Bernice Ayer Middle

Summary:

Bernice Ayer Middle is a public middle school located in San Clemente, California, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 883 students. It is part of the Capistrano Unified School District, which is ranked 204 out of 1,568 districts in California and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bernice Ayer Middle consistently performs above the state and district averages in standardized test scores across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 70.29% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy, compared to 70.24% for the Capistrano Unified district and 47.04% for the state of California. In Mathematics, Bernice Ayer Middle had 66.55% of students proficient or better, compared to 60.54% for the district and 35.54% for the state. The school also excels in the performance of various student subgroups, ranking highly in the state for White students, Multi-racial students, and Special Education students.

While Bernice Ayer Middle has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (39.75% in 2022-2023) compared to some of the nearby schools, it still maintains strong academic performance, suggesting the school is effectively supporting students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The school has consistently ranked among the top middle schools in California, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger in several recent school years, indicating a sustained commitment to academic excellence.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 1271 Sarmentoso
       San Clemente, CA  92673


(949) 366-9607

District: Capistrano Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
249th of 2,777 California Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,933 Help


Students who attend Bernice Ayer Middle usually attend:

High:    San Clemente High

Feeder schools for Bernice Ayer Middle:

Elementary:    Clarence Lobo Elementary
    Las Palmas Elementary
    Truman Benedict Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  20.1 Help
Number of students:  883

Racial breakdown:

White:
56.3%
Hispanic:
34.5%
Two or more races:
6.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  39.8% Help


 See top rated California middle schools

 Compare Bernice Ayer Middle to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Bernice Ayer Middle ranks better than 91% of middle schools in California. It also ranks 9th among 12 ranked middle schools in the Capistrano Unified School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 91.17. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (56.3%), Hispanic (34.5%), two or more races (6.6%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 39.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bernice Ayer Middle is 20.1, which is the 6th best among 12 middle schools in the Capistrano Unified School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Bernice Ayer Middle employs 43.9 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bernice Ayer Middle is $9,933. 7 middle schools in the Capistrano Unified School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bernice Ayer Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Bernice Ayer Middle 249th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Bernice Ayer Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Capistrano Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Capistrano Unified 204th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Bernice Ayer Middle.

What do you think?

Your rating for Bernice Ayer Middle?

Rank History for Bernice Ayer Middle

Help
Compare

Rank History for all students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 84.39 211th 1769 88.1%
2005 83.13 233rd 1777 86.9%
2006 85.35 199th 1804 89.0%
2007 79.65 308th 1999 84.6%
2008 86.16 173rd 2005 91.4%
2009 88.89 127th 2063 93.8%
2010 88.04 135th 2179 93.8%
2011 86.33 160th 2236 92.8%
2012 87.66 135th 2259 94.0%
2013 82.36 257th 2379 89.2%
2015 90.08 217th 2477 91.2%
2016 84.15 347th 2497 86.1%
2017 89.56 253rd 2508 89.9%
2018 81.64 422nd 2480 83.0%
2019 83.94 389th 2715 85.7%
2022 89.46 286th 2740 89.6%
2023 92.16 232nd 2802 91.7%
2024 91.17 249th 2777 91.0%
See the entire list of California Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.78 76th 462 83.5%
2019 85.34 50th 554 91.0%
2022 63.28 246th 665 63.0%
2023 86.47 55th 678 91.9%
2024 80.56 111th 699 84.1%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.88 854th 1364 37.4%
2019 26.84 1298th 1442 10.0%
2022 54.01 382nd 1540 75.2%
2023 57.20 316th 1529 79.3%
2024 58.27 293rd 1477 80.2%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 95.09 53rd 1538 96.6%
2024 92.82 75th 1550 95.2%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.04 1137th 2230 49.0%
2019 54.31 895th 2369 62.2%
2022 73.47 436th 2458 82.3%
2023 90.19 166th 2549 93.5%
2024 79.48 355th 2575 86.2%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 80.43 34th 336 89.9%
2023 85.63 23rd 321 92.8%
2024 73.25 55th 394 86.0%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 80.00 407th 2262 82.0%
2019 82.11 388th 2380 83.7%
2022 85.76 325th 2509 87.0%
2023 91.04 233rd 2547 90.9%
2024 88.36 278th 2546 89.1%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 83.91 133rd 1369 90.3%
2019 89.47 91st 1491 93.9%
2022 91.95 73rd 1531 95.2%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 63.75 64th 193 66.8%
2023 69.58 59th 197 70.1%
2024 71.10 52nd 191 72.8%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 80.91 397th 2273 82.5%
2019 83.29 361st 2407 85.0%
2022 91.14 218th 2527 91.4%
2023 91.35 212th 2558 91.7%
2024 91.76 209th 2547 91.8%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 54.35 804th 2072 61.2%
2019 57.59 743rd 2213 66.4%
2022 82.68 243rd 2359 89.7%
2023 85.74 209th 2391 91.3%
2024 81.66 289th 2383 87.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bernice Ayer Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 80.90 241st 1496 83.9%
2019 82.79 208th 1602 87.0%
2022 87.59 106th 1555 93.2%
2023 87.42 120th 1552 92.3%
2024 87.20 121st 1535 92.1%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Bernice Ayer Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: California Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
0%

