Valadez Middle School Academy

Located at 161 East La Jolla St., in Placentia, California, Valadez Middle School Academy is a close-knit middle-grades school that works with 527 students (grades 6 through 8), overseen by Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified. Compared to the state average of about 659 students per school, that is 20% below typical.

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified runs 34 schools in total, collectively educating 22,665 students. Valadez Middle School Academy is one of those campuses.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Valadez Middle School Academy records that the student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic (94%). The remainder consists of 2% White, 2% Asian. By comparison, Orange County as a whole is about 34% Hispanic, so the school skews visibly more Hispanic than its surroundings.

Looking at the economic backdrop, The school currently runs with 27 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 19.9:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 20.7:1, putting Valadez Middle School Academy tighter than the state norm the norm. An estimated 96% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Orange County runs at roughly 55%, so the school's eligibility rate is higher than the surrounding baseline.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Valadez Middle School Academy sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 22.4%; this one delivers 22.9%.

In the broader community, ACS estimates for Orange County put median household income runs about $116,289, 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. Across Orange County's 649 public schools (combined enrollment of about 430,458 students), Valadez Middle School Academy is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Melrose Elementary, around 0.1 miles off. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Valadez Middle School Academy at 7th of 9; the average score across the group is 37.8%.

The school occupies an outer-ring site.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Valadez Middle School Academy has shrank 15%, going from 620 students in 2018 to 527 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio pulled in from 21.6:1 in 2018 to 19.9:1 today.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.