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Orange County

California · Public K-12

Across all districts in Orange County, public schools number 649 and enroll approximately 430,458 K-12 students (422 elementary, 88 middle, and 111 high).

7-year change in Orange County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
429,950
-56,900 (-12%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
628
+17 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
22%
was 26%
% Hispanic
49%
was 49%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
21%
was 18%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
3,165,820
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
649
80 districts
Enrollment
430,458
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$116,289
Above California avg
Free/reduced lunch
55.2%
Below California avg
Elementary
422
206,904 students
Middle
88
64,781 students
High
111
143,989 students
Combined / other
28
14,784 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Capistrano Unified
40,251 students · 80 districts in Orange County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Orange County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
43%
Hispanic
34%
Black
2%
Asian
22%
Two or more
18%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
22%
Hispanic
49%
Black
1%
Asian
21%
Two or more
7%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
44.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.4%
civilian labor
Median age
39
21.0% under 18

Test scores in Orange County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 539 schools ranked. California state average: 47.6%.

See all 539 schools in Orange County ranked by score →

All schools (649)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Cadence ParkIrvineElementaryKG-08965·
Legacy Magnet AcademyTustinHigh06-12964·
Oak Creek ElementaryIrvineElementaryKG-06963·
Melinda Heights ElementaryRancho Santa MargaritaElementaryKG-06950·
Portola Springs ElementaryIrvineElementaryKG-06948·
Helen Stacey MiddleHuntington BeachMiddle06-08947·
Raymond A. Villa Fundamental IntermediateSanta AnaMiddle06-08936·
Marco Forster MiddleSan Juan CapistranoMiddle06-08930·
Hewes MiddleSanta AnaMiddle06-08929·
Brea Junior HighBreaMiddle07-08921·
Bernice Ayer MiddleSan ClementeMiddle06-08919·
Santiago ElementarySanta AnaElementaryKG-08906·
Patton ElementaryGarden GroveElementaryKG-06904·
Ralph A. Gates DLI Magnet ElementaryLake ForestElementaryKG-06896·
Ocia A. Peters ElementaryGarden GroveElementaryKG-06893·
Robert C. Fisler ElementaryFullertonElementaryKG-08892·
Walker Junior HighLa PalmaMiddle07-08890·
Kraemer MiddlePlacentiaMiddle07-08889·
Gerald P. Carr IntermediateSanta AnaMiddle06-08886·
Ethel Dwyer MiddleHuntington BeachMiddle06-08884·
Turtle Rock ElementaryIrvineElementaryKG-06881·
Westpark ElementaryIrvineElementaryKG-06876·
Horace Ensign IntermediateNewport BeachMiddle07-08875·
Beechwood ElementaryFullertonElementaryKG-08872·
Serrano IntermediateLake ForestMiddle07-08868·
Oso Grande ElementaryLadera RanchElementaryKG-05867·
Don Juan Avila MiddleAliso ViejoMiddle06-08863·
McPherson MagnetOrangeElementaryKG-08863·
Rancho San Joaquin MiddleIrvineMiddle07-08860·
D. Russell Parks Junior HighFullertonMiddle07-08854·
Warner MiddleWestminsterMiddle06-08846·
Samueli AcademySanta AnaHigh07-12842·
Vista VerdeIrvineElementaryKG-08837·
Plaza VistaIrvineElementaryKG-08835·
Golden ElementaryPlacentiaElementaryKG-06834·
Hicks Canyon ElementaryIrvineElementaryKG-05830·
Romero-Cruz AcademySanta AnaElementaryKG-08827·
Ladera Vista Junior High School of the ArtsFullertonMiddle07-08820·
Yorba Linda MiddleYorba LindaMiddle06-08818·
Greenville Fundamental ElementarySanta AnaElementaryKG-05817·
Mesa View MiddleHuntington BeachMiddle06-08817·
Laguna Beach HighLaguna BeachHigh09-12815·
Manuel Esqueda ElementarySanta AnaElementaryKG-08811·
Portola Hills ElementaryTrabuco CanyonElementaryKG-06809·
Crescent ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06805·
Aliso Viejo MiddleAliso ViejoMiddle06-08803·
Fairmont ElementaryYorba LindaElementaryKG-06794·
Ponderosa ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06785·
Martin R. Heninger ElementarySanta AnaElementaryKG-08783·
Community Roots AcademyLaguna NiguelElementaryKG-08780·
Isaac L. Sowers MiddleHuntington BeachMiddle06-08771·
Alderwood ElementaryIrvineElementaryKG-06770·
Masuda (Kazuo) MiddleFountain ValleyMiddle06-08768·
Loma Ridge ElementaryIrvineElementaryKG-06766·
Canyon View ElementaryIrvineElementaryKG-06764·
Fulton (Harry C.) MiddleFountain ValleyMiddle06-08753·
Orange County School of Computer ScienceYorba LindaMiddle06-08753·
Madison ElementarySanta AnaElementaryKG-06749·
Cerro Villa MiddleVilla ParkMiddle07-08747·
Las Palmas ElementarySan ClementeElementaryKG-05743·
Lincoln (Abraham) ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06740·
Orange County Classical AcademyOrangeCombinedKG-12740·
Jim Thorpe FundamentalSanta AnaElementaryKG-05738·
Ball Junior HighAnaheimMiddle07-08737·
Marine View MiddleHuntington BeachMiddle06-08736·
Ross (Betsy) ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06731·
Brookhurst Junior HighAnaheimMiddle07-08724·
Vista View MiddleFountain ValleyMiddle06-08724·
J. H. McGaugh ElementarySeal BeachElementaryKG-05721·
Sarah McGarvin IntermediateWestminsterMiddle07-08717·
Dr. Peter MarshallAnaheimElementaryKG-06714·
La Paz IntermediateMission ViejoMiddle07-08713·
Edison (Thomas) ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06705·
Mann (Horace) ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06705·
Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange CountyMission ViejoElementaryKG-05704·
Sunset Lane ElementaryFullertonElementaryKG-06700·
California iInspire AcademyOrangeElementaryKG-06699·
Sierra Preparatory AcademySanta AnaElementaryKG-08697·
Niguel Hills MiddleLaguna NiguelMiddle06-08693·
Vista del Mar ElementarySan ClementeElementaryKG-05692·
Talbert (Samuel E.) MiddleHuntington BeachMiddle06-08690·
John Murdy ElementaryGarden GroveElementaryKG-06689·
Marshall (John) ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06688·
Harbour View ElementaryHuntington BeachElementaryKG-05677·
Lampson ElementaryGarden GroveElementaryKG-06676·
Roosevelt Walker AcademySanta AnaElementaryKG-05675·
Don Juan Avila ElementaryAliso ViejoElementaryKG-05672·
Sunkist ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06665·
Roosevelt (Theodore) ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06663·
Margaret Landell ElementaryCypressElementaryKG-06662·
San Juan ElementarySan Juan CapistranoElementaryKG-05662·
Acacia ElementaryFullertonElementaryKG-06661·
Excel Academy CharterIrvineCombinedKG-12660·
South Lake MiddleIrvineMiddle07-08652·
Frank Vessels ElementaryCypressElementaryKG-06650·
Olinda ElementaryBreaElementaryKG-06649·
Eastwood ElementaryIrvineElementaryKG-06647·
Rio Vista ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-05647·
Charles G. Emery ElementaryBuena ParkElementaryKG-05646·
Stoddard (Alexander J.) ElementaryAnaheimElementaryKG-06644·

