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Paularino Elementary

Q: Is Paularino Elementary a good school?

Paularino Elementary ranks 2928 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

2928^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of California elementary schools

Summary

Paularino Elementary is a K-6 public school serving 371 students in Costa Mesa, part of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, with a current statewide academic ranking right in the middle at the 50th percentile.

When compared to other schools in its own district, Paularino's academic performance is a notable area for attention. Its test scores in English, math, and science are below the district average, and it ranks lower than nearby schools like Maude B. Davis Elementary (92nd percentile), California Elementary (82nd), and Killybrooke Elementary (77th). This is despite Paularino having a high per-student spending level and a relatively low student-teacher ratio, suggesting classroom resources are not the primary challenge.

The school faces specific hurdles, including a chronic absenteeism rate higher than the district average, though it has improved significantly from pandemic highs. Performance has declined over several years, with particularly sharp drops in effectiveness for English Language Learners. Academic challenges are more pronounced in upper grades and in subjects like 6th-grade math and science. While Paularino performs better than some schools in neighboring Santa Ana Unified, within its own district it is an opportunity for targeted improvement, especially for its vulnerable student populations.

371

Students ?

15.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,777

Per pupil spending ?

70.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1060 Paularino Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-2849

(714) 424-7950

District: Newport-Mesa Unified

Students who attend Paularino Elementary usually attend:

High:

Costa Mesa High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

65.2%

White:

17.0%

Asian:

7.5%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Paularino Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 59th percentile in 2015 → 50th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the California median (50th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2015

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

!Near the bottom of Newport-Mesa Unified's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg53%

California avg41%

2,928^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▼ down 9 pts since 2015

From top 41% (2015) to top 50% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

17^th of 21Elementary Schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified

437^th 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	44.3	2928 of 5857	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.6	2755 of 5869	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.7	2590 of 5859	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.2	2171 of 5883	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.9	623 of 1417	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.3	1827 of 5789	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.6	1934 of 5662	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	59.1	2064 of 5692	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.8	1819 of 5614	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	52.6	2311 of 5611	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	45.1	2998 of 5530	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.8	2891 of 5390	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.4	3212 of 5377	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	47.8	2703 of 5314	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	57.4	2054 of 5193	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	58.6	1915 of 5113	62.5%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	25.0	2842 of 3162	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.5	3115 of 3245	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	79.9	315 of 3275	90.4%	★★★★★
2018	74.8	451 of 3246	86.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	40.1	3077 of 5597	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.6	2948 of 5612	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.8	2646 of 5609	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.3	2014 of 5635	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.9	574 of 1267	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.4	2205 of 5492	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.3	2579 of 5413	52.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	41.4	2922 of 5107	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.1	2392 of 5107	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.4	2460 of 5087	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.2	1511 of 5084	70.3%	★★★★☆
2019	73.3	998 of 4963	79.9%	★★★★☆
2018	68.0	1236 of 4830	74.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	41.5	3058 of 5460	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.4	2645 of 5517	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.0	1936 of 5363	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.0	1621 of 5264	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.0	248 of 1110	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	81.7	633 of 5173	87.8%	★★★★☆
2018	75.0	914 of 5084	82.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	48.0	2612 of 5628	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.3	2451 of 5643	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.0	2449 of 5638	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.9	2197 of 5663	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.7	532 of 1272	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.6	1494 of 5510	72.9%	★★★★☆
2018	73.9	1324 of 5431	75.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	65.7	980 of 2834	65.4%	★★★☆☆

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)

White (2019)65th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)54th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)45th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)44th percentile-6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)43rd percentile-7 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)10th percentile-43 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy41%-8 vs state

Mathematics38%~ state avg

Science24%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paularino Elementary

