allk12 · Rankings · Most improved · California · Orange County · Middle schools

The public middle schools with the most improved test scores in Orange County, California

84 public middle schools in Orange County, California appear in this ranking of the public middle schools with the most improved test scores, ranked by the 3-year gain in composite math + reading proficiency. Esencia Middle leads the list at +12.0pp, against a median of +2.2pp across the ranked schools.

The table below is sortable and filterable, and the full list downloads as a CSV. Figures come from federal NCES enrollment data and, where applicable, state assessment results for 2024-25.

Schools ranked

Orange County, California

Top 3-yr change

+12.0pp

Median 3-yr change

+2.2pp

MOST IMPROVED · ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

#	School	City	District	Students	3 yrs ago	Latest	Change
1	Esencia Middle	Rancho Mission Viejo, CA	Capistrano Unified	349	64.4%	76.4%	+12.0pp
2	Yorba Middle	Orange, CA	Orange Unified	418	25.1%	36.7%	+11.6pp
3	Isaac L. Sowers Middle	Huntington Beach, CA	Huntington Beach City Elementary	771	57.4%	68.4%	+11.0pp
4	Portola Middle	Orange, CA	Orange Unified	422	22.4%	32.7%	+10.3pp
5	Douglas MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate	Santa Ana, CA	Santa Ana Unified	1,005	32.2%	42.0%	+9.8pp
6	Yorba Linda Middle	Yorba Linda, CA	Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified	818	62.1%	71.5%	+9.4pp
7	Fred Newhart Middle	Mission Viejo, CA	Capistrano Unified	1,105	63.3%	72.6%	+9.2pp
8	Bernice Ayer Middle	San Clemente, CA	Capistrano Unified	919	62.7%	71.4%	+8.7pp
9	Marco Forster Middle	San Juan Capistrano, CA	Capistrano Unified	930	34.8%	43.0%	+8.3pp
10	Hilton D. Bell Intermediate	Garden Grove, CA	Garden Grove Unified	632	67.7%	76.0%	+8.3pp
11	Carl Hankey Middle	Mission Viejo, CA	Capistrano Unified	181	56.0%	63.9%	+8.0pp
12	Col. J. K. Tuffree Middle	Placentia, CA	Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified	566	57.3%	65.3%	+8.0pp
13	Gordon H. Beatty Middle	Buena Park, CA	Buena Park Elementary	641	42.8%	49.8%	+7.0pp
14	Leroy L. Doig Intermediate	Garden Grove, CA	Garden Grove Unified	557	36.1%	42.9%	+6.8pp
15	Brea Junior High	Brea, CA	Brea-Olinda Unified	921	58.4%	65.1%	+6.7pp
16	South Lake Middle	Irvine, CA	Irvine Unified	652	59.5%	66.2%	+6.7pp
17	Gonzalo Felicitas Mendez Fundamental Intermediate	Santa Ana, CA	Santa Ana Unified	1,234	33.1%	39.7%	+6.6pp
18	Shorecliffs Middle	San Clemente, CA	Capistrano Unified	634	47.8%	54.0%	+6.2pp
19	Venado Middle	Irvine, CA	Irvine Unified	506	67.0%	73.0%	+6.0pp
20	Valadez Middle School Academy	Placentia, CA	Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified	527	23.0%	28.8%	+5.7pp
21	Arroyo Vista Middle	Rancho Santa Margarita, CA	Capistrano Unified	329	73.6%	78.6%	+5.0pp
22	El Rancho Charter	Anaheim, CA	Orange Unified	1,144	68.8%	73.8%	+5.0pp
23	Thurston Middle	Laguna Beach, CA	Laguna Beach Unified	524	70.8%	75.7%	+4.9pp
24	Marine View Middle	Huntington Beach, CA	Ocean View	736	50.0%	54.8%	+4.9pp
25	Buena Park Middle	Buena Park, CA	Buena Park Elementary	633	21.2%	25.6%	+4.4pp
26	Louis Lake Intermediate	Garden Grove, CA	Garden Grove Unified	453	47.6%	52.0%	+4.4pp
