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John Malcom Elementary

Q: Is John Malcom Elementary a good school?

John Malcom Elementary ranks 717 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

717^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 88% of California elementary schools

Summary

John Malcom Elementary is a highly-rated K-5 public school serving 553 students in the Capistrano Unified School District in Laguna Niguel, consistently ranking in the top 15% of all California elementary schools.

The school stands out for its strong academic results, with over 72% of students proficient in English and 66% in math, significantly outperforming state averages. What makes John Malcom Elementary particularly noteworthy is its exceptional success with students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who perform in the top 5% statewide. This "equitable excellence" is a key strength, as the school effectively supports all learners to achieve at high levels. Furthermore, the school maintains better student attendance than most nearby schools and the district average.

When compared to other local schools, a clear pattern emerges. John Malcom Elementary forms a high-performing cluster with Moulton Elementary and George White Elementary, while other nearby schools like San Juan Elementary and Kinoshita Elementary face greater academic challenges. John Malcom also holds its own against local charter options like Community Roots Academy. An area for potential focus is 5th-grade math, where scores are lower than in other grades, but overall, the school demonstrates a decade of stable, high performance.

553

Students ?

24.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,017

Per pupil spending ?

24.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

32261 Charles Ave.
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-4258

(949) 248-0542

District: Capistrano Unified

Students who attend John Malcom Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Niguel Hills Middle
High:	Dana Hills High

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.6%

Two or more races:

19.2%

Hispanic:

13.0%

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Compare John Malcom Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 85th percentile in 2013 → 88th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (67% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of California elementary schools

Worth a look

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

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school67%

District avg65%

California avg41%

717^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 12%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^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	88.9	717 of 5857	87.8%	★★★★☆
2024	86.0	907 of 5869	84.5%	★★★★☆
2023	90.2	697 of 5859	88.1%	★★★★☆
2022	84.7	953 of 5883	83.8%	★★★★☆
2019	87.1	789 of 5789	86.4%	★★★★☆
2018	86.8	809 of 5662	85.7%	★★★★☆
2017	90.1	639 of 5692	88.8%	★★★★☆
2016	88.3	722 of 5614	87.1%	★★★★☆
2015	90.6	590 of 5611	89.5%	★★★★☆
2013	83.6	845 of 5530	84.7%	★★★★☆
2012	85.7	689 of 5390	87.2%	★★★★☆
2011	90.4	415 of 5377	92.3%	★★★★★
2010	84.5	752 of 5314	85.8%	★★★★☆
2009	85.8	720 of 5193	86.1%	★★★★☆
2008	82.3	865 of 5113	83.1%	★★★★☆
2007	84.9	756 of 5113	85.2%	★★★★☆
2006	85.3	720 of 4818	85.1%	★★★★☆
2005	79.7	932 of 4822	80.7%	★★★★☆
2004	79.4	918 of 4809	80.9%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	96.3	73 of 2585	97.2%	★★★★★
2018	96.9	65 of 2128	96.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	86.6	777 of 5597	86.1%	★★★★☆
2024	86.2	821 of 5612	85.4%	★★★★☆
2023	90.0	625 of 5609	88.9%	★★★★☆
2022	85.2	859 of 5635	84.8%	★★★★☆
2019	83.8	880 of 5492	84.0%	★★★★☆
2018	80.7	1005 of 5413	81.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	100.0	3 of 5084	99.9%	★★★★★
2019	93.3	184 of 4963	96.3%	★★★★★
2018	94.8	135 of 4830	97.2%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	91.9	287 of 5460	94.7%	★★★★★
2024	89.6	464 of 5517	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	90.5	367 of 5363	93.2%	★★★★★
2022	74.3	990 of 5264	81.2%	★★★★☆
2019	86.5	427 of 5173	91.7%	★★★★★
2018	85.9	453 of 5084	91.1%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	87.4	723 of 5628	87.2%	★★★★☆
2024	83.3	954 of 5643	83.1%	★★★★☆
2023	88.3	707 of 5638	87.5%	★★★★☆
2022	81.8	1025 of 5663	81.9%	★★★★☆
2019	87.8	696 of 5510	87.4%	★★★★☆
2018	89.0	627 of 5431	88.5%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	65.6	261 of 718	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.5	402 of 670	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.2	456 of 669	31.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	67.0	619 of 2847	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	58.8	743 of 2635	71.8%	★★★★☆
2023	51.4	876 of 2420	63.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	66.0	906 of 2598	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.2	1058 of 2651	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.0	659 of 2661	75.2%	★★★★☆
2022	60.2	1154 of 2726	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.8	1106 of 2834	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.6	1019 of 2737	62.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2022)100th percentile+16 vs school

Disabled (2019)97th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)95th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)87th percentile~ school

Female (2025)86th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)78th percentile-10 vs school

White (2025)65th percentile-23 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)64th percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy73%+24 vs state

Mathematics66%+29 vs state

Science54%+21 vs state

5.0

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Schools Near John Malcom Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	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/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	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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	$18,017	$17,230	$787
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	$23,977	$22,504	$1,473
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		$26,719	$25,714	$1,005
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					$20,759	$19,600	$1,159
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		$22,081	$20,540	$1,541
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						$27,463	$26,676	$787
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						$20,482	$18,224	$2,258
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			$17,981	$17,194	$787
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	$17,826	$16,994	$832
Community Roots Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	29292 Crown Valley Pkwy.	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Community Roots Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 831-4272	780	49	15.8	13.5%	501 (64.2%)	1 (0.1%)	116 (14.9%)	46 (5.9%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	112 (14.4%)	86.7	834^th of 5857 public elementary schools	85.8%		85.5	929^th of 5869 public elementary schools	84.2%	95	54.1	57.8	55.8	76.1	74.7	77.4	70.7	58.6	76.1	72.7	75.0	50.6	58.8	50.7	43.7	52.9	55.8	96.7

Frequently Asked Questions about John Malcom Elementary

Is John Malcom Elementary a good school?

John Malcom Elementary ranks 717^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend John Malcom Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 553 students attended John Malcom Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of John Malcom Elementary?

Students at John Malcom Elementary are 65% White, 19% Two or more races, 13% Hispanic, 3% Asian.

What schools do graduates of John Malcom Elementary attend?

Students who attend John Malcom Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Niguel Hills Middle
High : Dana Hills High

What district is John Malcom Elementary in?

Capistrano Unified

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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.