0%

100%

0%

0%

  

by a parent
Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Open Quote Teachers are awesome sauce, but not a fan of the administration. Policies are questionable in a number of cases, and conversations with them feel patronizing. There seems to be more of a passion for test scores than the kids, which is a scary slippery slope. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Bernice Ayer Middle

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1999 612 9 12 143 8 n/a n/a 0 784
2000 649 9 17 152 1 n/a n/a 0 828
2001 694 7 18 152 1 n/a n/a 2 874
2002 682 3 30 180 1 n/a n/a 21 917
2003 682 3 30 180 1 n/a n/a 21 917
2004 557 3 24 198 2 n/a n/a 9 793
2005 498 4 16 182 2 n/a n/a 10 712
2006 534 7 15 179 2 n/a n/a 20 757
2007 535 8 19 176 4 n/a n/a 33 775
2008 514 3 19 163 2 n/a n/a 0 701
2009 521 5 23 158 2 2 60 0 771
2010 496 3 25 227 0 0 56 0 807
2011 534 2 25 231 1 0 74 0 867
2012 525 2 23 256 2 1 75 0 884
2013 538 2 14 273 1 1 69 0 898
2014 490 5 17 276 2 2 73 0 865
2015 517 3 20 283 1 3 69 0 896
2016 484 2 24 284 0 3 64 0 861
2017 515 2 27 305 0 1 57 0 907
2018 508 0 27 304 3 1 53 0 896
2019 514 1 25 319 5 1 64 0 929
2020 470 2 19 309 4 1 56 0 861
2021 455 3 15 302 2 1 52 1 831
2022 438 3 14 305 0 0 43 0 803
2023 497 3 19 305 0 0 58 1 883

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bernice Ayer Middle

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1999 784 36.2 21.7 21.4
2000 828 36.8 22.5 22.2
2001 874 42.7 20.5 20
2002 917 40.4 22.7 20
2003 917 40.4 22.7 20
2004 793 32.8 24.2 19.5
2005 712 29.9 23.8 20.7
2006 757 32.4 23.4 18.5
2007 775 30.8 25.2 20.1
2008 701 31.1 22.5 19.4
2009 771 31.8 22.6 20.8
2010 807 31.2 25.8 19.1
2011 867 n/a n/a 20.2
2012 884 34.4 25.6 n/a
2013 898 32.9 27.2 28.3
2014 865 31.8 27.1 26
2015 896 33.0 27.1 26.2
2016 861 35.0 24.6 25.1
2017 907 38.6 23.4 25.1
2018 896 37.4 23.9 30.1
2019 929 39.4 23.5 34.3
2020 861 n/a n/a 34.4
2021 831 35.3 23.5 31.8
2022 803 38.4 20.8 28.9
2023 883 43.9 20.1 39.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bernice Ayer Middle

