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Costa Mesa High

Public Grades 7-12
752nd
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 2,162 California High Schools
Better than 65% of California high schools
Summary

Costa Mesa High is a large public school serving grades 7-12 in the Newport-Mesa Unified district, with about 1,730 students, and it performs solidly given that over 70% of its students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The school's greatest strength is its 94% graduation rate, which is strong and exceeds the state average, showing a real commitment to helping students complete their education. Academically, English scores are near the state average, but math and science proficiency are areas where the school, like many in the area, faces challenges. It's useful to compare it to similar schools: it performs better in math than nearby Estancia High, which serves a similar population, but lags behind the exceptional, specialized Early College High. The school also shows notable effectiveness in supporting homeless students.

When looking at the wider Newport-Mesa Unified district, there's a clear performance range from the highest-achieving comprehensive schools like Corona del Mar High to alternative programs. Costa Mesa High occupies a middle ground as a comprehensive neighborhood school, doing a commendable job with graduation and supporting vulnerable groups, while working to improve academic mastery and address a chronic absenteeism rate that is higher than the district average.

1,730
Students ?
19.4
Student/teacher ratio ?
$22,919
Per pupil spending ?
73.2%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 2650 Fairview Rd.
       Costa Mesa, CA  92626-5537

(714) 424-8700

District: Newport-Mesa Unified


Feeder schools for Costa Mesa High:

Elementary:    College Park Elementary
    Killybrooke Elementary
    Paularino Elementary
    Sonora Elementary
Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
70.2%
White:
15.1%
Asian:
6.3%
more
 See top rated California high schools

 Compare Costa Mesa High to nearby high schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Holding steady — 67th percentile in 2015 → 65th in 2025
Strengths
94% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)
Above the California median (65th percentile)
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school38%
District avg53%
California avg41%
Middle school
1,210th of 2,761
California public middle schools ?
Top 44%▲ up 1 pts since 2015
See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
752nd of 2,162
California public high schools ?
Top 35%▼ down 2 pts since 2015
See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
4th of 7High Schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified
437th of 1,543Newport-Mesa 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)
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202548.91210 of 276156.2%★★★☆☆
202452.81080 of 278361.2%★★★☆☆
202352.31096 of 278160.6%★★★☆☆
202252.01111 of 274059.5%★★★☆☆
201956.1993 of 271563.4%★★★☆☆
201847.81142 of 248054.0%★★★☆☆
201746.21213 of 250851.6%★★★☆☆
201642.91296 of 249748.1%★★☆☆☆
201549.41114 of 247755.0%★★★☆☆
201356.1990 of 237958.4%★★★☆☆
201252.91028 of 225954.5%★★★☆☆
201156.9909 of 223659.3%★★★☆☆
201054.0928 of 217957.4%★★★☆☆
200955.3847 of 206358.9%★★★☆☆
200846.21009 of 200549.7%★★☆☆☆
200744.91012 of 199949.4%★★☆☆☆
200649.2835 of 180453.7%★★★☆☆
200555.1699 of 177760.7%★★★☆☆
200443.2916 of 176948.2%★★☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202564.4304 of 73958.9%★★★☆☆
202466.8284 of 74361.8%★★★☆☆
202376.1152 of 71578.7%★★★★☆
201970.7242 of 74567.5%★★★☆☆
201852.5399 of 70043.0%★★☆☆☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202240.2755 of 153150.7%★★★☆☆
201961.0386 of 149174.1%★★★★☆
201847.9521 of 136961.9%★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202442.8630 of 147857.4%★★★☆☆
202357.1321 of 152178.9%★★★★☆
202233.81033 of 154032.9%★★☆☆☆
201950.2422 of 144270.7%★★★★☆
201829.31035 of 136424.1%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202547.91164 of 253354.0%★★★☆☆
202451.41027 of 255159.7%★★★☆☆
202351.91008 of 253160.2%★★★☆☆
202251.41037 of 250958.7%★★★☆☆
201951.51021 of 238057.1%★★★☆☆
201843.41200 of 226246.9%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202542.21277 of 239546.7%★★☆☆☆
202444.41143 of 238852.1%★★★☆☆
202348.21029 of 237456.7%★★★☆☆
202253.0915 of 235961.2%★★★☆☆
201947.81004 of 221354.6%★★★☆☆
201839.91182 of 207243.0%★★☆☆☆

