Best Public Schools in Orange, CA

The city of Orange, California, is served by 28 public schools for the 2024-2025 school year, spanning grades K-12 across traditional, magnet, charter, and alternative programs, primarily within the Orange Unified district.

Academic performance varies widely, with standout schools like the charter Orange County Classical Academy and the magnet McPherson Magnet achieving some of the highest test scores and lowest chronic absenteeism rates. Among comprehensive high schools, El Modena High consistently outperforms others like Orange High in core subjects and graduation rates. However, several schools face significant challenges, including Cambridge Elementary and Richland Continuation High, which have much lower proficiency rates.

Key findings show that middle schools like Portola Middle often see a performance dip compared to elementary schools, and higher economic need, indicated by free/reduced lunch rates, is generally associated with lower academic outcomes, though exceptions like La Veta Elementary exist. The district average for chronic absenteeism is near the state average, but it ranges dramatically from 1.1% to over 77%, closely correlating with academic success.