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Tijeras Creek Elementary

Q: Is Tijeras Creek Elementary a good school?

Tijeras Creek Elementary ranks 725 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

725^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 88% of California elementary schools

Summary

Tijeras Creek Elementary is a K-5 public school serving about 315 students in the Capistrano Unified School District in Rancho Santa Margarita, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 88th percentile of California elementary schools.

Academically, the school performs well above state averages in English and Math, though its scores place it in the middle among its high-achieving district peers like Las Flores Elementary and Philip J. Reilly Elementary. A notable strength is its exceptional support for specific student groups, with Hispanic students ranking in the 96th percentile statewide. However, there are areas for attention, particularly a significant drop in 5th-grade Math and Science scores compared to nearby schools, and a statewide ranking that has declined in recent years.

Compared to schools in the neighboring Saddleback Valley Unified district, Tijeras Creek performs very well. The school has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (8.4%) than both the district and state averages, showing strong improvement. It operates with a higher student-teacher ratio and lower per-student spending than some comparable schools with better test scores, such as the nearby charter school Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County. Overall, it is a solid school within a top-performing district, with clear strengths and some specific academic challenges in the upper grades.

315

Students ?

26.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,489

Per pupil spending ?

21.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

23072 Avenida Empresa
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688-8533

(949) 234-5300

District: Capistrano Unified

Students who attend Tijeras Creek Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Las Flores Middle
High:	Tesoro High

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.5%

Hispanic:

18.7%

Two or more races:

17.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Tijeras Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 86th percentile in 2013 → 88th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (68% 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 26 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school68%

District avg65%

California avg41%

725^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 12%▼ down 4 pts since 2015

From top 9% (2015) to top 12% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

20^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	88.8	725 of 5857	87.6%	★★★★☆
2024	88.6	777 of 5869	86.8%	★★★★☆
2023	94.4	395 of 5859	93.3%	★★★★★
2022	96.9	212 of 5883	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	88.0	751 of 5789	87.0%	★★★★☆
2018	85.8	855 of 5662	84.9%	★★★★☆
2017	87.0	813 of 5692	85.7%	★★★★☆
2016	92.1	492 of 5614	91.2%	★★★★★
2015	92.2	491 of 5611	91.2%	★★★★★
2013	84.9	766 of 5530	86.1%	★★★★☆
2012	89.1	484 of 5390	91.0%	★★★★★
2011	90.1	426 of 5377	92.1%	★★★★★
2010	91.9	331 of 5314	93.8%	★★★★★
2009	93.3	267 of 5193	94.9%	★★★★★
2008	90.2	468 of 5113	90.8%	★★★★★
2007	83.9	806 of 5113	84.2%	★★★★☆
2006	85.3	717 of 4818	85.1%	★★★★☆
2005	87.4	629 of 4822	87.0%	★★★★☆
2004	92.8	345 of 4809	92.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	90.8	544 of 5597	90.3%	★★★★★
2024	90.6	588 of 5612	89.5%	★★★★☆
2023	91.4	545 of 5609	90.3%	★★★★★
2022	94.7	321 of 5635	94.3%	★★★★★
2019	89.5	593 of 5492	89.2%	★★★★☆
2018	86.4	744 of 5413	86.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	94.3	192 of 5107	96.2%	★★★★★
2024	81.1	681 of 5107	86.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	84.3	602 of 5460	89.0%	★★★★☆
2024	91.7	378 of 5517	93.1%	★★★★★
2023	98.8	49 of 5363	99.1%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	84.0	883 of 5628	84.3%	★★★★☆
2024	84.0	922 of 5643	83.7%	★★★★☆
2023	94.8	325 of 5638	94.2%	★★★★★
2022	96.8	179 of 5663	96.8%	★★★★★
2019	83.6	891 of 5510	83.8%	★★★★☆
2018	81.7	986 of 5431	81.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	69.2	819 of 2598	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.4	769 of 2651	71.0%	★★★★☆
2023	79.1	467 of 2661	82.5%	★★★★☆
2022	87.5	191 of 2726	93.0%	★★★★★
2019	68.1	894 of 2834	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.8	1138 of 2737	58.4%	★★★☆☆

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 (2025)96th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2025)90th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)89th percentile~ school

Male (2025)84th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)68th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy73%+24 vs state

