Contact & Location
Enrollment & Schools
60
Total Schools
44,214
Total Enrollment
K-12
Grade Range
School Breakdown
36
Elementary
Schools
14
Middle
Schools
10
High
Schools
Rating Distribution
712%
610%
4578%
School Types
By Type
Public
59Charter
1Private
0By Level
Elementary
36Middle
14High
10Demographics (Aggregated)
Ethnicity Breakdown
White
49%
Hispanic / Latino
28%
Two or More Races
8%
Asian
7%
Black / African American
2%
Gender Distribution
52%Male
48%Female
Free / Reduced Lunch
30%Students Eligible
vs. State Average
60%
Academic Performance (Aggregated)
Average Academic Performance
7.9
out of 10Average ACT Score
26.0
(out of 36)
Average SAT Score
—
(out of 1600)
Average Graduation Rate
92%
Students
AP / IB / Dual Enrollment
20%
Students
School Performance Summary
Below Average
12% (7)
Average
10% (6)
Above Average
78% (45)
Capistrano Unified School District is committed to excellence, equity, and preparing every student for a successful future.
Schools in Capistrano Unified School District
60 schoolsElementary Schools
(36)8.48.49.87.89.39.74.78.85.28.69.28.26.73.98.41.49.39.19.36.14.18.58.48.69.57.39.67.2—2.38.59.65.79.39.36.5
Arroyo Vista Elementary School
Elementarypublic•508 students
Bathgate Elementary School
Elementarypublic•570 students
Canyon Vista Elementary School
Elementarypublic•533 students
Carl Hankey Elementary School
Elementarypublic•284 students
Castille Elementary School
Elementarypublic•482 students
Chaparral Elementary School
Elementarypublic•604 students
Clarence Lobo Elementary School
Elementarypublic•328 students
Concordia Elementary School
Elementarypublic•533 students
Del Obispo Elementary School
Elementarypublic•310 students
Don Juan Avila Elementary School
Elementarypublic•672 students
Esencia TK-8
Elementarypublic•996 students
George White Elementary School
Elementarypublic•378 students
Harold Ambuehl Elementary School
Elementarypublic•324 students
Hidden Hills Elementary School
Elementarypublic•330 students
John Malcom Elementary School
Elementarypublic•553 students
Kinoshita Elementary School
Elementarypublic•302 students
Ladera Ranch Elementary School
Elementarypublic•580 students
Laguna Niguel Elementary School
Elementarypublic•456 students
Las Flores Elementary School
Elementarypublic•328 students
Las Palmas Elementary School
Elementarypublic•743 students
Marblehead Elementary School
Elementarypublic•195 students
Marian Bergeson Elementary School
Elementarypublic•423 students
Moulton Elementary School
Elementarypublic•538 students
Oak Grove Elementary School
Elementarypublic•569 students
Oso Grande Elementary School
Elementarypublic•867 students
Palisades Elementary School
Elementarypublic•332 students
Philip J. Reilly Elementary
Elementarypublic•421 students
Richard Henry Dana Elementary School
Elementarypublic•461 students
Richard Henry Dana Exceptional Needs School
Elementarypublic•30 students
San Juan Elementary School
Elementarypublic•662 students
Tijeras Creek Elementary School
Elementarypublic•315 students
Truman Benedict Elementary School
Elementarypublic•602 students
Viejo Elementary School
Elementarypublic•447 students
Vista Del Mar Elementary School
Elementarypublic•692 students
Wagon Wheel Elementary School
Elementarypublic•441 students
Wood Canyon Elementary School
Elementarypublic•425 students
Middle Schools
(14)9.09.79.28.18.69.19.69.79.35.49.38.57.39.3
Aliso Viejo Middle School
Middlepublic•803 students
Arroyo Vista Middle School
Middlepublic•329 students
Bernice Ayer Middle School
Middlepublic•919 students
Capistrano Home School
Middlepublic•82 students
Carl Hankey Middle School
Middlepublic•181 students
Don Juan Avila Middle School
Middlepublic•863 students
Esencia Middle
Middlepublic•349 students
Ladera Ranch Middle School
Middlepublic•1,064 students
Las Flores Middle School
Middlepublic•593 students
Marco Forster Middle School
Middlepublic•930 students
Newhart Middle School
Middlepublic•1,105 students
Niguel Hills Middle School
Middlepublic•693 students
Shorecliffs Middle School
Middlepublic•634 students
Vista Del Mar Middle School
Middlepublic•499 students
High Schools
(10)9.2—4.57.31.49.08.39.09.39.7
Aliso Niguel High School
Highpublic•2,563 students
Bridges Community Day School
Highpublic•12 students
California Connections Academy at Capistrano
Highcharter•3,933 students
California Preparatory Academy
Highpublic•198 students
Capistrano Union High School
Highpublic•103 students
Capistrano Valley High School
Highpublic•1,991 students
Dana Hills High School
Highpublic•1,725 students
San Clemente High School
Highpublic•2,740 students
San Juan Hills High School
Highpublic•2,641 students
Tesoro High School
Highpublic•2,030 students
Reported Incidents
Report an IncidentCommunity-reported and third-party-sourced concerns. All incidents are allegations, not established facts.
Inappropriate TeachingPolitical / IdeologicalModerateAdded 1mo ago
District Implements Bias Training
Alleged incident in Capistrano Unified School District · California
Capistrano Unified School District has a Cultural Proficiency Plan. This plan includes training for teachers on implicit and unconscious bias. The district also outlines anti-bias training for students.
Occurred on November 14, 2021Source: Defending Education IndoctriNation Map
Inappropriate TeachingPolitical / IdeologicalLowAdded 1mo ago
Parents challenge school curriculum
Alleged incident in Capistrano Unified School District · California
A parent organization in the Capistrano Unified School District was formed to inform parents about and oppose comprehensive sex education curricula. The group's mission is to uphold family values and protect children's rights regarding school content. They aim to be counted among groups committed to these principles.
Occurred on January 6, 2022Source: Defending Education IndoctriNation Map
Data aggregated from 60 schools in Capistrano Unified School District.
Source: GreatSchools, U.S. Department of Education, and school surveys.
Last updated: May 1, 2026Source: GreatSchools, U.S. Department of Education, and school surveys.