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Saddleback High

Q: Is Saddleback High a good school?

Saddleback High ranks 1597 th of 2135 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 7-12

1597^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,135 California High Schools

Better than 25% of California high schools

Summary

Saddleback High serves 1,451 students in grades 7–12 in Santa Ana, part of Santa Ana Unified. Its 2025–26 results are mixed: graduation is strong, while test proficiency and attendance point to areas needing attention. The most important academic takeaway is that English language arts (ELA) stands out locally, but math and science remain well below state proficiency levels.

ELA is Saddleback’s clearest strength: 43% of students were proficient, compared with 33% in the district and 49% statewide. Among seven nearby district schools with results, Saddleback ranked third, behind Hector G. Godinez and Segerstrom High. Math was weaker: 19% were proficient, 19 percentage points below the state, and slightly below the district. Science proficiency was also below the state. Within Saddleback, middle-grade scores were stronger: eighth-grade science proficiency was 39%, above both the state’s 35% and the district’s 18%, while 11th-grade science was 15%. Graduation was 94%, above district and state rates, but chronic absenteeism was 25%, higher than both. Because Saddleback serves grades 7–12 and nearby high schools generally serve grades 9–12, all-grades comparisons are not perfectly like-for-like.

Results in all three subjects improved from 2022–23 to 2025–26, though math and science gains were modest: ELA rose 7 percentage points, math 4, and science 6. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking was at the 25th percentile with 1 star, down 2 percentile points from 2022–23. Saddleback’s student-teacher ratio was 18.5 in 2024–25, close to the nearby-school average of about 18.5. Its 2024–25 measure was 94% free/reduced lunch eligible; nearby district schools averaged 90%. California is a statewide free-meals state, so this figure is context about the reported measure, not a direct indicator of access to free meals. SchoolDigger’s effectiveness ranking for Military Connected Students was at the 4th percentile in 2025–26, 21 points below Saddleback’s overall percentile. For Homeless Students, the ranking was at the 35th percentile, down 38 points from 2023–24; these rankings describe how well the school serves each group.

1,451

Students ?

18.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,888

Per pupil spending ?

94.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

2801 South Flower
Santa Ana, CA 92707-3935

(714) 513-2900

District: Santa Ana Unified

Feeder schools for Saddleback High:

Elementary:	Franklin Elementary
	Manuel Esqueda Elementary
	Martin Elementary
	Taft Elementary
	More...
	Washington Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

95.8%

Asian:

2.2%

White:

0.8%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Saddleback High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 38th percentile in 2016 → 25th in 2026

Strengths

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (28% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school28%

District avg26%

California avg42%

Middle school

826^th of 2,740

California public middle schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 7 pts since 2017

From top 37% (2017) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

1,597^th of 2,135

California public high schools ?

Bottom 25%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 38% (2016) to bottom 25% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 9High Schools in the Santa Ana Unified

