Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Richard Henry Dana Elementary

Q: Is Richard Henry Dana Elementary a good school?

Richard Henry Dana Elementary ranks 1246 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1246^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 79% of California elementary schools

Summary

Richard Henry Dana Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 461 students in Dana Point, California, within the high-performing Capistrano Unified School District, and it stands out for its remarkable eight-year journey from a low-ranking to a solidly above-average 4-star school.

The school's most compelling story is its dramatic improvement, climbing from the 12th to the 79th percentile since 2016, a growth trajectory not seen at most nearby schools like Moulton Elementary or John Malcom Elementary, which have long maintained higher rankings. This progress coincides with better student attendance and a significantly improved student-teacher ratio. Notably, Richard Henry Dana Elementary shows particular strength in supporting students from low-income families and those experiencing homelessness, helping these groups achieve at high levels.

Parents should note some specific patterns: test scores show a notable drop in 5th-grade math compared to strong 3rd-grade results, and science scores, while above state average, lag behind the district. The school also has a puzzling performance gap, with male students scoring significantly higher than female students. Compared to neighbors, it outperforms schools like Kinoshita Elementary and San Juan Elementary but hasn't yet reached the top tier of schools like George White Elementary in its district.

461

Students ?

17.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,626

Per pupil spending ?

46.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

24242 La Cresta Dr.
Dana Point, CA 92629-2561

(949) 496-5784

District: Capistrano Unified

Students who attend Richard Henry Dana Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Marco Forster Middle
High:	Dana Hills High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

44.9%

White:

39.3%

Two or more races:

13.9%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Richard Henry Dana Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 35th percentile in 2013 → 79th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (58% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 21% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 44 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school58%

District avg65%

California avg41%

1,246^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 21%▲ up 27 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to top 21% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

25^th of 35Elementary Schools in the Capistrano Unified

193^rd of 1,543Capistrano Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	77.9	1246 of 5857	78.7%	★★★★☆
2024	59.1	2106 of 5869	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.5	2724 of 5859	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.9	2965 of 5883	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.9	3541 of 5789	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	21.8	4523 of 5662	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.1	5028 of 5692	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	36.6	3289 of 5614	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	45.5	2708 of 5611	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	36.0	3593 of 5530	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	33.8	3681 of 5390	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	52.3	2457 of 5377	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	72.0	1370 of 5314	74.2%	★★★★☆
2009	80.5	979 of 5193	81.1%	★★★★☆
2008	57.0	1999 of 5113	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	56.9	1976 of 5113	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	39.1	2761 of 4818	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	26.8	3493 of 4822	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	35.0	2940 of 4809	38.9%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	37.9	1964 of 3162	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.4	1583 of 3245	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.5	1286 of 3311	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.9	1404 of 3275	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	27.9	2536 of 3246	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	61.0	1910 of 5597	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.0	2665 of 5612	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.8	3019 of 5609	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.1	2752 of 5635	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.8	3294 of 5492	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.0	3999 of 5413	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	62.0	1613 of 5107	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.1	2001 of 5107	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.2	3127 of 5087	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.2	2434 of 5084	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.6	2519 of 4963	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.2	3538 of 4830	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	68.9	81 of 429	81.1%	★★★★☆
2024	61.4	97 of 364	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	35.5	225 of 335	32.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	74.1	1044 of 5460	80.9%	★★★★☆
2024	52.6	2222 of 5517	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.0	2494 of 5363	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	1785 of 5264	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.5	2299 of 5173	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	28.2	3894 of 5084	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	87.9	695 of 5628	87.7%	★★★★☆
2024	67.9	1613 of 5643	71.4%	★★★★☆
2023	52.9	2290 of 5638	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.9	2897 of 5663	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.3	3517 of 5510	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	18.6	4694 of 5431	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	84.5	252 of 2598	90.3%	★★★★★
2024	65.1	954 of 2651	64.0%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)90th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2025)88th percentile+9 vs school

Homeless (2025)81st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)81st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)68th percentile-10 vs school

Female (2025)66th percentile-13 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)38th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy63%+14 vs state

Mathematics57%+19 vs state

Science46%+13 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Richard Henry Dana Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a principal
Sunday, February 3, 2019

This school is changing into a Spanish dual immersion program with an environmental sustainability focus. Great teachers, a growing school community, 1:1 Chromebooks K-5, and much more makes this school a school of the future! Close Quote