27	Charles W. Tewinkle Middle	Costa Mesa, CA	Newport-Mesa Unified	501	33.7%	37.8%	+4.1pp
28	Stephen R. Fitz Intermediate	Santa Ana, CA	Garden Grove Unified	534	34.2%	37.9%	+3.8pp
29	Hewes Middle	Santa Ana, CA	Tustin Unified	929	53.2%	56.7%	+3.5pp
30	Sierra Vista Middle	Irvine, CA	Irvine Unified	1,282	77.6%	81.0%	+3.5pp
31	Raymond A. Villa Fundamental Intermediate	Santa Ana, CA	Santa Ana Unified	936	18.7%	21.9%	+3.2pp
32	Dale Junior High	Anaheim, CA	Anaheim Union High	1,002	22.0%	25.1%	+3.1pp
33	Masuda (Kazuo) Middle	Fountain Valley, CA	Fountain Valley Elementary	768	72.4%	75.4%	+3.0pp
34	Johnson Middle	Westminster, CA	Westminster	505	37.7%	40.7%	+3.0pp
35	Warner Middle	Westminster, CA	Westminster	846	48.3%	51.2%	+3.0pp
36	Aliso Viejo Middle	Aliso Viejo, CA	Capistrano Unified	803	65.7%	68.2%	+2.5pp
37	Helen Stacey Middle	Huntington Beach, CA	Westminster	947	56.3%	58.7%	+2.4pp
38	Vista del Mar Middle	San Clemente, CA	Capistrano Unified	499	71.4%	73.7%	+2.3pp
39	Kraemer Middle	Placentia, CA	Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified	889	60.7%	63.0%	+2.3pp
40	Willard Intermediate	Santa Ana, CA	Santa Ana Unified	390	7.9%	10.2%	+2.3pp
41	D. Russell Parks Junior High	Fullerton, CA	Fullerton Elementary	854	65.3%	67.4%	+2.2pp
42	Sarah McGarvin Intermediate	Westminster, CA	Garden Grove Unified	717	72.5%	74.6%	+2.2pp
43	Jeffrey Trail Middle	Irvine, CA	Irvine Unified	1,049	73.6%	75.7%	+2.1pp
44	Orangeview Junior High	Anaheim, CA	Anaheim Union High	612	26.1%	28.1%	+2.0pp
45	C. E. Utt Middle	Tustin, CA	Tustin Unified	554	33.1%	35.1%	+2.0pp
46	Washington Middle	La Habra, CA	La Habra City Elementary	580	36.6%	38.5%	+1.9pp
47	Las Flores Middle	Las Flores, CA	Capistrano Unified	593	71.3%	73.1%	+1.8pp
48	Oak Middle	Los Alamitos, CA	Los Alamitos Unified	998	71.3%	73.0%	+1.8pp
49	Nicolas Junior High	Fullerton, CA	Fullerton Elementary	539	26.6%	28.4%	+1.7pp
50	Donald S. Jordan Intermediate	Garden Grove, CA	Garden Grove Unified	551	60.8%	62.1%	+1.3pp

Page 1 of 2 · top 84 of 84 ranked. NCES + state assessment data, 2024-25.↓ Download full CSV

All schools in Orange County →

Most improved rankings at a wider scope

All California Nationwide

Other rankings for Orange County, California

Largest Most diverse Lowest ratio Highest proficiency Fastest growing Highest poverty Lowest poverty Highest ratio Fastest declining Lowest proficiency Most Hispanic Most Black Most White Most Asian Best in math Best in reading Biggest declines Most Native American Most Pacific Islander Most multiracial Most Hispanic (count)Most Black (count)Most White (count)Most Asian (count)Most Native American (count)Most Pacific Islander (count)Most multiracial (count)Smallest Most male Most female

All ranking categories →

DATA NOTICE

allk12 is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCES, the US Census Bureau, any state education agency or assessment program, or any other government agency. Source data is compiled from public records and provided "as is," without warranty of accuracy or completeness. You rely on it, and any analysis derived from it, at your own risk. See the full disclaimer.