1257^th of 1,530Santa Ana 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

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	64.2	826 of 2740	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.3	1349 of 2761	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.3	904 of 2783	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.0	697 of 2781	74.9%	★★★★☆
2022	56.1	996 of 2740	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.0	481 of 894	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.4	1221 of 2715	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.4	998 of 2480	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.2	940 of 2508	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	51.8	1040 of 2516	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.2	1454 of 2533	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.8	1188 of 2551	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.2	611 of 2531	75.9%	★★★★☆
2022	60.6	802 of 2509	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.0	420 of 738	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.7	1634 of 2380	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.3	1034 of 2262	54.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	75.8	401 of 2357	83.0%	★★★★☆
2025	56.1	851 of 2395	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.8	424 of 2388	82.2%	★★★★☆
2023	81.4	289 of 2374	87.8%	★★★★☆
2022	64.4	623 of 2359	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	54.7	816 of 2213	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.8	538 of 2072	74.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	77.8	372 of 2529	85.3%	★★★★☆
2025	53.3	968 of 2542	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.3	447 of 2579	82.7%	★★★★☆
2023	85.4	239 of 2531	90.6%	★★★★★
2022	70.7	504 of 2458	79.5%	★★★★☆
2021	64.0	193 of 721	73.2%	★★★★☆
2019	54.0	903 of 2369	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.0	604 of 2230	72.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	72.7	563 of 2514	77.6%	★★★★☆
2025	49.6	1100 of 2534	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.1	630 of 2552	75.3%	★★★★☆
2022	40.1	1337 of 2527	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.5	369 of 763	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.2	506 of 2407	79.0%	★★★★☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	23.9	1597 of 2135	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.3	1628 of 2162	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.1	1550 of 2159	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.8	1579 of 2170	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	37.8	1239 of 2123	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.2	1028 of 1290	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.8	1533 of 2133	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.9	1268 of 2017	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	31.1	1360 of 2021	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	35.2	1274 of 2039	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	26.1	1411 of 1994	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	26.9	1413 of 2426	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	27.4	1374 of 2354	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	30.7	1295 of 2367	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	28.1	1331 of 2281	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	27.0	1532 of 2238	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2008	21.3	1487 of 2117	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	26.7	1244 of 2063	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	26.7	1190 of 1968	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	32.2	988 of 1901	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	26.7	1022 of 1653	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	36.8	642 of 1161	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.1	436 of 555	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.3	970 of 1117	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.5	669 of 1052	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	36.4	674 of 1085	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.9	610 of 1064	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.5	601 of 1044	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.3	296 of 467	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.0	635 of 941	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.9	494 of 938	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	27.8	1368 of 1864	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.3	1545 of 1906	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.4	1431 of 1915	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.1	1444 of 1915	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.3	1265 of 1858	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.5	889 of 1054	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.9	1430 of 1833	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.8	1181 of 1760	32.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	26.4	1404 of 1880	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.2	1461 of 1900	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.4	1315 of 1902	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.4	1353 of 1917	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	44.6	968 of 1861	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.7	1281 of 1814	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.8	1076 of 1742	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	34.2	232 of 358	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.2	264 of 410	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.8	90 of 328	72.6%	★★★★☆
2023	45.3	143 of 299	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.2	117 of 290	59.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	27.5	1469 of 1997	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.1	1508 of 2013	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.0	1430 of 2026	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.5	1423 of 2030	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	43.9	1022 of 1943	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.6	874 of 1126	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.5	1378 of 1937	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	43.9	1102 of 1862	40.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	16.5	1570 of 1930	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.0	1433 of 1942	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.8	1428 of 1948	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.8	1466 of 1963	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.6	1040 of 1916	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	16.7	936 of 1122	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.1	1373 of 1880	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.8	1220 of 1834	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	7.6	150 of 156	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.8	171 of 183	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.6	180 of 190	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	20.6	1076 of 1235	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.9	955 of 1252	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.8	1091 of 1216	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.2	586 of 1197	51.0%	★★★☆☆

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

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)85th percentile+15 vs school

Hispanic (2026)83rd percentile+13 vs school

Male (2026)78th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)59th percentile-11 vs school

High school

Disabled (2022)45th percentile+3 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)38th percentile+10 vs school

Homeless (2026)35th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)27th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)26th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)25th percentile~ school

Male (2026)19th percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2026)13th percentile-12 vs school

Military Connected (2026)4th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy43%-6 vs state

Science19%-17 vs state

Mathematics19%-19 vs state

5.0

1 rating

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4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Saddleback High

