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Top of the World Elementary

Public Grades K-5

200^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 97% of California elementary schools

Summary

Top of the World Elementary is a highly-regarded K-5 public school serving 536 students in the scenic coastal community of Laguna Beach, part of the high-performing Laguna Beach Unified school district.

The school is distinguished by its remarkable and consistent academic excellence, ranking in the 97th percentile of all California elementary schools with over 79% of students proficient in English and Math, significantly above state averages. It stands out for its exceptional support for all student groups, with historically underserved populations such as Hispanic and low-income students ranking in the 98th-99th percentiles statewide, indicating effective teaching practices that benefit every child. Furthermore, the school shows strong post-pandemic recovery, with chronic absenteeism dropping to 8.1%, well below the state average.

Compared to nearby schools, Top of the World Elementary maintains remarkable stability in its top-tier rankings, while other high-performing neighbors like Canyon Vista Elementary show more year-to-year variability. The school benefits from substantial resources, spending nearly $32,000 per student and maintaining a lower student-teacher ratio than many schools in the neighboring Capistrano Unified district. This combination of consistent excellence, effective support systems, and significant investment creates a uniquely stable and high-achieving educational environment even within a region known for excellent schools.

536

Students ?

19.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$36,700

Per pupil spending ?

16.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

21601 Tree Top Ln.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651-2099

(949) 497-7790

District: Laguna Beach Unified

Students who attend Top of the World Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Thurston Middle
High:	Laguna Beach High

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.6%

Hispanic:

12.5%

Two or more races:

10.8%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Top of the World Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 93rd percentile in 2013 → 97th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (79% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of California elementary schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school79%

District avg73%

California avg41%

200^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 3%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Elementary Schools in the Laguna Beach Unified

70^th of 1,543Laguna 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
2025	96.4	200 of 5857	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	96.8	185 of 5869	96.8%	★★★★★
2023	97.4	157 of 5859	97.3%	★★★★★
2022	97.6	135 of 5883	97.7%	★★★★★
2019	97.4	116 of 5789	98.0%	★★★★★
2018	98.0	65 of 5662	98.9%	★★★★★
2017	97.7	110 of 5692	98.1%	★★★★★
2016	97.7	88 of 5614	98.4%	★★★★★
2015	97.3	158 of 5611	97.2%	★★★★★
2013	91.6	361 of 5530	93.5%	★★★★★
2012	87.0	618 of 5390	88.5%	★★★★☆
2011	88.3	545 of 5377	89.9%	★★★★☆
2010	87.4	610 of 5314	88.5%	★★★★☆
2009	86.7	659 of 5193	87.3%	★★★★☆
2008	87.5	630 of 5113	87.7%	★★★★☆
2007	92.7	362 of 5113	92.9%	★★★★★
2006	93.5	305 of 4818	93.7%	★★★★★
2005	92.3	364 of 4822	92.5%	★★★★★
2004	92.1	390 of 4809	91.9%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	98.9	27 of 2585	99.0%	★★★★★
2018	99.8	5 of 2128	99.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	94.6	297 of 5597	94.7%	★★★★★
2024	94.7	313 of 5612	94.4%	★★★★★
2023	95.0	281 of 5609	95.0%	★★★★★
2022	95.5	262 of 5635	95.4%	★★★★★
2019	96.1	156 of 5492	97.2%	★★★★★
2018	96.7	100 of 5413	98.2%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	96.4	107 of 5107	97.9%	★★★★★
2022	99.5	24 of 5084	99.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	96.1	133 of 5460	97.6%	★★★★★
2024	99.1	46 of 5517	99.2%	★★★★★
2023	98.1	78 of 5363	98.5%	★★★★★
2022	97.6	90 of 5264	98.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	96.6	139 of 5628	97.5%	★★★★★
2024	97.3	111 of 5643	98.0%	★★★★★
2023	97.8	81 of 5638	98.6%	★★★★★
2022	98.1	72 of 5663	98.7%	★★★★★
2019	97.5	83 of 5510	98.5%	★★★★★
2018	98.1	48 of 5431	99.1%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	73.7	177 of 718	75.3%	★★★★☆
2024	88.2	33 of 670	95.1%	★★★★★
2023	82.9	69 of 669	89.7%	★★★★☆
2022	74.4	151 of 610	75.2%	★★★★☆
2019	90.7	6 of 445	98.7%	★★★★★
2018	90.5	6 of 339	98.2%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	85.9	286 of 2847	90.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	84.6	249 of 2598	90.4%	★★★★★
2024	85.5	229 of 2651	91.4%	★★★★★
2023	88.0	164 of 2661	93.8%	★★★★★
2022	90.1	106 of 2726	96.1%	★★★★★
2019	86.5	206 of 2834	92.7%	★★★★★
2018	90.0	100 of 2737	96.3%	★★★★★

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)

Disabled (2019)99th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)98th percentile~ school

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

Male (2025)98th percentile~ school

Female (2025)95th percentile~ school

White (2025)90th percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2025)90th percentile-7 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)75th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics81%+43 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy80%+31 vs state

Science72%+39 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, April 28, 2018