Cities in Orange County

Santa Ana82 schoolsAnaheim72 schoolsIrvine53 schoolsGarden Grove52 schoolsHuntington Beach32 schoolsCosta Mesa29 schoolsOrange29 schoolsFullerton26 schoolsMission Viejo23 schoolsWestminster19 schoolsPlacentia18 schoolsTustin18 schoolsSan Juan Capistrano16 schoolsFountain Valley15 schoolsBuena Park14 schoolsLa Habra14 schoolsYorba Linda12 schoolsBrea10 schoolsLake Forest10 schoolsNewport Beach10 schoolsSan Clemente10 schoolsAliso Viejo9 schoolsCypress9 schoolsLaguna Niguel9 schoolsLos Alamitos8 schoolsRancho Santa Margarita8 schoolsLa Palma5 schoolsDana Point4 schoolsLadera Ranch4 schoolsLaguna Beach4 schoolsLaguna Hills4 schoolsVilla Park4 schoolsTrabuco Canyon3 schoolsCorona Del Mar2 schoolsLas Flores2 schoolsMidway City2 schoolsRancho Mission Viejo2 schoolsStanton2 schoolsCapistrano Beach1 schoolCoto De Caza1 schoolFoothill Ranch1 schoolSeal Beach1 school

About Orange County

Orange County is a wide-reaching county of about 3,165,820 residents in California. Its public-school system serves approximately 430,458 students across 649 schools.

Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $116,289, roughly 44% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 30% meaningfully above the California median.

In terms of grade levels, Orange County is built around 422 elementary schools (206,904 students), 88 middle schools (64,781), 111 high schools (143,989), and 28 combined or other schools.

Capistrano Unified dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 40,251 students on its own.

Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 429,950 students, contracted 12% from the 486,850 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Orange County opened 17 schools, going from 611 to 628. The White share of public-school enrollment declined from 26% to 22%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Orange County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Orange County?
There are 649 public K-12 schools in Orange County, California, with a combined enrollment of about 430,458.
How many high schools are in Orange County?
Orange County, California has 111 public high schools, serving approximately 143,989 students.
How many middle schools are in Orange County?
Orange County, California has 88 public middle schools, serving approximately 64,781 students.
How many elementary schools are in Orange County?
Orange County, California has 422 public elementary schools, serving approximately 206,904 students.
What is the largest school district in Orange County?
Capistrano Unified is the largest school district in Orange County, serving approximately 40,251 students. The county contains 80 school districts overall.
How many people live in Orange County?
Orange County has roughly 3,165,820 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Orange County?
Median household income in Orange County is $116,289, above the California average of $89,387. About 6.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Orange County?
Approximately 44.1% of adults 25 and older in Orange County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Orange County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 55.2% of students in Orange County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the California county average of 60.6%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Orange County schools?
Across Orange County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 23.3 to 1.

Orange County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data