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Ladera Ranch Middle

Public Grades 6-8

69^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,761 California Middle Schools

Better than 98% of California middle schools

Summary

Ladera Ranch Middle is a top-performing public middle school serving grades 6-8 for about 1,064 students in the affluent community of Ladera Ranch, California, within the Capistrano Unified School District.

The school consistently ranks among the very best in the state, placing in the 98th percentile with exceptional test scores that are roughly double the state averages in English and Math. What truly sets it apart is its remarkable success with every group of students; whether looking at performance for students from low-income families, English learners, or students with disabilities, Ladera Ranch Middle ranks in the top 5% of schools statewide for each. It also maintains a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 10.1%, significantly better than the district and state, which indicates a strong, engaged school culture.

Compared to nearby schools like Marco Forster Middle or Niguel Hills Middle, Ladera Ranch Middle achieves its outstanding results with efficient per-student spending, outperforming schools that spend more. Its academic strength is consistent across all three grade levels, and it stands at the top of an already high-achieving district that includes other strong schools like Arroyo Vista Middle and Las Flores Middle.

1,064

Students ?

23.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,671

Per pupil spending ?

19%

Free/discounted lunch ?

29551 Sienna Pkwy.
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694-0789

(949) 234-5922

District: Capistrano Unified

Students who attend Ladera Ranch Middle usually attend:

High:

San Juan Hills High

Feeder schools for Ladera Ranch Middle:

Elementary:	Chaparral Elementary
	Ladera Ranch Elementary
	Oso Grande Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.9%

Asian:

12.6%

Hispanic:

11.4%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 98th percentile in 2013 → 98th in 2025

Strengths

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

✓Ranks in the top 2% of California middle schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Capistrano Unified

Worth a look

!Large classes — about 23 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school77%

District avg65%

California avg41%

69^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 2%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 13Middle 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	97.3	69 of 2761	97.5%	★★★★★
2024	98.1	42 of 2783	98.5%	★★★★★
2023	97.7	66 of 2781	97.6%	★★★★★
2022	97.8	61 of 2740	97.8%	★★★★★
2019	97.1	66 of 2715	97.6%	★★★★★
2018	97.0	56 of 2480	97.7%	★★★★★
2017	96.7	65 of 2508	97.4%	★★★★★
2016	95.0	101 of 2497	96.0%	★★★★★
2015	97.3	45 of 2477	98.2%	★★★★★
2013	92.2	39 of 2379	98.4%	★★★★★
2012	91.8	50 of 2259	97.8%	★★★★★
2011	91.5	59 of 2236	97.4%	★★★★★
2010	90.7	91 of 2179	95.8%	★★★★★
2009	90.7	94 of 2063	95.4%	★★★★★
2008	87.5	153 of 2005	92.4%	★★★★★
2007	78.0	334 of 1999	83.3%	★★★★☆
2006	78.1	323 of 1804	82.1%	★★★★☆
2005	76.0	353 of 1777	80.1%	★★★★☆
2004	76.8	328 of 1769	81.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	84.4	61 of 739	91.7%	★★★★★
2024	87.0	29 of 743	96.1%	★★★★★
2023	85.6	35 of 715	95.1%	★★★★★
2022	84.0	53 of 733	92.8%	★★★★★
2019	83.8	53 of 745	92.9%	★★★★★
2018	88.4	10 of 700	98.6%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	99.2	15 of 1531	99.0%	★★★★★
2019	97.2	31 of 1491	97.9%	★★★★★
2018	93.7	51 of 1369	96.3%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	98.2	13 of 1478	99.1%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	96.2	80 of 2533	96.8%	★★★★★
2024	97.3	53 of 2551	97.9%	★★★★★
2023	96.6	85 of 2531	96.6%	★★★★★
2022	97.2	63 of 2509	97.5%	★★★★★
2019	96.1	66 of 2380	97.2%	★★★★★
2018	96.2	57 of 2262	97.5%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	92.5	112 of 2395	95.3%	★★★★★
2024	98.2	30 of 2388	98.7%	★★★★★
2023	97.2	39 of 2374	98.4%	★★★★★
2022	99.0	22 of 2359	99.1%	★★★★★
2019	98.0	34 of 2213	98.5%	★★★★★
2018	97.1	34 of 2072	98.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	97.9	44 of 2542	98.3%	★★★★★
2024	97.8	47 of 2579	98.2%	★★★★★
2023	98.1	30 of 2531	98.8%	★★★★★
2022	96.8	52 of 2458	97.9%	★★★★★
2019	96.1	52 of 2369	97.8%	★★★★★
2018	96.1	52 of 2230	97.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	97.2	69 of 2534	97.3%	★★★★★
2024	98.1	40 of 2552	98.4%	★★★★★
2023	97.8	52 of 2538	98.0%	★★★★★
2022	97.7	60 of 2527	97.6%	★★★★★
2019	97.3	65 of 2407	97.3%	★★★★★
2018	97.0	64 of 2273	97.2%	★★★★★