Schools Near Richard Henry Dana Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Richard Henry Dana Elementary	Public	K-5	24242 La Cresta Dr.	Dana Point	92629	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 496-5784	461	26	17.7	46.2%	181 (39.3%)	2 (0.4%)	207 (44.9%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (13.9%)	77.9	1246^th of 5857 public elementary schools	78.7%		59.1	2106^th of 5869 public elementary schools	64.1%	860	45.8		45.8	63.6	65.3	60.4				63.2	70.7	57.1	39.6				56.8	96.7						$19,626	$1,630	$17,996
John Malcom Elementary	Public	K-5	32261 Charles Ave.	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 248-0542	553	23	24.0	24.6%	357 (64.6%)	4 (0.7%)	72 (13.0%)	14 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	106 (19.2%)	88.9	717^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.8%		86	907^th of 5869 public elementary schools	84.5%	190	53.9		53.9	71.8	67.6	77.5				72.7	69.4	74.7	55.7				66.0	97.1			97.1	97.1	97.1	$18,769	$1,249	$17,520
Del Obispo Elementary	Public	K-5	25591 Camino del Avion	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5905	310	15	20.6	68.4%	116 (37.4%)	0 (0.0%)	150 (48.4%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	38 (12.3%)	60.2	2063^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	64.8%		60.1	2062^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	64.9%	1	40.3		40.3	45.1	42.9	64.7				52.8	49.0	40.5	38.8				42.5	96.3			96.3		96.3	$21,778	$2,468	$19,310
Kinoshita Elementary	Public	K-5	2 Via Positiva	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 489-2131	302	14	22.3	91.4%	6 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	291 (96.4%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	19.2	4903^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	16.3%		19.7	4902^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	16.5%	1	10.7		10.7	17.8	32.7	33.9				28.9	22.2	22.0	17.9				20.6	96.1	97.4		97.4	97.4		$22,176	$2,278	$19,898
Capistrano Home/Virtual	Public, Virtual	K-8	32972 Calle Perfecto	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(949) 234-9374	82	5	17.3	31.7%	49 (59.8%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (19.5%)	5 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (13.4%)								(n/a)		47.5	47.8				76.2	90.9	65.9	72.0				61.9	72.7	43.9	54.0							$21,306	$979	$20,327
Palisades Elementary	Public	K-5	26462 Via Sacramento	Capistrano Beach	92624	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 496-5942	332	15	22.1	47.9%	181 (54.5%)	0 (0.0%)	89 (26.8%)	4 (1.2%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (16.6%)	80.6	1134^th of 5857 public elementary schools	80.6%		81.3	1096^th of 5869 public elementary schools	81.3%	38	53.7		53.7	65.1	52.3	69.1				62.0	53.5	70.5	58.5				60.9	93.3	96.2	98.1	93.3	94.2	94.2	$20,204	$1,376	$18,828
George White Elementary	Public	K-5	25422 Chapparosa Park Rd.	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 249-3875	378	16	23.6	36.2%	211 (55.8%)	0 (0.0%)	96 (25.4%)	9 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (16.4%)	87	825^th of 5857 public elementary schools	85.9%		80.7	1128^th of 5869 public elementary schools	80.8%	303	53.3		53.3	60.7	72.4	73.3				68.7	63.5	72.4	61.7				65.8	96.8				96.8		$20,180	$1,807	$18,373
San Juan Elementary	Public	K-5	31642 El Camino Real	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 493-4533	662	25	26.4	73.4%	70 (10.6%)	5 (0.8%)	557 (84.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.2%)	27.6	4161^st of 5857 public elementary schools	29.0%		19.2	4925^th of 5869 public elementary schools	16.1%	764	12.3		12.3	28.6	37.5	34.5				33.3	27.3	33.3	29.0				29.6	95.7	97.4		96.6	97.4	97.4	$18,777	$2,334	$16,443
Hidden Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	25142 Hidden Hills Rd.	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 495-0050	330	16	20.6	76.1%	58 (17.6%)	2 (0.6%)	223 (67.6%)	14 (4.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.7%)	44.3	2927^th of 5857 public elementary schools	50.0%		48.1	2658^th of 5869 public elementary schools	54.7%	269	24.6		24.6	50.0	43.2	37.0				43.2	37.3	48.9	29.8				37.9							$20,746	$2,492	$18,254
Moulton Elementary	Public	K-5	29851 Highlands Ave.	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5980	538	22	24.4	30.5%	331 (61.5%)	5 (0.9%)	85 (15.8%)	35 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	81 (15.1%)	88.9	721^st of 5857 public elementary schools	87.7%		88.9	758^th of 5869 public elementary schools	87.1%	37	55.0		55.0	75.8	65.9	65.9				69.2	75.8	78.0	57.1				70.3	97.3			97.3			$18,293	$1,339	$16,954

Frequently Asked Questions about Richard Henry Dana Elementary

What schools do graduates of Richard Henry Dana Elementary attend?

Students who attend Richard Henry Dana Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Marco Forster Middle
High : Dana Hills High

Is Richard Henry Dana Elementary a good school?

Richard Henry Dana Elementary ranks 1246^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Richard Henry Dana Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 461 students attended Richard Henry Dana Elementary.

What district is Richard Henry Dana Elementary in?

Capistrano Unified

What is the racial makeup of Richard Henry Dana Elementary?

Students at Richard Henry Dana Elementary are 45% Hispanic, 39% White, 14% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Rate Richard Henry Dana Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

CACalifornia Elementary School Rankings

CACalifornia District Rankings

Schools in Dana Point, CA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Richard Henry Dana Elementary!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.