Total enrollment
429,950
+11,830 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
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).
4-year change in Orange County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
628
+55 (+10%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Orange County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In California | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 54.3% | #5 of 55 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 430,458 | #3 of 55 | #7 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 630 | #3 of 55 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 22.7:1 | #52 of 55 | #2,640 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 55.2% | #37 of 55 | #1,341 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 66.5% | #13 of 55 | #251 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Orange County school rankings
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
School enrollment
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 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 537 schools ranked. California state average: 49.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Oxford Academy· 98.5%
- Jack L. Weaver Elementary· 92.5%
- Ethan B. Allen Elementary· 91.0%
- Golden Elementary· 90.5%
- Tesoro High· 89.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Romero-Cruz Academy· 11.6%
- Pio Pico Elementary· 12.8%
- Willard Intermediate· 13.8%
- Lowell Elementary· 14.2%
- Franklin Elementary· 14.8%
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 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 429,950 students, expanded 3% from the 418,120 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Orange County opened 55 schools, going from 573 to 628.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data