Excellent elementary school with caring staff and rigorous standards. Large soccer/baseball field and two playgrounds plus a separate kindergarten. Small class sizes, a strong emphasis on music and art. Extracurricular programs, STEAM, a library, garden, the list goes on. All 4 children attended this school and loved it. Close Quote

Schools Near Top of the World 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
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%)	96.4	200^th of 5857 public elementary schools	96.6%		96.8	185^th of 5869 public elementary schools	96.8%	15	72.0		72.0	78.3	80.0	81.7				79.9	82.1	80.0	79.6				80.6	96.3						$36,700	$35,728	$972
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%)	98.1	66^th of 5857 public elementary schools	98.9%		94.4	392^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	93.3%	326	77.8		77.8	87.2	88.1	90.3				88.5	85.9	89.3	73.6				83.3	96.1			97.4		97.4	$17,825	$17,038	$787
Wood Canyon Elementary	Public	K-5	23431 Knollwood	Aliso Viejo	92656	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 448-0012	425	19	22.3	56.0%	158 (37.2%)	3 (0.7%)	165 (38.8%)	35 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	63 (14.8%)	70.8	1565^th of 5857 public elementary schools	73.3%		62.4	1962^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	66.6%	397	39.4		39.4	65.3	50.7	64.8				60.4	53.3	45.1	53.5				50.7	96.7	97.5	97.5	96.7	97.5	97.5	$20,959	$19,554	$1,405
Moulton Elementary	Public	K-5	29851 Highlands Ave.	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5980	538	22	24.4	30.5%	331 (61.5%)	5 (0.9%)	85 (15.8%)	35 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	81 (15.1%)	88.9	721^st of 5857 public elementary schools	87.7%		88.9	758^th of 5869 public elementary schools	87.1%	37	55.0		55.0	75.8	65.9	65.9				69.2	75.8	78.0	57.1				70.3	97.3			97.3			$17,981	$17,194	$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%)	89	714^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.8%		89.4	727^th of 5869 public elementary schools	87.6%	13	51.2		51.2	72.8	72.6	63.4				69.0	79.0	75.5	66.7				72.9							$18,631	$17,844	$787
Journey	Public, Charter	K-8	27102 Foxborough	Aliso Viejo	92656	Orange County	Journey District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 448-7232	617	25	24.6	35.2%	310 (50.2%)	6 (1.0%)	131 (21.2%)	49 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	120 (19.4%)	50.1	2586^th of 5857 public elementary schools	55.8%		62.6	1951^st of 5869 public elementary schools	66.8%	635	39.3	62.3	50.5	36.9	57.4	42.9	60.7	87.8	75.5	58.8	30.8	37.7	17.9	46.4	61.2	49.1	39.7	82.4	90.2	90.2	91.2	87.3	90.2
Don Juan Avila Elementary	Public	K-5	26278 Wood Canyon Dr.	Aliso Viejo	92656	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 349-9452	672	25	26.8	26.2%	313 (46.6%)	1 (0.1%)	104 (15.5%)	135 (20.1%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	114 (17.0%)	90.4	633^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	89.2%		91.5	603^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	89.7%	30	57.8		57.8	63.6	80.5	69.4				71.3	77.9	80.5	57.4				72.2							$15,691	$14,904	$787
Laguna Niguel Elementary	Public	K-5	27922 Niguel Heights Blvd.	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5308	456	20	22.8	32.9%	244 (53.5%)	2 (0.4%)	95 (20.8%)	53 (11.6%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.4%)	56 (12.3%)	93.4	446^th of 5857 public elementary schools	92.4%		95.2	330^th of 5869 public elementary schools	94.4%	116	59.7		59.7	78.7	77.6	72.6				76.4	85.7	77.2	61.3				75.0	94.3	96.2		94.3	94.3		$18,103	$17,316	$787
Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts	Public, Charter	K-5	29292 Crown Valley Pkwy.	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 269-3291	249	10	24.9	19.7%	146 (58.6%)	4 (1.6%)	55 (22.1%)	18 (7.2%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	22 (8.8%)	87.1	820^th of 5857 public elementary schools	86.0%		92.5	541^st of 5869 public elementary schools	90.8%	279	65.8		65.8	61.4	69.2	73.7				67.8	65.9	59.0	65.8				63.6	91.2	91.2	91.2	91.2	91.2	91.2
Community Roots Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	29292 Crown Valley Pkwy.	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Community Roots Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 831-4272	780	49	15.8	13.5%	501 (64.2%)	1 (0.1%)	116 (14.9%)	46 (5.9%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	112 (14.4%)	86.7	834^th of 5857 public elementary schools	85.8%		85.5	929^th of 5869 public elementary schools	84.2%	95	54.1	57.8	55.8	76.1	74.7	77.4	70.7	58.6	76.1	72.7	75.0	50.6	58.8	50.7	43.7	52.9	55.8	96.7

Frequently Asked Questions about Top of the World Elementary

What district is Top of the World Elementary in?

Laguna Beach Unified

Is Top of the World Elementary a good school?

Yes! Top of the World Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 200^th of 5857 California elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Top of the World Elementary attend?

Students who attend Top of the World Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Thurston Middle
High : Laguna Beach High

How many students attend Top of the World Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 536 students attended Top of the World Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Top of the World Elementary?

Students at Top of the World Elementary are 70% White, 13% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

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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.