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Truman Benedict Elementary

Public Grades K-5

339^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 94% of California elementary schools

Summary

Truman Benedict Elementary is a top-performing K-5 public school in San Clemente, serving about 600 students within the highly-regarded Capistrano Unified School District, where it consistently earns 5-star ratings and ranks in the top 6% of all elementary schools in California.

The school excels academically, with over 81% of students proficient in both English and Math, significantly outperforming most nearby schools like Las Palmas Elementary and Harold Ambuehl Elementary. It is particularly distinguished by its exceptional support for all students, achieving some of the state's very best results for economically disadvantaged and special education students, and it maintains the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the local area at just 8.4%.

Truman Benedict has shown remarkable improvement since the pandemic and delivers this excellence efficiently, spending less per student than several lower-performing neighboring schools. While its science scores are closer to the district average, its overall consistent, high-level performance over many years—rivaled locally only by Vista del Mar Elementary—solidifies its reputation as a stable and exceptionally effective school for every child who attends.

602

Students ?

25.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,339

Per pupil spending ?

19.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1251 Sarmentoso
San Clemente, CA 92673

(949) 498-6617

District: Capistrano Unified

Students who attend Truman Benedict Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Bernice Ayer Middle
High:	San Clemente High

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.4%

Two or more races:

13.0%

Hispanic:

10.3%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 84th percentile in 2013 → 94th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (77% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 6% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Large classes — about 25 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school77%

District avg65%

California avg41%

339^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 6%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From top 10% (2015) to top 6% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^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	94.9	339 of 5857	94.2%	★★★★★
2024	92.6	527 of 5869	91.0%	★★★★★
2023	88.2	812 of 5859	86.1%	★★★★☆
2022	89.3	724 of 5883	87.7%	★★★★☆
2019	88.1	747 of 5789	87.1%	★★★★☆
2018	84.8	897 of 5662	84.2%	★★★★☆
2017	89.5	661 of 5692	88.4%	★★★★☆
2016	88.9	674 of 5614	88.0%	★★★★☆
2015	90.9	570 of 5611	89.8%	★★★★☆
2013	83.1	878 of 5530	84.1%	★★★★☆
2012	77.7	1149 of 5390	78.7%	★★★★☆
2011	85.4	711 of 5377	86.8%	★★★★☆
2010	81.1	951 of 5314	82.1%	★★★★☆
2009	79.2	1037 of 5193	80.0%	★★★★☆
2008	75.4	1169 of 5113	77.1%	★★★★☆
2007	81.5	915 of 5113	82.1%	★★★★☆
2006	83.7	797 of 4818	83.5%	★★★★☆
2005	80.7	897 of 4822	81.4%	★★★★☆
2004	78.2	973 of 4809	79.8%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	93.2	126 of 2227	94.3%	★★★★★
2019	92.8	128 of 2585	95.0%	★★★★★
2018	94.8	92 of 2128	95.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	95.5	223 of 5597	96.0%	★★★★★
2024	87.2	764 of 5612	86.4%	★★★★☆
2023	83.9	932 of 5609	83.4%	★★★★☆
2022	86.8	784 of 5635	86.1%	★★★★☆
2019	84.4	854 of 5492	84.5%	★★★★☆
2018	78.6	1106 of 5413	79.6%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	89.7	360 of 5107	93.0%	★★★★★
2024	93.8	213 of 5107	95.8%	★★★★★
2022	93.6	243 of 5084	95.2%	★★★★★
2019	86.4	448 of 4963	91.0%	★★★★★
2018	89.2	338 of 4830	93.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	99.1	30 of 5460	99.5%	★★★★★
2024	93.5	301 of 5517	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	92.3	302 of 5363	94.4%	★★★★★
2022	96.5	133 of 5264	97.5%	★★★★★
2018	74.2	971 of 5084	80.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	92.2	441 of 5628	92.2%	★★★★★
2024	94.3	329 of 5643	94.2%	★★★★★
2023	89.4	656 of 5638	88.4%	★★★★☆
2022	89.1	679 of 5663	88.0%	★★★★☆
2019	88.8	646 of 5510	88.3%	★★★★☆
2018	87.1	731 of 5431	86.5%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	79.2	121 of 718	83.1%	★★★★☆
2024	75.6	158 of 670	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	54.2	355 of 669	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.1	310 of 610	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	88.9	229 of 2847	92.0%	★★★★★
2024	91.2	177 of 2635	93.3%	★★★★★
2023	90.4	169 of 2420	93.0%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	83.3	297 of 2598	88.6%	★★★★☆
2024	78.9	460 of 2651	82.6%	★★★★☆
2023	72.9	699 of 2661	73.7%	★★★★☆
2022	69.9	815 of 2726	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	68.2	890 of 2834	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.9	1009 of 2737	63.1%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)99th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)96th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)94th percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2025)93rd percentile~ school

