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El Morro Elementary

Public Grades K-5

347^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,804 California Elementary Schools

Better than 94% of California elementary schools

Summary

El Morro Elementary is a K–5 school in Laguna Beach, California, serving 404 students in the Laguna Beach Unified district. Its results are well above California averages, but its standing varies by subject and comparison group. The clearest takeaway is that math is a local strength, while science is the school’s most notable academic weakness compared with nearby schools.

Math is the strongest subject: in 2025–26, proficiency was 79%, 6 percentage points above the district and 41 points above the state; it was also 2 points above the nearby-school average and ranked fifth among 11 schools. ELA proficiency was 78%, about level with the district and nearby average, and 28 points above the state; El Morro ranked eighth of 11 nearby schools. Science proficiency was 61%, 10 points below the district and 11 points below the nearby average, though still 25 points above the state. Only one nearby school had a lower science result, placing El Morro tenth of 11 in that subject.

Results have changed unevenly: from 2022–23 to 2025–26, math proficiency rose 5 points, ELA was broadly flat, and science fell 5 points. Science’s advantage over the state narrowed by 10 points, while its deficit to the district widened from about 1 point to 10. SchoolDigger ranks El Morro 347th of 5,804 California schools, at the 94th percentile with five stars; seven nearby schools have higher percentiles. In 2024–25, the student–teacher ratio was 21.2, compared with a nearby average of 22.3, and 25% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible. One subgroup ranking stands out: SchoolDigger placed the school’s effectiveness for White students at the 70th percentile in 2024–25, versus the school’s overall 88th percentile; in the years immediately before and after, the gap was smaller.

404

Students ?

21.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$44,528

Per pupil spending ?

24.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

8681 North Coast Hwy.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651-1032

(949) 497-7780

District: Laguna Beach Unified

Students who attend El Morro Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Thurston Middle
High:	Laguna Beach High

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.8%

Hispanic:

12.9%

Two or more races:

9.7%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 93rd percentile in 2015 → 94th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (75% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 6% of California elementary schools

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school75%

District avg75%

California avg42%

347^th of 5,804

California public elementary schools ?

Top 6%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Elementary Schools in the Laguna Beach Unified

32^nd of 968Laguna Beach 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
2026	94.7	347 of 5804	94.0%	★★★★★
2025	89.4	697 of 5857	88.1%	★★★★☆
2024	94.3	405 of 5869	93.1%	★★★★★
2023	95.0	354 of 5859	94.0%	★★★★★
2022	94.7	391 of 5883	93.4%	★★★★★
2019	96.6	178 of 5789	96.9%	★★★★★
2018	96.1	210 of 5662	96.3%	★★★★★
2017	94.4	370 of 5692	93.5%	★★★★★
2016	92.3	480 of 5614	91.4%	★★★★★
2015	93.9	389 of 5611	93.1%	★★★★★
2013	91.6	358 of 5530	93.5%	★★★★★
2012	89.2	479 of 5390	91.1%	★★★★★
2011	82.3	875 of 5377	83.7%	★★★★☆
2010	85.9	680 of 5314	87.2%	★★★★☆
2009	86.5	678 of 5193	86.9%	★★★★☆
2008	87.8	613 of 5113	88.0%	★★★★☆
2007	84.2	787 of 5113	84.6%	★★★★☆
2006	89.6	506 of 4818	89.5%	★★★★☆
2005	87.0	641 of 4822	86.7%	★★★★☆
2004	84.8	714 of 4809	85.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	92.3	141 of 2227	93.7%	★★★★★
2019	99.8	9 of 2585	99.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	93.6	347 of 5569	93.8%	★★★★★
2025	86.0	808 of 5597	85.6%	★★★★☆
2024	91.2	555 of 5612	90.1%	★★★★★
2023	94.3	341 of 5609	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	90.1	634 of 5635	88.7%	★★★★☆
2019	96.6	112 of 5492	98.0%	★★★★★
2018	94.9	226 of 5413	95.8%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	96.1	123 of 5107	97.6%	★★★★★
2022	79.9	735 of 5084	85.5%	★★★★☆
2019	99.5	13 of 4963	99.7%	★★★★★
2018	92.1	225 of 4830	95.3%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	92.8	230 of 5412	95.8%	★★★★★
2025	89.9	371 of 5460	93.2%	★★★★★
2024	93.4	305 of 5517	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	98.4	65 of 5363	98.8%	★★★★★
2022	97.0	111 of 5264	97.9%	★★★★★
2019	97.8	48 of 5173	99.1%	★★★★★
2018	93.3	174 of 5084	96.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	93.5	349 of 5590	93.8%	★★★★★
2025	90.4	553 of 5628	90.2%	★★★★★
2024	95.0	282 of 5643	95.0%	★★★★★
2023	93.8	373 of 5638	93.4%	★★★★★
2022	94.9	306 of 5663	94.6%	★★★★★
2019	94.8	263 of 5510	95.2%	★★★★★
2018	94.8	263 of 5431	95.2%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	99.6	14 of 2635	99.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	80.0	400 of 2532	84.2%	★★★★☆
2025	70.1	782 of 2598	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	80.4	407 of 2651	84.6%	★★★★☆
2023	81.9	358 of 2661	86.5%	★★★★☆
2022	85.9	236 of 2726	91.3%	★★★★★
2019	87.2	181 of 2834	93.6%	★★★★★
2018	87.1	178 of 2737	93.5%	★★★★★

