Summary:
This analysis covers two public middle schools (grades 7-8) in the 92691 zip code of Mission Viejo, CA, both operated by the Saddleback Valley Unified district.
La Paz Intermediate is a standout, ranking in the 90th percentile of all California middle schools with exceptional proficiency rates near 70% in English and 63% in math. In contrast, Los Alisos Intermediate ranks in the 60th percentile with proficiency near 44% in English and 37% in math, performing below both district and state averages. This significant academic gap exists despite both schools having similar per-student funding and remarkably low, nearly identical rates of chronic absenteeism, which are well below state averages.
The schools serve different student populations, with Los Alisos having a much higher percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Both benefit from being in a strong district overall, but the performance difference highlights a notable disparity within the same community. For parents, La Paz Intermediate demonstrates highly effective academic results, while Los Alisos Intermediate shows more moderate performance but maintains key operational strengths like student attendance.
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