Male (2025)92nd percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)92nd percentile~ school

White (2025)89th percentile-6 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)83rd percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy81%+33 vs state

Mathematics81%+44 vs state

Science54%+22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Truman Benedict 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 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
Truman Benedict Elementary	Public	K-5	1251 Sarmentoso	San Clemente	92673	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 498-6617	602	24	25.0	19.9%	448 (74.4%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (10.3%)	14 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (13.0%)	94.9	339^th of 5857 public elementary schools	94.2%		92.6	527^th of 5869 public elementary schools	91.0%	188	54.4		54.4	80.7	86.7	78.1				81.5	81.7	84.4	79.0				81.5							$18,339	$17,552	$787
Marblehead Elementary	Public	K-5	2410 Via Turqueza	San Clemente	92673	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5339	195	8	24.3	43.6%	93 (47.7%)	2 (1.0%)	73 (37.4%)	2 (1.0%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	22 (11.3%)	45.4	2859^th of 5857 public elementary schools	51.2%		47	2733^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	53.4%	126	21.2		21.2	61.8	45.5	36.4				48.3	45.7	47.8	15.2				35.2							$24,913	$23,622	$1,291
Vista del Mar Elementary	Public	K-5	1130 Avenue Talega	San Clemente	92673	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5950	692	26	26.6	14.6%	460 (66.5%)	1 (0.1%)	113 (16.3%)	21 (3.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	95 (13.7%)	95.5	286^th of 5857 public elementary schools	95.1%		94.3	407^th of 5869 public elementary schools	93.1%	121	71.6		71.6	76.5	82.8	85.3				81.6	70.4	80.0	75.9				75.7	97.2		98.2				$16,773	$15,986	$787
Clarence Lobo Elementary	Public	K-5	200 Avenida Vista Montana	San Clemente	92672	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 366-6740	328	16	20.5	54.3%	142 (43.3%)	0 (0.0%)	123 (37.5%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	56 (17.1%)	53.1	2420^th of 5857 public elementary schools	58.7%		54.7	2305^th of 5869 public elementary schools	60.7%	115	27.5		27.5	40.0	45.7	54.9				47.5	50.0	45.7	37.3				43.8							$25,300	$24,022	$1,278
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	$21,347	$20,104	$1,243
Las Palmas Elementary	Public	K-5	1101 Calle Puente	San Clemente	92672	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5333	743	29	25.6	48.9%	284 (38.2%)	4 (0.5%)	389 (52.4%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (8.3%)	70.1	1598^th of 5857 public elementary schools	72.7%		58.1	2141^st of 5869 public elementary schools	63.5%	543	47.0		47.0	49.1	50.4	60.9				53.6	52.7	50.4	57.4				53.6	98.3		98.3		98.3		$16,860	$16,040	$820
Harold Ambuehl Elementary	Public	K-5	28001 San Juan Creek Rd.	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 661-0400	324	14	23.1	35.2%	181 (55.9%)	3 (0.9%)	88 (27.2%)	6 (1.9%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (13.6%)	75.8	1340^th of 5857 public elementary schools	77.1%		70.7	1568^th of 5869 public elementary schools	73.3%	228	51.8		51.8	46.9	51.3	62.5				54.2	65.3	53.9	60.7				60.4	92.0			94.0	96.0	94.0	$18,397	$17,294	$1,103
California Republic Leadership Academy Capistrano	Public, Charter	K-8	31711 San Juan Creek Rd.	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	California Republic Leadership Academy Capistrano District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 298-6040	260	10	25.8	17.7%	190 (73.1%)	2 (0.8%)	40 (15.4%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	22 (8.5%)	72.3	1505^th of 5857 public elementary schools	74.3%		95.1	338^th of 5869 public elementary schools	94.2%	1167	39.3		39.3	50.0	46.4	60.7	59.3			54.1	60.7	75.0	50.0	48.2			58.6							$24,514	$23,434	$1,080
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Truman Benedict Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Truman Benedict Elementary?

Students at Truman Benedict Elementary are 74% White, 13% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 2% Asian.

Is Truman Benedict Elementary a good school?

Yes. Truman Benedict Elementary ranks in the top 5.8% of California elementary schools.

What district is Truman Benedict Elementary in?

Capistrano Unified

What schools do graduates of Truman Benedict Elementary attend?

Students who attend Truman Benedict Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bernice Ayer Middle
High : San Clemente High

How many students attend Truman Benedict Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 602 students attended Truman Benedict Elementary.

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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.