Best Schools in San Juan Capistrano, California
23 schools · 9 Elementary · 2 Middle · 6 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in San Juan Capistrano?
Use this page to compare every school in San Juan Capistrano 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.
Capistrano Home/virtual
Elementary · Capistrano Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
San Juan Hills High
High · Capistrano Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Marco Forster Middle
Middle · Capistrano Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in San Juan Capistrano for 2026 are Capistrano Home/virtual (9.3/10), San Juan Hills High (7.8/10), and Marco Forster Middle (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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
23
13 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$956,750
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
23
13 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$956,750
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 9.3/10 despite 37% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 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 San Juan Capistrano schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among San Juan Capistrano schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in San Juan Capistrano
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 23 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capistrano Home/virtual | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | San Juan Hills High | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Marco Forster Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Ocasa College Prep | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | San Juan Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Harold Ambuehl Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Del Obispo Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Capistrano Union High | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | California Connections Academy Southern California | 5.5 / 10 |
| 10 | California Connections Academy Central Coast | 5.3 / 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
- 6.3/10
- Median household income
- $130,461
- Median home value
- $956,750
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 78%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How San Juan Capistrano compares
California rank
#335 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.0
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$130k
131% of California median
Schools in this city
20
Capistrano Unified runs 77% of San Juan Capistrano's public schools
San Juan Capistrano touches 4 districts, but Capistrano Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Capistrano Unified accounts for 10 of 13 public schools (77%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.2 to 9.3 — the spread is inside San Juan Capistrano, not a citywide average.
- Capistrano Unified10 public · 77%
- California Connections Academy Central Coast District1 public · 8%
- California Connections Academy Southern California District1 public · 8%
- Ocasa College Prep District1 public · 8%
About Schools in San Juan Capistrano, California
San Juan Capistrano, California is home to 23 schools, including 13 public schools and 10 private schools. The city's schools span 9 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 6 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.3 out of 10, schools in San Juan Capistrano show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in San Juan Capistrano is Capistrano Home/virtual with a composite score of 9.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
San Juan Capistrano is served by 4 school districts. These districts collectively serve 46,273 students.
San Juan Capistrano's community shows 49% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $130,461. The poverty rate in the area is 6.3%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 91 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | 673 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 312 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 4 | 315 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 | ||
| 5 | 322 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Mission Basilica SchoolPrivate 228 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 457 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Marbella MontessoriPrivate 15 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 449 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,040 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Johnson AcademyPrivate 57 students · 2nd–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,768 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 105 students · 6th–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 115 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 4 | 225 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 5 | 14 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Jserra Catholic High SchoolPrivate 1,317 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5,189 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 2 | 143 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.3 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Fairmont San Juan CapistranoPrivate 571 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 1,158 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 38 students · 2nd–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 668 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, California · 23 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$130,461
Median Home Value
$956,750
Median Rent
$2,656/mo
Population
81,566
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
78%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Community Profile
San Juan Capistrano has a median household income of $130,461. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $956,750, with a median rent of $2,656/month. The local poverty rate of 6.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 6
- Other
- 6
Resources
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 San Juan Capistrano, California
How many schools are in San Juan Capistrano, California?
San Juan Capistrano has 23 schools, including 13 public and 10 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in San Juan Capistrano, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in San Juan Capistrano is 6.3 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 San Juan Capistrano, California?
The top-ranked school in San Juan Capistrano on MySchoolScout is Capistrano Home/virtual with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in San Juan Capistrano, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in San Juan Capistrano on MySchoolScout is Capistrano Home/virtual with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best middle school in San Juan Capistrano, California?
The top-ranked middle school in San Juan Capistrano on MySchoolScout is Marco Forster Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best high school in San Juan Capistrano, California?
The top-ranked high school in San Juan Capistrano on MySchoolScout is San Juan Hills High with a composite score of 7.8/10.
How many school districts serve San Juan Capistrano, California?
San Juan Capistrano is served by 4 school districts: California Connections Academy Southern California District, California Connections Academy Central Coast District, Ocasa College Prep District, Capistrano Unified.
What is the education level in San Juan Capistrano, California?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in San Juan Capistrano have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in San Juan Capistrano, California?
The median household income in San Juan Capistrano is approximately $130,461 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in San Juan Capistrano, California?
Yes, San Juan Capistrano has 10 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Mission Basilica School with a score of 7.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in San Juan Capistrano, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in San Juan Capistrano is 20.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in San Juan Capistrano, 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 School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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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.