Mathematics69%+31 vs state

Science51%+18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Tijeras Creek 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)	% Hepatitis B (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 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 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 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
Tijeras Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	23072 Avenida Empresa	Rancho Santa Margarita	92688	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5300	315	12	26.2	21.6%	159 (50.5%)	2 (0.6%)	59 (18.7%)	40 (12.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (17.1%)	88.8	725^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.6%		88.6	777^th of 5869 public elementary schools	86.8%	52	50.9	50.9	71.6	77.1	70.7		72.8	77.0	77.1	50.9		68.5	96.0			97.3			$18,489	$17,702	$787
Arroyo Vista Elementary	Public	K-5	23371 Arroyo Vista	Rancho Santa Margarita	92688	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5951	508	21	24.1	28.0%	285 (56.1%)	2 (0.4%)	75 (14.8%)	55 (10.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (17.9%)	89.7	677^th of 5857 public elementary schools	88.4%		88.7	771^st of 5869 public elementary schools	86.9%	94	55.8	55.8	67.2	70.3	77.9		72.5	76.1	63.7	63.5		66.8	94.3				96.2		$17,289	$16,502	$787
Cielo Vista Elementary	Public	K-6	21811 Avenida De Los Fundadore	Rancho Santa Margarita	92688	Orange County	Saddleback Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 589-7456	487	21	23.4	65.3%	114 (23.4%)	2 (0.4%)	289 (59.3%)	51 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.4%)	44.8	2899^th of 5857 public elementary schools	50.5%		53.8	2356^th of 5869 public elementary schools	59.9%	543	36.8	36.8	38.1	40.0	45.6	45.0	42.3	39.7	30.0	33.8	31.7	34.0	87.8	90.5		89.8	90.5	90.5	$15,911	$14,816	$1,095
Philip J. Reilly Elementary	Public	K-5	24171 Pavion	Mission Viejo	92692	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 454-1590	421	19	22.1	27.3%	215 (51.1%)	10 (2.4%)	71 (16.9%)	32 (7.6%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	90 (21.4%)	96.3	209^th of 5857 public elementary schools	96.4%		96.3	236^th of 5869 public elementary schools	96.0%	27	64.6	64.6	84.2	87.3	76.9		82.9	82.5	85.9	73.9		80.8							$19,657	$18,870	$787
Melinda Heights Elementary	Public	K-6	21001 Rancho Trabuco	Rancho Santa Margarita	92688	Orange County	Saddleback Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 888-7311	950	34	28.1	27.8%	487 (51.3%)	7 (0.7%)	226 (23.8%)	130 (13.7%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	96 (10.1%)	78.6	1209^th of 5857 public elementary schools	79.4%		80.3	1139^th of 5869 public elementary schools	80.6%	70	51.4	51.4	54.2	48.6	65.5	63.6	58.0	62.6	57.6	58.4	60.5	59.9	97.3	98.0		97.3	98.0	98.0	$15,020	$14,092	$928
Trabuco Mesa Elementary	Public	K-6	21301 Avenida de los Flores	Rancho Santa Margarita	92688	Orange County	Saddleback Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 858-3339	640	26	25.0	37.2%	285 (44.5%)	5 (0.8%)	184 (28.8%)	89 (13.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	74 (11.6%)	88.1	767^th of 5857 public elementary schools	86.9%		90.6	658^th of 5869 public elementary schools	88.8%	109	58.5	58.5	85.3	67.1	64.2	61.9	69.5	84.2	72.0	58.5	56.7	67.4	94.0	95.0	98.0	95.0	94.0	95.0	$12,977	$12,050	$927
Trabuco Elementary	Public	K-6	31052 Trabuco Canyon Rd.	Trabuco Canyon	92679	Orange County	Saddleback Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 858-0343	90	5	18.2	37.8%	45 (50.0%)	1 (1.1%)	26 (28.9%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (17.8%)	65.7	1811^th of 5857 public elementary schools	69.1%		65.4	1798^th of 5869 public elementary schools	69.4%	13	60.0	60.0	42.9	53.3	50.0		52.7	50.0	33.3	60.0		50.9							$25,741	$24,800	$941
Robinson Elementary	Public	K-6	21400 Lindsay Dr.	Trabuco Canyon	92679	Orange County	Saddleback Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 589-2446	486	20	24.1	27.6%	308 (63.4%)	4 (0.8%)	108 (22.2%)	23 (4.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (8.6%)	77.6	1262^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	78.5%		75.8	1342^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	77.1%	80	51.6	51.6	60.3	63.6	50.0	66.1	59.8	65.1	63.6	56.3	39.3	56.6	93.3	96.7		95.0	93.3		$16,726	$15,790	$936
Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County	Public, Charter	K-5	23000 Via Santa Maria	Mission Viejo	92691	Orange County	Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 305-6111	704	27	26.0	12.6%	251 (35.7%)	4 (0.6%)	110 (15.6%)	229 (32.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	110 (15.6%)	95.5	287^th of 5857 public elementary schools	95.1%		97.8	93^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	98.4%	194	83.0	83.0	73.0	76.5	89.6		79.7	75.4	71.8	85.9		78.0	96.3			96.3		96.3
Las Flores Elementary	Public	K-5	25862 Antonio Pkwy.	Rancho Santa Margarita	92688	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 589-6935	328	13	25.2	26.5%	169 (51.5%)	3 (0.9%)	59 (18.0%)	59 (18.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (11.6%)	95.1	320^th of 5857 public elementary schools	94.5%		93.2	496^th of 5869 public elementary schools	91.5%	176	69.5	69.5	73.8	83.3	79.7		79.5	66.7	86.7	78.0		78.3	95.9	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.3	$19,005	$18,218	$787

Frequently Asked Questions about Tijeras Creek Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Tijeras Creek Elementary?

Students at Tijeras Creek Elementary are 50% White, 19% Hispanic, 17% Two or more races, 13% Asian.

How many students attend Tijeras Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 315 students attended Tijeras Creek Elementary.

What district is Tijeras Creek Elementary in?

Capistrano Unified

Is Tijeras Creek Elementary a good school?

Tijeras Creek Elementary ranks 725^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Tijeras Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Tijeras Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Las Flores Middle
High : Tesoro High

Rate Tijeras Creek Elementary!

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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.