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California Preparatory Academy

Q: Is California Preparatory Academy a good school?

California Preparatory Academy ranks 501 st of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Virtual Grades 9-12

501^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 77% of California high schools

Summary

California Preparatory Academy is a small public high school serving grades 9-12 with about 198 students in the high-performing Capistrano Unified School District in San Juan Capistrano.

This school excels at keeping students engaged and on track to graduate, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 5.6%—far lower than nearby large high schools like San Clemente High (24.6%) or Capistrano Valley High (20.4%)—and a graduation rate of 95.8%. However, its academic performance presents a mixed picture: while students are strong in English Language Arts, scoring similarly to schools like Dana Hills High, proficiency in Mathematics is a significant area for improvement, lagging behind all the nearby comprehensive high schools.

Historically a top performer, the school's statewide ranking has declined in recent years even as its student engagement remains exceptionally high. Compared to other small or alternative schools in the area, such as Capistrano Union High or Opportunities for Learning - Capistrano, California Preparatory Academy maintains stronger academic and engagement outcomes, highlighting the potential benefits of its smaller learning environment.

198

Students ?

22.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,916

Per pupil spending ?

22.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

32972 Calle Perfecto
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-4706

(949) 234-5317

District: Capistrano Unified

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.2%

Hispanic:

12.6%

Two or more races:

11.6%

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Compare California Preparatory Academy to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 87th percentile in 2015 → 77th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (49% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of California high schools

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2015

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

!Near the bottom of Capistrano Unified's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school49%

District avg65%

California avg41%

501^st of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 23%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From top 13% (2015) to top 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 8High 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	74.4	501 of 2162	76.8%	★★★★☆
2024	90.9	201 of 2159	90.7%	★★★★★
2023	87.3	267 of 2170	87.7%	★★★★☆
2022	96.5	84 of 2123	96.0%	★★★★★
2021	92.8	89 of 1290	93.1%	★★★★★
2019	83.3	304 of 2133	85.7%	★★★★☆
2018	93.6	126 of 2017	93.8%	★★★★★
2017	86.8	269 of 2021	86.7%	★★★★☆
2016	82.7	329 of 2039	83.9%	★★★★☆
2015	85.7	260 of 1994	87.0%	★★★★☆
2013	71.6	278 of 2426	88.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	75.9	427 of 1906	77.6%	★★★★☆
2024	88.5	217 of 1915	88.7%	★★★★☆
2023	81.5	327 of 1915	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	95.3	85 of 1858	95.4%	★★★★★
2021	88.0	122 of 1054	88.4%	★★★★☆
2019	81.8	290 of 1833	84.2%	★★★★☆
2018	95.1	55 of 1760	96.9%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	56.0	806 of 1900	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	94.2	91 of 1917	95.3%	★★★★★
2022	97.1	55 of 1861	97.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	93.4	123 of 2030	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	95.1	79 of 1943	95.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	68.2	551 of 1942	71.6%	★★★★☆
2024	88.5	219 of 1948	88.8%	★★★★☆
2023	91.6	182 of 1963	90.7%	★★★★★
2022	96.9	70 of 1916	96.3%	★★★★★
2018	85.4	281 of 1834	84.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	54.7	542 of 1155	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.4	339 of 1173	71.1%	★★★★☆
2023	67.7	374 of 1193	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	89.0	91 of 1204	92.4%	★★★★★
2019	61.4	467 of 1222	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	91.6	60 of 1173	94.9%	★★★★★

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 (2023)94th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)78th percentile~ school

Male (2025)72nd percentile-5 vs school

Hispanic (2025)58th percentile-19 vs school

White (2025)53rd percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy70%+21 vs state

Science46%+13 vs state

Mathematics29%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near California Preparatory Academy