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	95.3	5 of 194	97.4%	★★★★★
2024	92.3	6 of 192	96.9%	★★★★★
2023	93.3	9 of 197	95.4%	★★★★★
2022	86.2	16 of 193	91.7%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	87.1	57 of 726	92.1%	★★★★★
2024	85.7	68 of 701	90.3%	★★★★★
2023	83.7	79 of 677	88.3%	★★★★☆
2022	88.7	35 of 665	94.7%	★★★★★
2019	85.6	47 of 554	91.5%	★★★★★
2018	88.0	22 of 462	95.2%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	91.4	81 of 1566	94.8%	★★★★★
2024	97.1	31 of 1552	98.0%	★★★★★
2023	94.4	58 of 1531	96.2%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	89.7	71 of 1520	95.3%	★★★★★
2024	91.5	54 of 1537	96.5%	★★★★★
2023	90.9	58 of 1543	96.2%	★★★★★
2022	89.7	80 of 1555	94.9%	★★★★★
2019	89.6	90 of 1602	94.4%	★★★★★
2018	89.8	69 of 1496	95.4%	★★★★★

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)

English Language Learner (2024)99th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)99th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)98th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2025)97th percentile~ school

Male (2025)97th percentile~ school

Female (2025)97th percentile~ school

White (2025)95th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)95th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)95th percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)92nd percentile-5 vs school

Asian (2025)92nd percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy82%+34 vs state

Mathematics76%+39 vs state

Science65%+33 vs state

★

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Schools Near Ladera Ranch Middle