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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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)				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 8th Grade	CAST Science 10th 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
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%)	23.9	1597^th of 2135 public high schools	25.2%		23.3	1628^th of 2162 public high schools	24.7%	31	39.0		14.8		19.3	61.5	71.2	32.2	43.1	33.9	32.2	12.6	19.2	$26,888	$26,032	$856
Cesar E. Chavez High	Public	9-12	2128 South Cypress	Santa Ana	92707	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 430-5700	350	21	16.4	97.1%	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	346 (98.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	7.3	2096^th of 2135 public high schools	1.8%		10.2	2010^th of 2162 public high schools	7.0%	86			1.5	0.0	1.2			6.5	6.5			0.0	0.0	$35,734	$34,860	$874
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%)	65.5	699^th of 2135 public high schools	67.3%		67	657^th of 2162 public high schools	69.6%	42			40.8		40.4			64.5	64.5			27.6	27.6	$23,371	$22,352	$1,019
Vista Meridian Global Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	1300 S. Bristol St.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Vista Meridian Global Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 988-2719	260	11	24.7	—	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	252 (96.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	26.1	1563^rd of 2135 public high schools	26.8%					(n/a)		26.1			22.2			34.8	34.8			4.4	4.4	$40,596	$39,752	$844
Valley High	Public	9-12	1801 South Greenville St.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 241-6410	1,908	107	17.8	91.4%	9 (0.5%)	2 (0.1%)	1,848 (96.9%)	40 (2.1%)	4 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	21.8	1621^st of 2135 public high schools	24.1%		37.9	1312^th of 2162 public high schools	39.3%	309			9.9		9.8			31.9	31.9			12.7	12.7	$27,800	$26,784	$1,016
Lorin Griset Academy	Public	9-12	1915 West McFadden	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 648-2900	283	17	16.3	93.6%	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	279 (98.6%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8.8	2013^th of 2135 public high schools	5.7%		9.9	2024^th of 2162 public high schools	6.4%	11			1.6	14.3	3.9			7.7	7.7			0.0	0.0	$36,289	$35,616	$673
Hector G. Godinez	Public	9-12	3002 Centennial Rd.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 433-6790	1,687	88	19.1	89.2%	7 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	1,650 (97.8%)	20 (1.2%)	6 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	59.7	823^rd of 2135 public high schools	61.5%		64.1	711^th of 2162 public high schools	67.1%	112			31.4		31.5			69.8	69.8			24.6	24.6	$25,931	$24,980	$951
Century High	Public	9-12	1401 South Grand Ave.	Santa Ana	92705	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 568-7000	1,519	93	16.3	89.6%	9 (0.6%)	4 (0.3%)	1,450 (95.5%)	42 (2.8%)	3 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	5 (0.3%)	23.4	1604^th of 2135 public high schools	24.9%		28.9	1503^rd of 2162 public high schools	30.5%	101			14.6		14.2			30.7	30.7			13.1	13.1	$28,861	$27,956	$905
Santa Ana High	Public	9-12	520 West Walnut	Santa Ana	92701	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 567-4900	2,505	127	19.7	90.6%	10 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	2,474 (98.8%)	8 (0.3%)	7 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.1%)	25.4	1575^th of 2135 public high schools	26.2%		33.7	1408^th of 2162 public high schools	34.9%	167			16.1	0.0	15.5			34.8	34.8			12.5	12.5	$27,618	$26,612	$1,006
Nova Academy Early College High	Public, Charter	9-12	500 West Santa Ana Blvd.	Santa Ana	92701	Orange County	Nova Academy Early College High District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 569-0948	288	15	19.0	88.9%	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	271 (94.1%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	37.2	1340^th of 2135 public high schools	37.2%		32.3	1441^st of 2162 public high schools	33.3%	101				7.2	7.2			63.3	63.3			11.3	11.3

Frequently Asked Questions about Saddleback High

What district is Saddleback High in?

Santa Ana Unified

What is the racial makeup of Saddleback High?

Students at Saddleback High are 96% Hispanic, 2% Asian.

Is Saddleback High a good school?

Saddleback High ranks 1597^th of 2135 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Saddleback High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,451 students attended Saddleback High.

What schools feed into Saddleback High?

Saddleback High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Franklin Elementary
Elementary : Manuel Esqueda Elementary
Elementary : Martin Elementary
Elementary : Taft Elementary
Elementary : Washington Elementary

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Latest California data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

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

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

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 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.