Homeless

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202549.2206 of 47756.8%★★★☆☆
202453.4138 of 39465.0%★★★☆☆
202332.2226 of 32029.4%★☆☆☆☆
202231.0245 of 33627.1%★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202543.11297 of 254249.0%★★☆☆☆
202449.11074 of 257958.4%★★★☆☆
202351.6969 of 253161.7%★★★☆☆
202250.31011 of 245858.9%★★★☆☆
201955.3871 of 236963.2%★★★☆☆
201842.51181 of 223047.0%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202548.21137 of 253455.1%★★★☆☆
202451.71020 of 255260.0%★★★☆☆
202351.51017 of 253859.9%★★★☆☆
202251.81005 of 252760.2%★★★☆☆
201957.6859 of 240764.3%★★★☆☆
201850.0987 of 227356.6%★★★☆☆

Military Connected

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202442.3105 of 19245.3%★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202559.8298 of 72659.0%★★★☆☆
202472.8180 of 70174.3%★★★★☆
202358.5288 of 67757.5%★★★☆☆
202251.8328 of 66550.7%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202548.1613 of 156660.9%★★★☆☆
202455.6470 of 155269.7%★★★☆☆
202348.9577 of 153162.3%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202554.8685 of 152054.9%★★★☆☆
202469.6439 of 153771.4%★★★★☆
202362.8534 of 154365.4%★★★☆☆
202264.3511 of 155567.1%★★★☆☆
201969.4461 of 160271.2%★★★★☆
201863.1553 of 149663.0%★★★☆☆
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202562.4752 of 216265.2%★★★☆☆
202456.6847 of 215960.8%★★★☆☆
202357.4813 of 217062.5%★★★☆☆
202266.1595 of 212372.0%★★★★☆
202165.1410 of 129068.2%★★★☆☆
201959.4756 of 213364.6%★★★☆☆
201855.7893 of 201755.7%★★★☆☆
201757.9841 of 202158.4%★★★☆☆
201653.6933 of 203954.2%★★★☆☆
201565.3652 of 199467.3%★★★☆☆
201355.4644 of 242673.5%★★★★☆
201262.8471 of 235480.0%★★★★☆
201171.6278 of 236788.3%★★★★☆
201074.6207 of 228190.9%★★★★★
200967.3299 of 223886.6%★★★★☆
200859.3489 of 211776.9%★★★★☆
200761.4428 of 206379.3%★★★★☆
200657.6515 of 196873.8%★★★★☆
200565.6328 of 190182.7%★★★★☆
200462.6301 of 165381.8%★★★★☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202455.9303 of 57347.1%★★☆☆☆
202387.931 of 59194.8%★★★★★
202254.9300 of 58148.4%★★☆☆☆
201945.6363 of 58237.6%★★☆☆☆
201822.4470 of 58119.1%★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202249.8397 of 116165.8%★★★☆☆
202141.3280 of 55549.5%★★★☆☆
201929.3786 of 111729.6%★☆☆☆☆
201822.3897 of 105214.7%★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202432.3788 of 108527.4%★☆☆☆☆
202327.4898 of 106415.6%★☆☆☆☆
202264.7156 of 104485.1%★★★★☆
202154.4150 of 46767.9%★★★☆☆
201935.7581 of 94138.3%★★☆☆☆
201828.6665 of 93829.1%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202557.0782 of 190659.0%★★★☆☆
202449.8898 of 191553.1%★★★☆☆
202352.6831 of 191556.6%★★★☆☆
202260.4610 of 185867.2%★★★☆☆
202163.7352 of 105466.6%★★★☆☆
201953.9757 of 183358.7%★★★☆☆
201847.6946 of 176046.3%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202554.8834 of 190056.1%★★★☆☆
202452.7845 of 190255.6%★★★☆☆
202346.1998 of 191747.9%★★☆☆☆
202259.1631 of 186166.1%★★★☆☆
201953.4793 of 181456.3%★★★☆☆
201846.5983 of 174243.6%★★☆☆☆

