Best Schools in Costa Mesa, California
55 schools · 36 Elementary · 2 Middle · 9 High · 8 Other
Choosing a school in Costa Mesa?
Use this page to compare every school in Costa Mesa by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Early College High
High · Newport-mesa Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Newport Elementary
Elementary · Newport-mesa Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
California Elementary
Elementary · Newport-mesa Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Costa Mesa for 2026 are Early College High (9.5/10), Newport Elementary (9.4/10), and California Elementary (9.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 47 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
55
39 public · 16 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$1,056,300
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
55
39 public · 16 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$1,056,300
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 9.5/10 despite 64% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Costa Mesa schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +16.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Costa Mesa schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Costa Mesa
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (47 of 55). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early College High | 9.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Newport Elementary | 9.4 / 10 |
| 3 | California Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Heinz Kaiser Elementary | 9.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Roy O. Andersen Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Horace Ensign Intermediate | 8.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Maude B. Davis Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Newport Coast Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Adams Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Everett A. Rea Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.3/10
- Median household income
- $111,333
- Median home value
- $1,056,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 44%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 40%
65% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Costa Mesa compares
California rank
#114 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.0
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$111k
112% of California median
Schools in this city
48
About Schools in Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa's public school system covers 38 ranked schools, spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels. The city sits within two primary districts and delivers consistently solid results — the average school score across all 38 ranked schools is 7.2 out of 10, and 53% of schools (20 out of 38) score 7 or higher. That performance floor is a meaningful signal for parents: more than half the city's public schools clear a threshold that many comparable California cities struggle to reach collectively.
Elementary options lead the city's performance profile. Abraham Lincoln Elementary earns the highest score in Costa Mesa at 9.1 out of 10, placing it among the strongest elementary schools in the region. Victoria Elementary, Heinz Kaiser Elementary, and Everett A. Rea Elementary each score 9.0, giving families in the right attendance zones access to four high-performing elementary campuses within a single city. The concentration of top-tier elementary schools in Costa Mesa is notable — parents with younger children have real, concrete choices at the upper end of the rating scale.
At the secondary level, Estancia High scores 8.6 out of 10, making it a standout option and one of the better-performing public high schools in Orange County by this metric. Parents researching high school options in Costa Mesa have at least one strong, well-documented public choice to evaluate alongside any private or charter alternatives.
The practical takeaway: Costa Mesa's school landscape rewards parents who look carefully at attendance boundaries. The gap between the city's top schools (9.0–9.1) and the overall average (7.2) is significant, so where you live within the city directly affects which schools your child can access without a transfer request. Families should verify current enrollment boundaries early, since the highest-rated elementary campuses are geographically concentrated. For most families, Costa Mesa offers a stronger-than-average baseline, with a cluster of genuinely high-performing schools at the top — a combination that makes it a competitive choice for parents prioritizing public school quality in Southern California.
Elementary Schools
36 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 331 students · Kindergarten–6th | 9.4 |
| 2 | 366 students · Kindergarten–6th | 9.2 |
| 3 | 520 students · 3rd–6th | 9.1 |
| 4 | 324 students · Kindergarten–6th | 9.0 |
| 5 | 560 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.9 |
| 6 | 469 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.9 |
| 7 | 326 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.9 |
| 8 | 346 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.7 |
| 9 | 445 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.5 |
| 10 | 338 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.4 |
Show all 36 elementary schools in Costa Mesa
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 924 students · 7th–8th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 514 students · 7th–8th | 6.7 |
High Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 students · 9th–12th | 9.5 | ||
| 2 | 2,217 students · 9th–12th | 8.2 | ||
| 3 | 1,030 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 | ||
| 4 | 1,761 students · 7th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 5 | 2,042 students · 7th–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 6 | 156 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 7 | 62 students · 7th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 8 | 150 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Waldorf School of Orange County
Private
280 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 152 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 2 | 428 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 3 | 280 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 4 | 183 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 5 | 1,525 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.5 | ||
| 6 | 353 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.2 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Renascence School International
Private
140 students · Pre-K–9th | 8.6 | ||
| 2 | 277 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.8 | ||
Schools in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California · 55 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$111,333
Median Home Value
$1,056,300
Median Rent
$2,410/mo
Population
111,320
College Educated
44%
Homeownership
40%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Community Profile
Costa Mesa has a median household income of $111,333. It is a well-educated community where 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,056,300, with a median rent of $2,410/month. The local poverty rate of 8.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 36
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 9
- Other
- 8
Resources
School Districts (6)
California Pacific Charter - San Diego District
1 school · 280 students
California Pacific Charter- Los Angeles District
1 school · 428 students
International School for Science and Culture District
1 school · 114 students
California Pacific Charter - Sonoma District
1 school · 152 students
Newport-Mesa Unified
32 schools · 17,768 students
Orange County Department of Education
5 schools · 2,551 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Costa Mesa, California
How many schools are in Costa Mesa, California?
Costa Mesa has 55 schools, including 39 public and 16 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Costa Mesa, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Costa Mesa is 7.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Costa Mesa, California?
The top-ranked school in Costa Mesa on MySchoolScout is Early College High with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Costa Mesa, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Costa Mesa on MySchoolScout is Newport Elementary with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Costa Mesa, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Costa Mesa on MySchoolScout is Horace Ensign Intermediate with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best high school in Costa Mesa, California?
The top-ranked high school in Costa Mesa on MySchoolScout is Early College High with a composite score of 9.5/10.
How many school districts serve Costa Mesa, California?
Costa Mesa is served by 6 school districts: California Pacific Charter - San Diego District, California Pacific Charter- Los Angeles District, International School for Science and Culture District, California Pacific Charter - Sonoma District, Newport-mesa Unified, Orange County Department of Education.
What is the education level in Costa Mesa, California?
According to Census data, 44% of adults in Costa Mesa have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Costa Mesa, California?
The median household income in Costa Mesa is approximately $111,333 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Costa Mesa, California?
Yes, Costa Mesa has 16 private schools alongside 39 public schools. The top-rated private school is Renascence School International with a score of 8.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Costa Mesa, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Costa Mesa is 15.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Costa Mesa, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.