Below Average
#7441 of 9,539 schools in CA
Back Bay High
High School · Newport-mesa Unified · Costa Mesa, CA
A Newport-mesa Unified high school where students score 25 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2985 Bear St. Bldg. A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
- Math 0% vs CA 32% (2024)
- Reading 4% vs CA 52% (2024)
- 57.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Back Bay High score 2% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 27%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 18 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 2% recently.
Show all 11 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 8% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 13% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 24 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
84%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Back Bay High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Los Angeles map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 59Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 24Minimal Transit
- Bike 63Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,601/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Costa Mesa), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$117,627
Median home value
$1,037,700
Median rent
$2,520/mo
College educated
46.3%
Homeownership
42%
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92626; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monte Vista Independent StudyEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | 7–12 | 1.3 mi | 62 | Compare → |
| Suncoast Preparatory AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.1 | K–12 | 1.3 mi | 1,067 | Compare → |
| Access County CommunityEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | K–12 | 1.4 mi | 1,525 | Compare → |
| Orange County Special EducationEnrollment path unverified | 3.2 | K–12 | 1.4 mi | 353 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Newport-mesa Unified
- Schools in district
- 32
- Rank in district
- #31 of 31
- District spending per student
- $23,064NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Back Bay High is listed in Newport-Mesa Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Back Bay High
Back Bay High is a public high school in Costa Mesa, CA, part of Newport-mesa Unified, serving approximately 150 students in grades 9th-12th with a 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #7,441 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 8% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 13% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 150
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Orange County
- Phone
- (949) 515-6900
- 4-Year Graduation
- 57.0%
- Area population (ZIP 92626)
- 50,569
- Area average commute
- 22.2 min
- Area median age
- 37.1
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 92626; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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