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 (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 5th 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 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 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
Paularino Elementary	Public	K-6	1060 Paularino Ave.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-7950	371	23	15.8	70.6%	63 (17.0%)	8 (2.2%)	242 (65.2%)	28 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	28 (7.5%)	44.3	2928^th of 5857 public elementary schools	50.0%		46.6	2755^th of 5869 public elementary schools	53.1%	173	23.5	23.5	51.2	40.4	33.3	38.1	41.1	48.8	44.7	36.4	22.0	38.3							$27,777	$2,388	$25,389
Sonora Elementary	Public	K-6	966 Sonora Rd.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-7955	367	19	18.8	74.7%	56 (15.3%)	1 (0.3%)	263 (71.7%)	19 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.9%)	21 (5.7%)	67.1	1741^st of 5857 public elementary schools	70.3%		58.4	2129^th of 5869 public elementary schools	63.7%	388	43.2	43.2	48.9	64.8	57.1	58.8	57.7	44.7	51.8	40.9	41.2	45.0	96.7						$25,657	$2,278	$23,379
Killybrooke Elementary	Public	K-6	3155 Killybrooke Ln.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-7945	473	26	18.1	71.0%	98 (20.7%)	10 (2.1%)	294 (62.2%)	32 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.0%)	76	1330^th of 5857 public elementary schools	77.3%		77	1292^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	78.0%	38	37.5	37.5	74.1	50.0	56.3	70.5	63.0	69.0	51.6	43.8	57.4	55.9	95.3			96.9			$24,573	$2,153	$22,420
Maude B. Davis Elementary	Public	K-6	1050 Arlington Dr.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-7930	570	24	23.3	33.2%	252 (44.2%)	4 (0.7%)	164 (28.8%)	64 (11.2%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	82 (14.4%)	93.5	440^th of 5857 public elementary schools	92.5%		90.5	669^th of 5869 public elementary schools	88.6%	229	57.1	57.1	84.4	80.8	70.2	80.0	78.7	81.8	79.5	61.9	68.8	72.7	97.0	97.0			97.0		$23,292	$1,674	$21,618
Greenville Fundamental Elementary	Public	K-5	3600 South Raitt St.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 558-3400	817	34	23.9	79.9%	19 (2.3%)	6 (0.7%)	725 (88.7%)	46 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.6%)	45.4	2858^th of 5857 public elementary schools	51.2%		47.9	2669^th of 5869 public elementary schools	54.5%	189	25.9	25.9	39.0	50.0	49.7		46.2	36.3	41.9	30.1		35.8	92.1	94.1	96.1	96.7	94.7	96.7	$23,601	$981	$22,620
Jim Thorpe Fundamental	Public	K-5	2450 West Alton	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 430-5800	738	29	25.3	71.8%	14 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	661 (89.6%)	45 (6.1%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	15 (2.0%)	49.2	2640^th of 5857 public elementary schools	54.9%		56.5	2214^th of 5869 public elementary schools	62.3%	426	26.5	26.5	40.3	54.4	48.7		47.7	41.5	43.7	30.8		38.9	97.4	97.4		98.0	97.4	98.0	$23,169	$823	$22,346
California Elementary	Public	K-6	3232 California Ave.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-7940	373	21	17.3	41.3%	178 (47.7%)	7 (1.9%)	139 (37.3%)	18 (4.8%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	27 (7.2%)	82.6	1039^th of 5857 public elementary schools	82.3%		74.9	1368^th of 5869 public elementary schools	76.7%	329	41.5	41.5	68.2	67.6	69.8	58.5	65.8	72.7	56.8	64.2	54.7	62.0							$24,155	$1,642	$22,513
College Park Elementary	Public	K-6	2380 Notre Dame Rd.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-7960	473	25	18.6	78.4%	68 (14.4%)	2 (0.4%)	368 (77.8%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	27 (5.7%)	42.1	3062^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	47.7%		32.7	3717^th of 5869 public elementary schools	36.7%	655	25.7	25.7	43.8	35.2	47.1	36.1	41.1	51.3	27.3	37.1	19.4	35.2							$25,489	$2,196	$23,293
Taft Elementary	Public	K-6	500 West Keller	Santa Ana	92707	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 431-7700	408	26	15.6	85.3%	15 (3.7%)	1 (0.2%)	366 (89.7%)	17 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (2.0%)	10.6	5594^th of 5857 public elementary schools	4.5%		11.3	5597^th of 5869 public elementary schools	4.6%	3	5.9	5.9	19.0	7.8	28.6	18.0	17.6	25.0	9.4	5.9	12.2	13.4	81.6	81.6		81.6	81.6	81.6	$36,532	$3,146	$33,386
Adams Elementary	Public	K-6	2850 Club House Rd.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-7935	321	23	13.7	73.8%	54 (16.8%)	6 (1.9%)	237 (73.8%)	12 (3.7%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.1%)	73	1473^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	74.9%		59.6	2081^st of 5869 public elementary schools	64.5%	608	40.0	40.0	65.6	65.6	57.6	68.2	64.5	48.5	59.4	45.7	40.0	47.6							$28,051	$2,405	$25,646

Frequently Asked Questions about Paularino Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Paularino Elementary?

Students at Paularino Elementary are 65% Hispanic, 17% White, 8% Asian, 8% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What district is Paularino Elementary in?

Newport-Mesa Unified

How many students attend Paularino Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 371 students attended Paularino Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Paularino Elementary attend?

Students who attend Paularino Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Costa Mesa High

Is Paularino Elementary a good school?

Paularino Elementary ranks 2928^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Paularino Elementary!

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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.