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
Enrollment
23,199
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.2:1
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
34
23 elem, 4 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
23,199
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.2:1
How this district compares
California rank
#322 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
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 #322 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 Trabuco Hills High (8.4/10), Foothill Ranch Elementary (8.2/10), and La Paz Intermediate (8.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.4/10 despite 37% 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 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 | Trabuco Hills High | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Foothill Ranch Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | La Paz Intermediate | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Mission Viejo High | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Del Cerro Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Linda Vista Magnet Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Portola Hills Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Montevideo Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Laguna Hills High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Los Alisos Intermediate | 7.2 / 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. District-level spending was $15,539 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.4/10, Saddleback Valley Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Trabuco Hills High, which has a composite score of 8.4/10.
In standardized testing, Saddleback Valley Unified students show an average math proficiency of 53.8% and ELA proficiency of 60.8%.
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 schoolsElementary Schools23
Middle Schools4
High Schools6
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Mission Viejo
- Total Enrollment
- 23,199
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,002
- District spending per student
- $15,539NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 6.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory 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 district spending per student in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Saddleback Valley Unified's district-level spending was $15,539 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 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?
Trabuco Hills High is the highest-rated school in Saddleback Valley Unified with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What are the test scores in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Across schools in Saddleback Valley Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 53.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 60.8%. 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
- 53.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 60.8%
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)
- 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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