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Monte Vista Independent Study

Public Grades 7-12

1700^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 21% of California high schools

Summary

Monte Vista Independent Study is a very small, alternative public high school serving grades 7-12 within the high-performing Newport-Mesa Unified district, designed for students seeking a non-traditional, self-paced learning environment.

The school operates with significant advantages, including an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5-to-1 and per-student funding nearly double that of nearby comprehensive high schools like Corona del Mar High and Costa Mesa High. However, it faces profound challenges, most critically a chronic absenteeism rate of 78% and a dropout rate of 18%, which are dramatically higher than district and state averages. Its academic performance has been volatile, with recent test scores showing a sharp decline, and its graduation rate of 77% is well below the district average of 95%.

This pattern highlights a paradox where high resources do not currently translate to strong outcomes, a challenge also seen at the similar alternative Back Bay High. In contrast, another alternative school, Early College High, excels with a 100% graduation rate and minimal absenteeism, demonstrating that different program designs can yield vastly different results for students in non-traditional settings.

Students ?

5.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

66.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1003 Presidio Sq.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(949) 515-6690

District: Newport-Mesa Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

50.0%

White:

39.6%

Two or more races:

8.3%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Monte Vista Independent Study to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 40th percentile in 2015 → 21st in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 5 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (15% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

!Graduation rate below the California average (77% vs 88%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school15%

District avg53%

California avg41%

Middle school

2,506^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 72 pts since 2021

From top 18% (2021) to bottom 9% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

1,700^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 21%▼ down 18 pts since 2015

From bottom 40% (2015) to bottom 21% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 7High 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	77.8	1294 of 5883	78.0%	★★★★☆
2021	63.8	459 of 1417	67.6%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2021	62.0	73 of 293	75.1%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2021	55.5	154 of 602	74.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	71.9	1439 of 5635	74.5%	★★★★☆
2021	57.7	483 of 1267	61.9%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	78.5	797 of 5084	84.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2021	61.9	337 of 1110	69.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	73.2	1382 of 5663	75.6%	★★★★☆
2021	68.0	365 of 1272	71.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	76.2	584 of 2726	78.6%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	13.3	2506 of 2761	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	84.6	380 of 2781	86.3%	★★★★☆
2022	72.5	630 of 2740	77.0%	★★★★☆
2021	76.6	165 of 894	81.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	70.4	604 of 2509	75.9%	★★★★☆
2021	66.3	213 of 738	71.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	20.2	2006 of 2395	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	58.8	756 of 2359	68.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	20.3	2130 of 2542	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	94.8	83 of 2531	96.7%	★★★★★
2022	55.4	861 of 2458	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	74.1	128 of 721	82.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	89.6	256 of 2538	89.9%	★★★★☆
2022	71.7	591 of 2527	76.6%	★★★★☆
2021	84.3	95 of 763	87.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	77.0	295 of 1555	81.0%	★★★★☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	19.6	1700 of 2162	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.9	1396 of 2159	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.7	858 of 2170	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.9	554 of 2123	73.9%	★★★★☆
2021	44.6	689 of 1290	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.1	1428 of 2133	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.7	1316 of 2017	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	39.8	1244 of 2021	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	45.0	1106 of 2039	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	38.5	1204 of 1994	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	41.8	1014 of 2426	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	24.3	1463 of 2354	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	45.8	894 of 2367	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	44.0	916 of 2281	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	16.6	1900 of 2238	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	25.8	1298 of 2117	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	30.8	1112 of 2063	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	51.2	617 of 1968	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	46.0	673 of 1901	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	35.2	801 of 1653	51.5%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2021	19.7	458 of 467	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	21.2	1501 of 1915	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	58.1	716 of 1915	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.6	781 of 1858	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.5	648 of 1054	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.0	1331 of 1833	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.5	1290 of 1760	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	50.9	895 of 1917	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.1	808 of 1861	56.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	66.0	564 of 2030	72.2%	★★★★☆
2022	68.2	474 of 1943	75.6%	★★★★☆
2021	32.1	810 of 1126	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	75.8	398 of 1916	79.2%	★★★★☆
2021	40.6	646 of 1122	42.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	35.7	784 of 1193	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	15.1	1045 of 1222	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.1	988 of 1173	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Hispanic (2022)84th percentile+6 vs school

White (2022)79th percentile~ school

Male (2022)76th percentile~ school

Disabled (2021)75th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2022)74th percentile-4 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)74th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)70th percentile~ school

Middle school

Male (2023)90th percentile+4 vs school

White (2022)81st percentile+4 vs school

Female (2022)76th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)16th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)16th percentile+7 vs school

High school

Male (2022)79th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)72nd percentile+12 vs school

Hispanic (2023)53rd percentile-7 vs school

White (2023)34th percentile-26 vs school

Female (2024)22nd percentile-14 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)2nd percentile-45 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy23%-26 vs state