Homeless

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202572.586 of 41079.0%★★★★☆
202476.853 of 32883.8%★★★★☆
202336.4183 of 29938.8%★★☆☆☆
202274.844 of 29084.8%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202562.0707 of 201364.9%★★★☆☆
202455.5823 of 202659.4%★★★☆☆
202352.7883 of 203056.5%★★★☆☆
202264.3555 of 194371.4%★★★★☆
202162.5368 of 112667.3%★★★☆☆
201956.3762 of 193760.7%★★★☆☆
201850.6944 of 186249.3%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202562.1674 of 194265.3%★★★☆☆
202459.0712 of 194863.4%★★★☆☆
202357.4719 of 196363.4%★★★☆☆
202267.2529 of 191672.4%★★★★☆
202159.9405 of 112263.9%★★★☆☆
201957.3712 of 188062.1%★★★☆☆
201857.5769 of 183458.1%★★★☆☆

Military Connected

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202514.8154 of 17512.0%★☆☆☆☆
202417.0157 of 18314.2%★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202570.1168 of 57770.9%★★★★☆
202451.1293 of 57449.0%★★☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202548.4507 of 125259.5%★★★☆☆
202442.7568 of 121653.3%★★★☆☆
202345.9508 of 119757.6%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202581.7176 of 115584.8%★★★★☆
202464.4423 of 117363.9%★★★☆☆
202361.9452 of 119362.1%★★★☆☆
202278.9223 of 120481.5%★★★★☆
201959.5492 of 122259.7%★★★☆☆
201868.5397 of 117366.2%★★★☆☆
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)
Middle school
Special Education (2025)61st percentile+5 vs school
Multi-racial (2025)59th percentile+3 vs school
Asian (2025)59th percentile+3 vs school
English Language Learner (2024)57th percentile-4 vs school
Homeless (2025)57th percentile~ school
Male (2025)55th percentile~ school
White (2025)55th percentile~ school
Female (2025)54th percentile~ school
Disabled (2022)51st percentile-9 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)49th percentile-7 vs school
Hispanic (2025)47th percentile-9 vs school
Military Connected (2024)45th percentile-16 vs school
High school
White (2025)85th percentile+20 vs school
Homeless (2025)79th percentile+14 vs school
Multi-racial (2025)71st percentile+6 vs school
Disabled (2022)66th percentile-6 vs school
Male (2025)65th percentile~ school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)65th percentile~ school
Special Education (2025)60th percentile-6 vs school
Female (2025)59th percentile-6 vs school
Hispanic (2025)56th percentile-9 vs school
Asian (2024)47th percentile-14 vs school
English Language Learner (2024)27th percentile-33 vs school
Military Connected (2025)12th percentile-53 vs school
By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?
English Language Arts/Literacy50%~ state avg
Science33%~ state avg
Mathematics29%-8 vs state

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Schools Near Costa Mesa High

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Frequently Asked Questions about Costa Mesa High

Costa Mesa High ranks 752nd of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Costa Mesa High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : College Park Elementary
Elementary : Killybrooke Elementary
Elementary : Paularino Elementary
Elementary : Sonora Elementary

Students at Costa Mesa High are 70% Hispanic, 15% White, 6% Asian, 6% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander, 1% African American.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,730 students attended Costa Mesa High.


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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.





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