Saddleback Valley Unified School District
School District · Mission Viejo, California
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
34
23 elem, 4 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,539
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.2:1
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
34
23 elem, 4 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,539
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.2:1
Evaluating Saddleback Valley Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Saddleback Valley Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
EL Toro High
Lake Forest · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
De Portola Elementary
Mission Viejo · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Glen Yermo Elementary
Mission Viejo · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#305 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.2
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,539
$2,108 vs California median
District size
23,199 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Saddleback Valley Unified ranks #305 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Saddleback Valley Unified's schools with real test data average 6.4/10 across 33 schools. Its top-rated schools are EL Toro High (7.9/10), De Portola Elementary (7.9/10), and Glen Yermo Elementary (7.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.9/10 despite 70% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 Saddleback Valley Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Saddleback Valley Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Saddleback Valley Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (33 of 34). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | EL Toro High | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | De Portola Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Glen Yermo Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | La Paz Intermediate | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Trabuco Hills High | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate | 7.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Trabuco Mesa Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Del Cerro Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Portola Hills Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Mission Viejo High | 7.3 / 10 |
See all 34 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Saddleback Valley Unified
Saddleback Valley Unified is a Mission Viejo, California school district serving 34 schools. The district educates 23,199 students with a student-teacher ratio of 23.2:1. The district invests $15,539 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.4/10, Saddleback Valley Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is De Portola Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.9/10.
In standardized testing, Saddleback Valley Unified students show an average math proficiency of 54.7% and ELA proficiency of 62.0%.
The district includes 23 elementary schools , 4 middle schools , and 6 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Saddleback Valley Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Saddleback Valley Unified with test data.
Schools in Saddleback Valley Unified
34 schools Elementary Schools 23
Middle Schools 4
High Schools 6
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Mission Viejo
- Total Enrollment
- 23,199
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,002
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Saddleback Valley Unified has 34 schools in total — 23 elementary, 4 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Saddleback Valley Unified?
The average composite rating for Saddleback Valley Unified is 6.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Saddleback Valley Unified spends $15,539 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Saddleback Valley Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Saddleback Valley Unified is 23.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Saddleback Valley Unified?
De Portola Elementary is the highest-rated school in Saddleback Valley Unified with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What are the test scores in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Across schools in Saddleback Valley Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 54.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 62.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Saddleback Valley Unified compare to other districts in California?
Saddleback Valley Unified has an average school rating of 6.4/10 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
- 6.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 54.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 62.0%
Resources
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 Saddleback Valley 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)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton 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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