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)

Special Education (2024)99th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2024)98th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)96th percentile~ school

Female (2026)94th percentile~ school

Male (2026)94th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)94th percentile~ school

White (2026)84th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics79%+41 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy78%+28 vs state

Science61%+25 vs state

5.0

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Schools Near El Morro 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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
El Morro Elementary	Public	K-5	8681 North Coast Hwy.	Laguna Beach	92651	Orange County	Laguna Beach Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 497-7780	404	19	21.2	24.5%	282 (69.8%)	2 (0.5%)	52 (12.9%)	26 (6.4%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.7%)	94.7	347^th of 5804 public elementary schools	94.0%		89.4	697^th of 5857 public elementary schools	88.1%	350	60.5		60.5	70.9	75.4	84.2				77.6	87.3	78.5	73.7				79.1						$44,528	$43,368	$1,160
Newport Coast Elementary	Public	K-6	6655 Ridge Park Rd.	Newport Beach	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6975	429	22	19.4	19.1%	237 (55.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.2%)	101 (23.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	59 (13.8%)	95.3	296^th of 5804 public elementary schools	94.9%		96.2	224^th of 5857 public elementary schools	96.2%	72	69.0		69.0	77.5	84.6	77.9	79.6			79.6	83.3	71.7	67.6	79.6			75.5						$24,788	$23,494	$1,294
Harbor View Elementary	Public	K-6	900 Goldenrod Ave.	Corona Del Mar	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6940	344	18	19.5	12.2%	235 (68.3%)	1 (0.3%)	38 (11.0%)	27 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (12.5%)	95.8	257^th of 5804 public elementary schools	95.6%		94.9	342^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	94.2%	85	81.8		81.8	78.6	73.5	93.2	79.1			80.7	73.2	75.5	88.6	75.0			77.7	93.2		93.2			$27,348	$25,980	$1,368
Abraham Lincoln Elementary	Public	K-6	3101 Pacific View Dr.	Corona Del Mar	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6955	336	24	14.2	35.1%	178 (53.0%)	6 (1.8%)	55 (16.4%)	60 (17.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	35 (10.4%)	86.5	827^th of 5804 public elementary schools	85.8%		86.2	869^th of 5857 public elementary schools	85.2%	42	67.4		67.4	48.8	67.4	83.7	70.0			67.6	65.1	59.5	67.4	63.5			63.9	94.1			94.1		$26,969	$25,406	$1,563
Roy O. Andersen Elementary	Public	K-6	1900 Port Seabourne Way	Newport Beach	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6935	353	16	21.7	9.3%	232 (65.7%)	1 (0.3%)	29 (8.2%)	35 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (15.9%)	97.7	85^th of 5804 public elementary schools	98.5%		96.5	194^th of 5857 public elementary schools	96.7%	109	67.4		67.4	93.8	75.0	87.8	91.1			86.6	93.8	81.1	87.8	88.9			87.7						$24,169	$22,932	$1,237