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 (2024)
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 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th 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 11th 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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
California Preparatory Academy	Public, Virtual	9-12	32972 Calle Perfecto	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(949) 234-5317	198	9	22.9	22.7%	139 (70.2%)	2 (1.0%)	25 (12.6%)	6 (3.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	23 (11.6%)	74.4	501^st of 2162 public high schools	76.8%		90.9	201^st of 2159 public high schools	90.7%	300		44.4		45.6				69.8	69.8				28.6	28.6	$19,916	$979	$18,937
College and Career Advantage	Public	8-12	33122 Valle Rd.	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	College and Career Advantage	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(949) 234-9464	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Opportunities for Learning - Capistrano	Public, Charter	7-12	31878 Del Obispo St. Ste. 105	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Opportunities for Learning - Capistrano District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 248-1282	185	9	20.5	52.4%	80 (43.2%)	3 (1.6%)	59 (31.9%)	11 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (14.1%)	54.4	941^st of 2162 public high schools	56.5%		55.4	867^th of 2159 public high schools	59.8%	74			25.9	23.3				57.5	56.0				17.0	18.0	$26,624	$00	$26,624
Bridges Community Day	Public	6-12	31576 El Camino Real	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5302	12	3	3.7	25.0%	6 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (8.3%)								(n/a)															$29,701	$1,310	$28,391
OCASA College Prep	Public, Charter	6-12	31522 El Camino Real	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	OCASA College Prep District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 269-3290	83	7	11.9	33.7%	42 (50.6%)	1 (1.2%)	28 (33.7%)	3 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (10.8%)								(n/a)	14.3			13.3	55.6	57.1	14.3		43.9	38.9	33.3	35.7		35.1	$22,470	$3,144	$19,326
Capistrano Union High	Public	9-12	31422 Camino Capistrano	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 489-7216	103	12	8.6	84.5%	22 (21.4%)	3 (2.9%)	75 (72.8%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)	16.5	1756^th of 2162 public high schools	18.8%		13	1888^th of 2159 public high schools	12.6%	132		12.9		15.2				24.2	24.2				0.0	0.0	$36,441	$2,943	$33,498
Dana Hills High	Public	9-12	33333 Golden Lantern	Dana Point	92629	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 496-6666	1,725	80	21.5	42.0%	898 (52.1%)	11 (0.6%)	599 (34.7%)	68 (3.9%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	141 (8.2%)	80.2	405^th of 2162 public high schools	81.3%		93	161^st of 2159 public high schools	92.5%	244		44.9	8.7	42.8				71.0	71.0				39.8	39.8	$19,351	$1,203	$18,148
San Juan Hills High	Public	9-12	29211 Stallion Ridge	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5900	2,641	114	23.2	38.1%	1,317 (49.9%)	19 (0.7%)	900 (34.1%)	164 (6.2%)	3 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	230 (8.7%)	93.3	137^th of 2162 public high schools	93.7%		94	131^st of 2159 public high schools	93.9%	6		58.5		57.9				79.7	79.7				55.9	55.9	$17,915	$1,173	$16,742
Capistrano Valley High	Public	9-12	26301 Via Escolar	Mission Viejo	92692	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 364-6100	1,991	91	21.7	40.5%	894 (44.9%)	27 (1.4%)	621 (31.2%)	204 (10.2%)	4 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	233 (11.7%)	90.7	187^th of 2162 public high schools	91.4%		87	280^th of 2159 public high schools	87.0%	93		57.2		57.0				74.8	74.8				50.8	50.8	$18,586	$1,221	$17,365
San Clemente High	Public	9-12	700 Avenido Pico	San Clemente	92673	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 492-4165	2,740	116	23.6	37.6%	1,649 (60.2%)	12 (0.4%)	760 (27.7%)	62 (2.3%)	8 (0.3%)	7 (0.3%)	238 (8.7%)	91.4	175^th of 2162 public high schools	91.9%		88	261^st of 2159 public high schools	87.9%	86		59.8	24.0	58.3				74.0	74.0				55.0	55.0	$17,968	$1,137	$16,831

Frequently Asked Questions about California Preparatory Academy

Is California Preparatory Academy a good school?

California Preparatory Academy ranks 501^st of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is California Preparatory Academy in?

Capistrano Unified

How many students attend California Preparatory Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 198 students attended California Preparatory Academy.

What is the racial makeup of California Preparatory Academy?

Students at California Preparatory Academy are 70% White, 13% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 1% African American.

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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.