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

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its California rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Capistrano Union High

Public Grades 9-12

2073^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,135 California High Schools

Better than 3% of California high schools

Summary

Capistrano Union High is a small high school in San Juan Capistrano, in south Orange County, serving 103 students in grades 9–12 as part of the Capistrano Unified district. Its small enrollment and low student-teacher ratio contrast with much weaker outcomes than those at nearby high schools. The most important concern is that proficiency is very low across all three tested subjects, while chronic absenteeism is exceptionally high.

Compared with the state, district and six nearby same-district high schools serving grades 9–12, test results are the school’s clearest weakness: 2025–2026 proficiency was 12% in English language arts, 0% in math and 3% in science, versus peer averages of 73%, 51% and 56%, respectively. The school was lowest among those peers in each subject; its results were also 38, 38 and 33 percentage points below state results, and 59, 62 and 56 points below district results. Chronic absenteeism was another major concern at 44%, compared with 18% statewide, 14% districtwide and a 20% peer average. A relative strength is graduation: the school’s 94% rate was about 7 points above the state and 2 points above the district.

Results have remained challenging over time: from 2022–2023 to 2025–2026, proficiency fell by 2 points in ELA, 1 point in math and 4 points in science, while the overall SchoolDigger percentile dropped from 19 to 3. For 2025–2026, SchoolDigger ranked the school 2,075th of 2,137 California schools, in the 3rd percentile with zero stars; the six nearby comparable high schools ranked in the 78th–93rd percentiles. Context includes a student-teacher ratio of 8.6 in 2024–2025, compared with 21.5–23.6 at those peers, and 85% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–2025, versus 23%–42% among those peers. SchoolDigger’s English Language Learner Students ranking rose from the 30th percentile in 2022–2023 to the 64th in 2023–2024, when the school’s overall percentile was 13—a notably stronger relative standing in SchoolDigger’s measure for that group.

103

Students ?

8.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$58,764

Per pupil spending ?

84.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

31422 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2600

(949) 489-7216

District: Capistrano Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

72.8%

White:

21.4%

African American:

2.9%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Capistrano Union High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 13th percentile in 2016 → 3rd in 2026

Strengths

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (5% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 18% California)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school5%

District avg65%

California avg42%

2,073^rd of 2,135

California public high schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From bottom 13% (2016) to bottom 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 8High Schools in the Capistrano Unified

205^th of 1,530Capistrano 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
2026	7.6	2073 of 2135	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.5	1756 of 2162	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.0	1888 of 2159	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	1877 of 2170	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.4	1697 of 2123	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.6	1116 of 1290	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.0	1694 of 2133	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.5	1571 of 2017	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	13.8	1631 of 2021	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	11.4	1772 of 2039	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	14.6	1608 of 1994	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	19.4	1675 of 2426	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	25.9	1422 of 2354	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	29.0	1344 of 2367	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	25.4	1411 of 2281	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	40.6	999 of 2238	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	28.5	1215 of 2117	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	35.3	1009 of 2063	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	27.9	1155 of 1968	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	32.3	985 of 1901	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2004	14.3	1499 of 1653	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	47.7	392 of 1085	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	33.1	741 of 1064	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.0	428 of 467	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	25.6	899 of 941	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	25.4	739 of 938	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	6.1	1821 of 1864	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.7	1687 of 1906	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.2	1675 of 1915	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.8	1764 of 1915	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	25.6	1374 of 1858	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.6	973 of 1054	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.5	1542 of 1833	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.8	1458 of 1760	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	7.6	1823 of 1880	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.6	1586 of 1900	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.2	1623 of 1902	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.3	1678 of 1917	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.2	1526 of 1861	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	14.8	1520 of 1814	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.8	1413 of 1742	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	23.5	325 of 410	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.3	299 of 328	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.8	284 of 299	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.5	266 of 290	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	7.4	1950 of 1997	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.9	1625 of 2013	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.4	1748 of 2026	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.2	1821 of 2030	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.5	1539 of 1943	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.6	1015 of 1126	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.6	1686 of 1937	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.6	1493 of 1862	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	7.4	1860 of 1930	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	18.3	1554 of 1942	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.8	1751 of 1948	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.1	1655 of 1963	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.8	1637 of 1916	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.1	991 of 1122	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.7	1536 of 1880	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.4	1435 of 1834	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	4.4	174 of 175	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.0	164 of 168	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	1.7	1115 of 1130	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.0	1066 of 1155	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	2.9	1151 of 1173	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.8	1133 of 1193	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.6	1135 of 1204	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.4	1119 of 1222	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	13.1	1011 of 1173	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)64th percentile+51 vs school

Homeless (2025)21st percentile~ school

Male (2026)4th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)3rd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)2nd percentile~ school

White (2026)1st percentile~ school

Military Connected (2025)1st percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy12%-38 vs state

Science3%-33 vs state

Mathematics0%-38 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Capistrano Union High and help other families decide.