Top of the World Elementary	Public	K-5	21601 Tree Top Ln.	Laguna Beach	92651	Orange County	Laguna Beach Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 497-7790	536	27	19.8	16.4%	373 (69.6%)	3 (0.6%)	67 (12.5%)	33 (6.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (10.8%)	96	242^nd of 5804 public elementary schools	95.8%		96.4	200^th of 5857 public elementary schools	96.6%	42	80.0		80.0	72.0	78.6	84.7				78.5	78.1	79.5	78.8				78.9	96.3					$36,700	$35,728	$972
Vista Verde	Public	K-8	6 Federation Way	Irvine	92603	Orange County	Irvine Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 936-6350	837	30	27.6	10.3%	351 (41.9%)	2 (0.2%)	73 (8.7%)	306 (36.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	103 (12.3%)	96.3	208^th of 5804 public elementary schools	96.4%		96.2	228^th of 5857 public elementary schools	96.1%	20	77.3	67.7	72.4	73.4	74.5	84.0	88.2	80.0	88.2	81.6	80.9	78.4	72.2	85.4	83.0	88.1	81.4						$15,837	$15,588	$249
Bonita Canyon Elementary	Public	K-6	1 Sundance	Irvine	92603	Orange County	Irvine Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 936-5450	395	15	26.3	14.2%	170 (43.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (9.6%)	132 (33.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (13.4%)	96.2	215^th of 5804 public elementary schools	96.3%		96.9	159^th of 5857 public elementary schools	97.3%	56	68.3		68.3	74.7	85.7	76.2	90.8			82.2	84.3	83.0	65.1	90.6			81.1	88.4	90.7		90.7	93.0	$16,876	$16,498	$378
Canyon Vista Elementary	Public	K-5	27800 Oak View Dr.	Aliso Viejo	92656	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5941	533	22	24.2	19.7%	291 (54.6%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (12.2%)	87 (16.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	90 (16.9%)	96	228^th of 5804 public elementary schools	96.1%		98.1	66^th of 5857 public elementary schools	98.9%	162	84.1		84.1	66.0	84.8	87.5				78.9	80.9	83.8	81.8				82.1	96.1		97.4		97.4	$17,825	$17,038	$787
Oak Grove Elementary	Public	K-5	22705 Sanborn	Aliso Viejo	92656	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 360-9001	569	24	23.7	32.2%	281 (49.4%)	1 (0.2%)	102 (17.9%)	83 (14.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	99 (17.4%)	88.1	740^th of 5804 public elementary schools	87.3%		89	714^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.8%	26	52.9		52.9	67.0	69.2	68.9				68.4	70.3	68.0	69.9				69.5						$18,631	$17,844	$787

Frequently Asked Questions about El Morro Elementary

How many students attend El Morro Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 404 students attended El Morro Elementary.

What schools do graduates of El Morro Elementary attend?

Students who attend El Morro Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Thurston Middle
High : Laguna Beach High

What is the racial makeup of El Morro Elementary?

Students at El Morro Elementary are 70% White, 13% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

Is El Morro Elementary a good school?

Yes. El Morro Elementary ranks in the top 6.0% of California elementary schools.

What district is El Morro Elementary in?

Laguna Beach Unified

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Latest California data All new data »

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

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.