Below Average
#7441 of 9,539 schools in CA
Back Bay High
High School · Newport-Mesa Unified
2985 Bear St. Bldg. A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Enrollment
150
Student-Teacher
8.8:1
Score
4.9
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
150
Student-Teacher
8.8:1
Score
4.9
Grades
9th – 12th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
California schools
#7,441 of 9,539
In Costa Mesa
#36 of 39
public schools
In district
#31 of 31
Newport-Mesa Unified
School environment
10.0 / 10
Excellent
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Back Bay High
High School in Costa Mesa · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Villages Preparatory
1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Heinz Kaiser Elementary
0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Back Bay High
Back Bay High is a public high school in Costa Mesa, CA, part of Newport-Mesa Unified. Back Bay High serves approximately 150 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Back Bay High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #7,441 of 9,539 schools in CA.
Structured state assessment records for Back Bay High show 8% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 13% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 4.9 · Below Average
- District avg 7.4
- CA avg 6.5
What Parents Should Know
At 150 students, Back Bay High is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
At 8.8:1 students to teachers, Back Bay High sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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View breakdown
Back Bay High — Students at Back Bay High score 2% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 27%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
84%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 24 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.5/10.
How Back Bay High Compares
See how Back Bay High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
2985 Bear St. Bldg. A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Back Bay High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Costa Mesa High (rated 7.8/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Corona del Mar High (rated 7.7/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Monte Vista Independent Study (rated 5.9/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Costa Mesa, see our Costa Mesa schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Villages Preparatory Costa Mesa | 1.0 mi | — |
| Heinz Kaiser Elementary Costa Mesa | 0.9 mi | 9.1 |
| NEWPORT MONTESSORI SCHOOL Newport Beach | 0.9 mi | — |
| Eastbluff Elementary Costa Mesa | 1.0 mi | 7.8 |
| 2e4Me Academy Newport Beach | 1.1 mi | — |
| Woodland Elementary Costa Mesa | 1.2 mi | 8.0 |
| WOODLAND CHILD DEVT CENTER Costa Mesa | 1.2 mi | 3.9 |
| Maude B. Davis Elementary Costa Mesa | 1.3 mi | 8.9 |
| Monte Vista Independent Study Costa Mesa | 1.3 mi | 5.9 |
| Suncoast Preparatory Academy Newport Beach | 1.3 mi | 5.1 |
| Orange County Special Education Costa Mesa | 1.4 mi | 3.2 |
| ACCESS County Community Costa Mesa | 1.4 mi | 4.5 |
| College Park Elementary Costa Mesa | 1.3 mi | 8.0 |
| Sonora Elementary Costa Mesa | 1.6 mi | 8.4 |
| Costa Mesa High Costa Mesa | 1.5 mi | 7.8 |
| Corona del Mar High Costa Mesa | 1.6 mi | 7.7 |
| MARINERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Costa Mesa | 1.7 mi | 5.2 |
| Our Lady Queen of Angels School Newport Beach | 1.7 mi | — |
| OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS SCHOOL Newport Beach | 1.7 mi | 6.1 |
| NEWPORT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Newport Beach | 1.6 mi | 5.4 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 92626 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$117,627
Median Home Value
$1,037,700
Median Rent
$2,520/mo
Population
50,569
College Educated
46.3%
Homeownership
42%
Avg Commute
22.2 min
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Median Age
37.1
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Renaissance High Santa Paula, CA | 4.9 |
| SAVA - Sacramento Academic and Vocational Academy Sacramento, CA | 4.9 |
| University Pathways Medical Magnet Academy Los Angeles, CA | 4.9 |
| Apollo High Simi Valley, CA | 5.0 |
| Brenkwitz High Hayward, CA | 5.0 |
| East Stanislaus High Oakdale, CA | 5.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Back Bay High
What grades does Back Bay High serve?
Back Bay High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Back Bay High?
Back Bay High has an enrollment of approximately 150 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Back Bay High?
The student-teacher ratio at Back Bay High is 8.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Back Bay High rank in CA?
Back Bay High ranks #7,441 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Back Bay High's MySchoolScout rating?
Back Bay High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Back Bay High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Back Bay High has 8% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 13% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Back Bay High a charter school?
No, Back Bay High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Back Bay High a Title I school?
No, Back Bay High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Back Bay High?
84.0% of students at Back Bay High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 150
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 84.0%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Orange County
- Phone
- (949) 515-6900
- 4-Year Graduation
- 57.0%
Resources & Links
District
Newport-Mesa Unified- District Enrollment
- 17,768
- Schools in District
- 32
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $23,064
- District Rank
- #31 of 31
Other Schools in This District
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