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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 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)				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 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	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 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ladera Ranch Middle	Public	6-8	29551 Sienna Pkwy.	Ladera Ranch	92694	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5922	1,064	46	23.0	19.0%	680 (63.9%)	10 (0.9%)	121 (11.4%)	134 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	115 (10.8%)	97.3	69^th of 2761 public middle schools	97.5%		98.1	42^nd of 2783 public middle schools	98.5%	27	65.2	65.2	84.1	80.6	82.2	82.3	75.2	74.9	79.2	76.5	$18,671	$17,582	$1,089
Carl Hankey Middle	Public	6-8	27252 Nubles	Mission Viejo	92692	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5315	181	12	15.6	49.7%	69 (38.1%)	3 (1.7%)	75 (41.4%)	18 (9.9%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (7.7%)	86.9	338^th of 2761 public middle schools	87.8%		79.1	499^th of 2783 public middle schools	82.1%	161	51.7	51.7	69.1	73.7	65.5	69.4	73.2	44.8	57.9	58.5	$29,389	$27,268	$2,121
Las Flores Middle	Public	6-8	25862 Antonio Pkwy.	Rancho Santa Margarita	92688	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 589-6543	593	28	21.4	22.3%	332 (56.0%)	7 (1.2%)	92 (15.5%)	91 (15.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	70 (11.8%)	95.4	137^th of 2761 public middle schools	95.0%		96.3	113^th of 2783 public middle schools	95.9%	24	69.1	69.1	78.4	79.0	77.9	78.4	65.3	66.7	71.7	67.9	$19,439	$18,290	$1,149
Esencia Middle	Public	6-8	5 Aprender St.	Rancho Mission Viejo	92694	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-9900	349	16	21.6	22.3%	192 (55.0%)	5 (1.4%)	56 (16.0%)	56 (16.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	37 (10.6%)	94.4	174^th of 2761 public middle schools	93.7%		96.9	94^th of 2783 public middle schools	96.6%	80	47.6	47.6	78.1	82.6	76.5	79.2	70.8	81.2	68.0	73.5	$23,722	$22,438	$1,284
Niguel Hills Middle	Public	6-8	29070 Shark Bay	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5360	693	35	19.5	44.6%	384 (55.4%)	8 (1.2%)	212 (30.6%)	36 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (7.6%)	87.6	318^th of 2761 public middle schools	88.5%		92.4	219^th of 2783 public middle schools	92.1%	99	50.3	50.3	72.3	65.5	71.8	69.6	61.3	52.2	61.1	57.9	$21,881	$20,392	$1,489
Fred Newhart Middle	Public	6-8	25001 Veterans Way	Mission Viejo	92692	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 855-0162	1,105	51	21.6	33.6%	466 (42.2%)	16 (1.4%)	295 (26.7%)	150 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	174 (15.7%)	94.5	168^th of 2761 public middle schools	93.9%		94.6	167^th of 2783 public middle schools	94.0%	1	59.3	59.3	75.0	78.0	78.8	77.2	69.4	63.9	70.8	67.9	$18,906	$17,846	$1,060
La Paz Intermediate	Public	7-8	25151 Pradera Dr.	Mission Viejo	92691	Orange County	Saddleback Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 830-1720	713	33	21.8	39.7%	310 (43.5%)	7 (1.0%)	223 (31.3%)	89 (12.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	82 (11.5%)	90.2	274^th of 2761 public middle schools	90.1%		90.8	261^st of 2783 public middle schools	90.6%	13	57.1	57.1		75.4	64.1	69.5		70.4	55.7	62.8	$17,168	$16,240	$928
Aliso Viejo Middle	Public	6-8	111 Park Ave.	Aliso Viejo	92656	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 831-2622	803	36	22.3	35.4%	433 (53.9%)	16 (2.0%)	154 (19.2%)	109 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	87 (10.8%)	91.6	233^rd of 2761 public middle schools	91.6%		93.1	208^th of 2783 public middle schools	92.5%	25	55.2	55.2	70.5	70.7	72.9	71.4	62.7	65.2	66.8	65.0	$19,053	$17,946	$1,107
Arroyo Vista Middle	Public	6-8	23371 Arroyo Vista	Rancho Santa Margarita	92688	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5951	329	16	20.8	19.8%	196 (59.6%)	1 (0.3%)	41 (12.5%)	48 (14.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (13.1%)	97	82^nd of 2761 public middle schools	97.0%		97.3	83^rd of 2783 public middle schools	97.0%	1	71.6	71.6	83.2	81.1	84.3	82.9	64.4	78.3	79.8	74.4	$21,244	$19,992	$1,252
Marco Forster Middle	Public	6-8	25601 Camino del Avion	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5907	930	46	20.4	75.1%	216 (23.2%)	0 (0.0%)	651 (70.0%)	10 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	49 (5.3%)	57.3	971^st of 2761 public middle schools	64.8%		59.3	902^nd of 2783 public middle schools	67.6%	69	36.3	36.3	44.4	48.7	53.2	48.8	32.0	36.6	43.2	37.3	$21,151	$19,228	$1,923

Frequently Asked Questions about Ladera Ranch Middle

Is Ladera Ranch Middle a good school?

Yes! Ladera Ranch Middle is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 69^th of 2761 California middle schools.

How many students attend Ladera Ranch Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,064 students attended Ladera Ranch Middle.

What district is Ladera Ranch Middle in?

Capistrano Unified

What is the racial makeup of Ladera Ranch Middle?

Students at Ladera Ranch Middle are 64% White, 13% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Ladera Ranch Middle attend?

Students who attend Ladera Ranch Middle usually go on to attend San Juan Hills High

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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.