Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
School District · Placentia, California
Avg Rating
6.6
out of 10
Schools
34
21 elem, 5 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
22,705
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.5:1
Avg Rating
6.6
out of 10
Schools
34
21 elem, 5 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
22,705
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.5:1
How this district compares
California rank
#265 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.2
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,626
$2,021 vs California median
District size
22,705 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified ranks #265 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified's schools with real test data average 6.6/10 across 34 schools. Its top-rated schools are Charles Wagner Elementary (8.6/10), Buena Vista Virtual Academy (8.4/10), and Yorba Linda High (8.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.4/10 despite 47% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +12.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (34 of 34). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Wagner Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Buena Vista Virtual Academy | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Yorba Linda High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Sierra Vista Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Col. J. K. Tuffree Middle | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Woodsboro Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Lakeview Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Yorba Linda Middle | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Van Buren Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 10 | EL Dorado High | 7.7 / 10 |
See all 34 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified is a Placentia, California school district serving 34 schools.The district educates 22,705 students with a student-teacher ratio of 23.5:1. District-level spending was $15,626 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.6/10, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Charles Wagner Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.
In standardized testing, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified students show an average math proficiency of 58.1% and ELA proficiency of 64.6%.
The district includes 21 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified with test data.
Schools in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified
34 schoolsElementary Schools21
Middle Schools5
High Schools5
Other Schools3
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Placentia
- Total Enrollment
- 22,705
- Teachers (FTE)
- 966
- District spending per student
- $15,626NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 7.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified?
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified has 34 schools in total — 21 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified?
The average composite rating for Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified is 6.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified?
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified's district-level spending was $15,626 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified is 23.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified?
Charles Wagner Elementary is the highest-rated school in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified?
Across schools in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 58.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 64.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified compare to other districts in California?
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified has an average school rating of 6.6/10 across 34 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 58.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 64.6%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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