Science15%-18 vs state

Mathematics8%-30 vs state

★

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Schools Near Monte Vista Independent Study

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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 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 (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 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	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 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
Monte Vista Independent Study	Public	7-12	1003 Presidio Sq.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6690	48	9	5.4	66.7%	19 (39.6%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (50.0%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.3%)	19.6	1700^th of 2162 public high schools	21.4%		33.9	1396^th of 2159 public high schools	35.3%	304	12.5	11.8		14.7		12.5	33.3	23.1		12.5	0.0	7.7
Coastline Regional Occupational Program	Public	9-12	1001 Presidio Sq.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Coastline Regional Occupational Program	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(714) 979-1955	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Costa Mesa High	Public	7-12	2650 Fairview Rd.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-8700	1,730	89	19.4	73.2%	261 (15.1%)	20 (1.2%)	1,215 (70.2%)	109 (6.3%)	3 (0.2%)	23 (1.3%)	98 (5.7%)	62.4	752^nd of 2162 public high schools	65.2%		56.6	847^th of 2159 public high schools	60.8%	95	31.4	35.2		33.3	42.4	50.2	58.3	49.9	27.3	34.0	26.4	29.4	$22,919	$21,618	$1,301
Central Orange County CTE Partnership (CTEp)	Public	10-12	2910 Red Hill Ave. Ste. 200	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Central Orange County CTE Partnership (CTEp)	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(714) 966-3528	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Back Bay High	Public	9-12	390 Monte Vista Ave.	Costa Mesa	92627	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6900	143	18	8.1	79.7%	31 (21.7%)	4 (2.8%)	103 (72.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.8%)	12.1	1908^th of 2162 public high schools	11.7%		8.7	2134^th of 2159 public high schools	1.2%	226		6.3		5.4			12.5	12.5			4.3	4.3	$62,670	$60,494	$2,176
Early College High	Public	9-12	2990 Mesa Verde Dr.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-7990	177	12	14.9	65.0%	48 (27.1%)	1 (0.6%)	105 (59.3%)	14 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.0%)	98.7	21^st of 2162 public high schools	99.0%		98.3	33^rd of 2159 public high schools	98.5%	12		75.0		75.0			95.0	95.0			75.0	75.0	$33,548	$32,394	$1,154
Segerstrom High	Public	9-12	2301 West MacArthur Blvd.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 241-5000	2,376	100	23.8	80.6%	18 (0.8%)	6 (0.3%)	2,206 (92.8%)	123 (5.2%)	2 (0.1%)	5 (0.2%)	13 (0.5%)	67	657^th of 2162 public high schools	69.6%		67.8	600^th of 2159 public high schools	72.2%	57		34.6		34.6			61.7	61.7			31.5	31.5	$23,371	$22,352	$1,019
Estancia High	Public	9-12	2323 Placentia Ave.	Costa Mesa	92627	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6500	976	53	18.5	83.9%	105 (10.8%)	5 (0.5%)	819 (83.9%)	14 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.5%)	24 (2.5%)	59.2	845^th of 2162 public high schools	60.9%		62.3	714^th of 2159 public high schools	66.9%	131		31.3		31.3			63.0	63.0			22.3	22.3	$25,313	$23,916	$1,397
Saddleback High	Public	7-12	2801 South Flower	Santa Ana	92707	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 513-2900	1,451	78	18.5	94.0%	12 (0.8%)	6 (0.4%)	1,390 (95.8%)	32 (2.2%)	4 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	23.3	1628^th of 2162 public high schools	24.7%		27.1	1550^th of 2159 public high schools	28.2%	78	20.4	13.4		14.2	45.2	36.7	30.1	33.1	38.7	30.6	9.9	16.5	$26,888	$26,032	$856
Corona del Mar High	Public	7-12	2101 Eastbluff Dr.	Newport Beach	92660	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6000	2,106	96	21.8	22.9%	1,295 (61.5%)	17 (0.8%)	297 (14.1%)	277 (13.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.3%)	213 (10.1%)	87.7	252^nd of 2162 public high schools	88.3%		86.6	292^nd of 2159 public high schools	86.5%	40	44.2	48.1	11.1	45.3	66.8	68.8	75.4	70.6	56.5	59.6	53.4	56.4	$21,193	$20,450	$743

Frequently Asked Questions about Monte Vista Independent Study

How many students attend Monte Vista Independent Study?

In the 2024-25 school year, 48 students attended Monte Vista Independent Study.

What district is Monte Vista Independent Study in?

Newport-Mesa Unified

What is the racial makeup of Monte Vista Independent Study?

Students at Monte Vista Independent Study are 50% Hispanic, 40% White, 8% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is Monte Vista Independent Study a good school?

Monte Vista Independent Study ranks in the bottom 21.4% of California high schools.

Rate Monte Vista Independent Study!

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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.