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1999 784 36.2 21.7 21.4
2000 828 36.8 22.5 22.2
2001 874 42.7 20.5 20
2002 917 40.4 22.7 20
2003 917 40.4 22.7 20
2004 793 32.8 24.2 19.5
2005 712 29.9 23.8 20.7
2006 757 32.4 23.4 18.5
2007 775 30.8 25.2 20.1
2008 701 31.1 22.5 19.4
2009 771 31.8 22.6 20.8
2010 807 31.2 25.8 19.1
2011 867 n/a n/a 20.2
2012 884 34.4 25.6 n/a
2013 898 32.9 27.2 28.3
2014 865 31.8 27.1 26
2015 896 33.0 27.1 26.2
2016 861 35.0 24.6 25.1
2017 907 38.6 23.4 25.1
2018 896 37.4 23.9 30.1
2019 929 39.4 23.5 34.3
2020 861 n/a n/a 34.4
2021 831 35.3 23.5 31.8
2022 803 38.4 20.8 28.9
2023 883 43.9 20.1 39.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bernice Ayer Middle

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $9,933

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bernice Ayer Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 389th of 2715 Middle schoolsRanks 232nd of 2802 Middle schools
 6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Bernice Ayer Middle)64.867.1
 2.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Capistrano Unified)67.867.5
 0.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)48.544.2
 4.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Bernice Ayer Middle)50.350.8
 0.5%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Capistrano Unified)60.957.6
 3.3%
   6th Grade Mathematics (California)38.533.2
 5.3%
6th Grade Reading/Language Arts (Bernice Ayer Middle)20.733.3
 12.7%
   6th Grade Reading/Language Arts (Capistrano Unified)2223.1
 1.1%
   6th Grade Reading/Language Arts (California)17.217.8
 0.6%
7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Bernice Ayer Middle)72.270.8
 1.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Capistrano Unified)73.273.9
 0.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.447.4
 3.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Bernice Ayer Middle)52.862.6
 9.8%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Capistrano Unified)62.761.2
 1.5%
   7th Grade Mathematics (California)37.933.2
 4.7%
7th Grade Reading/Language Arts (Bernice Ayer Middle)7.37.1
 0.2%
   7th Grade Reading/Language Arts (Capistrano Unified)6.96.2
 0.7%
   7th Grade Reading/Language Arts (California)4.53.5
 1.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Bernice Ayer Middle)74.474.7
 0.2%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Capistrano Unified)73.771.1
 2.6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.445.7
 3.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Bernice Ayer Middle)54.766.9
 12.2%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Capistrano Unified)66.759.1
 7.7%
   8th Grade Mathematics (California)36.629.9
 6.7%
8th Grade Science (Bernice Ayer Middle)52.562.9
 10.4%
   8th Grade Science (Capistrano Unified)55.155.2
 0.2%
   8th Grade Science (California)30.828.8
 2.1%
8th Grade Reading/Language Arts (Bernice Ayer Middle)16.911.3
 5.6%
   8th Grade Reading/Language Arts (Capistrano Unified)15.49.8
 5.5%
   8th Grade Reading/Language Arts (California)9.19.5
 0.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students929883
 5%
African American13
 200%
American Indian50
 100%
Asian2519
 24%
Hispanic319305
 4.4%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White514497
 3.3%
Two or More Races6458
 9.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients34.3%39.8%
 5.4%


Schools Near Bernice Ayer Middle









Frequently Asked Questions about Bernice Ayer Middle

Students who attend Bernice Ayer Middle usually go on to attend San Clemente High

Yes. Bernice Ayer Middle ranks in the top 9.0% of California middle schools.

Students at Bernice Ayer Middle are 56% White, 35% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 883 students attended Bernice Ayer Middle.


Rate Bernice Ayer Middle!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Bernice Ayer Middle!




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.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 176 milliseconds.