Rate Capistrano Union High

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

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Capistrano Union High

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Capistrano Union High	Public	9-12	31422 Camino Capistrano	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 489-7216	103	12	8.6	84.5%	22 (21.4%)	3 (2.9%)	75 (72.8%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)	7.6	2073^rd of 2135 public high schools	2.9%		16.5	1756^th of 2162 public high schools	18.8%	317		0.0		2.6			11.6	11.6		0.0	0.0	$58,764	$54,874	$3,890
OCASA College Prep	Public, Charter	6-12	31522 El Camino Real	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	OCASA College Prep District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 269-3290	83	7	11.9	33.7%	42 (50.6%)	1 (1.2%)	28 (33.7%)	3 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (10.8%)								(n/a)												$61,731	$55,474	$6,257
Bridges Community Day	Public	6-12	31576 El Camino Real	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5302	12	3	3.7	25.0%	6 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (8.3%)								(n/a)												$70,836	$69,828	$1,008
Opportunities for Learning - Capistrano	Public, Charter	7-12	31878 Del Obispo St. Ste. 105	San Juan Capistrano	91706	Los Angeles County	Opportunities for Learning - Capistrano District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 248-1282	185	9	20.5	52.4%	80 (43.2%)	3 (1.6%)	59 (31.9%)	11 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (14.1%)	61.8	781^st of 2135 public high schools	63.4%		54.4	941^st of 2162 public high schools	56.5%	160		35.1	48.2	39.3			50.0	51.6		31.7	32.8
California Preparatory Academy	Public, Virtual	9-12	32972 Calle Perfecto	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(949) 234-5317	198	9	22.9	22.7%	139 (70.2%)	2 (1.0%)	25 (12.6%)	6 (3.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	23 (11.6%)	84.2	313^th of 2135 public high schools	85.3%		74.4	501^st of 2162 public high schools	76.8%	188		51.3		52.0			68.3	68.3		50.9	50.9	$23,965	$23,178	$787
College and Career Advantage	Public	8-12	33122 Valle Rd.	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	College and Career Advantage	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(949) 234-9464	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
San Juan Hills High	Public	9-12	29211 Stallion Ridge	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5900	2,641	114	23.2	38.1%	1,317 (49.9%)	19 (0.7%)	900 (34.1%)	164 (6.2%)	3 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	230 (8.7%)	90.4	197^th of 2135 public high schools	90.8%		93.3	137^th of 2162 public high schools	93.7%	60		62.1		61.6			74.2	74.2		53.6	53.6	$17,380	$16,388	$992
Capistrano Valley High	Public	9-12	26301 Via Escolar	Mission Viejo	92692	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 364-6100	1,991	91	21.7	40.5%	894 (44.9%)	27 (1.4%)	621 (31.2%)	204 (10.2%)	4 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	233 (11.7%)	87.7	251^st of 2135 public high schools	88.2%		90.7	187^th of 2162 public high schools	91.4%	64		58.7		58.6			71.6	71.6		49.9	49.9	$18,521	$17,482	$1,039
Dana Hills High	Public	9-12	33333 Golden Lantern	Dana Point	92629	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 496-6666	1,725	80	21.5	42.0%	898 (52.1%)	11 (0.6%)	599 (34.7%)	68 (3.9%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	141 (8.2%)	77.3	463^rd of 2135 public high schools	78.3%		80.2	405^th of 2162 public high schools	81.3%	58		47.1	0.0	45.6			64.2	64.2		43.8	43.8	$19,845	$18,822	$1,023
Aliso Niguel High	Public	9-12	28000 Wolverine Way	Aliso Viejo	92656	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 831-5590	2,563	109	23.5	33.1%	1,262 (49.2%)	23 (0.9%)	553 (21.6%)	444 (17.3%)	4 (0.2%)	3 (0.1%)	269 (10.5%)	92.4	147^th of 2135 public high schools	93.1%		92.9	149^th of 2162 public high schools	93.1%	2		65.2	45.5	64.8			79.2	79.2		53.9	53.9	$18,007	$17,020	$987

Frequently Asked Questions about Capistrano Union High

Is Capistrano Union High a good school?

Capistrano Union High ranks in the bottom 2.9% of California high schools.

How many students attend Capistrano Union High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 103 students attended Capistrano Union High.

What is the racial makeup of Capistrano Union High?

Students at Capistrano Union High are 73% Hispanic, 21% White, 3% African American, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Capistrano Union High in?

Capistrano Unified

Rate Capistrano Union High!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

CACalifornia High School Rankings

CACalifornia District Rankings

Schools in San Juan Capistrano, CA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Capistrano Union High!

Latest California data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

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.