Elementary at 70/100, where 49.7% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Costa Mesa schools average 24.4% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 13.9% (below the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score

46.5

State avg: 43.8

SchoolScope composite

Score Range

44.9

25.3 – 70.2

Avg Exceeded %

24.4%

State avg: 21.6%

CDE CAASPP 2025

Chronic Absenteeism

13.9%

State avg: 18.1%

CDE Attendance 2025

Schools Ranked

With Scope Scores

Level	Schools	Avg Score	Exceeded	vs State
Elementary	13	Developing 46.5/100	24.4%	+2.8
High	8	Developing 38.1/100	12.2%	-9.3
Middle	1	Needs Support 12.7/100	1.7%	-27.8

How Costa Mesa schools compare

Costa Mesa has 13 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 46.5/100 — 2.8 points above the state average of 43.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Maude B. Davis Elementary with a Scope Score of 70 and 49.7% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in Costa Mesa averages 13.9% — below the state average of 18.1%.

How we score · Exceeded 40% · Met+Exceeded 22% · Growth 15% · Absenteeism 10% · Suspension 5% · ELPAC 5% · Baseline 3%

School archetypes in Costa Mesa

3 Strong All-Around2 Culture First8 Building Momentum

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

For the data nerds

Every school in Costa Mesa

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#	School	Exceeded	Score
1	Early College High Newport-Mesa Unified High Ceiling	60.0%	Strong 75/100
2	Maude B. Davis Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Strong All-Around	49.7%	Strong 70/100
3	Heinz Kaiser Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Strong All-Around	38.4%	Solid 62/100
4	California Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Strong All-Around	36.1%	Solid 62/100
5	Costa Mesa High Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	18.2%	Solid 60/100
6	Adams Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Culture First	28.0%	Solid 58/100
7	Estancia High Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	16.9%	Solid 57/100
8	Sonora Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Culture First	27.7%	Developing 50/100
9	Killybrooke Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	31.9%	Developing 48/100
10	Back Bay High Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	0.0%	Developing 46/100
11	Everett A. Rea Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	17.6%	Developing 44/100
12	Victoria Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	24.4%	Developing 44/100
13	Paularino Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	21.2%	Developing 40/100
14	College Park Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	15.5%	Developing 38/100
15	Pomona Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	12.9%	Developing 37/100
16	Monte Vista High/Cloud Campus Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	0.0%	Developing 32/100
17	Wilson Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	6.5%	Needs Support 27/100
18	Whittier Elementary Newport-Mesa Unified Building Momentum	7.4%	Needs Support 25/100

Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 18 schoolsMethodology · 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.

Private Schools in Costa Mesa

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.

Mariners Christian School

Brethren · Grades Pre-K-8 · 744 students

13:1Private

St. John the Baptist Catholic School

Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 492 students

12:1Private

The Waldorf School of Orange County

Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-12 · 277 students

9:1Private

Christ Lutheran School

Greek Orthodox · Grades Pre-K-8 · 222 students

14:1Private

Renascence School International

Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-9 · 140 students

7:1Private

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Costa Mesa

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 Costa Mesa good?

Costa Mesa's 13 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 46.5/100, which is 2.8 points above the state average. 24.4% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights seven dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), ELPAC proficiency (5%), suspension rate (5%), and baseline proficiency (3%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What is the best elementary school in Costa Mesa?

The highest-scoring elementary school in Costa Mesa is Maude B. Davis Elementary with a Scope Score of 70/100 and 49.7% 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 Costa Mesa schools compare to the state average?

Costa Mesa elementary schools average a Scope Score of 46.5/100 — 2.8 points above the state average of 43.8. The exceeded rate averages 24.4% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 13.9% vs. 18.1% statewide.

How many schools are in Costa Mesa?

Costa Mesa has 13 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 proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.

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