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Excellent

#1518 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 16% in state

Dana Hills High

High School · Capistrano Unified

33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629

Enrollment

1,805

Student-Teacher

20.1:1

Score

8.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#1,518 of 9,539

In Dana Point

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#28 of 57

Capistrano Unified

Equity

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Dana Hills High

8.0/10

High School in Dana Point · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Richard Henry Dana Elementary

6.5/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

St Edward the Confessor Parish School

5.7/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Dana Hills High

Dana Hills High is a public high school in Dana Point, CA, part of Capistrano Unified. Dana Hills High serves approximately 1,805 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 20.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Dana Hills High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,518 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Dana Hills High show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

What's said publicly about Dana Hills High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Dana Hills High School is a high school located in Dana Point, California, which opened in 1973 2 . The school serves an enrollment of roughly 2,000 students 2 . Its student body is drawn from the nearby communities of Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Capistrano Beach, and San Juan Capistrano 2 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.9
  • CA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Dana Hills High runs 20.1:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.7Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.25 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics9.0Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency48.9% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency80.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+20.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+24.5 pts
Overall Proficiency65% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)52% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+12.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile85th
College Readiness8.6Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate96%
AP Participation36.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.5Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,860
Chronic Absenteeism25.5%

Dana Hills High — Students at Dana Hills High score 65% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

39.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 55.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
31.8% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 72.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
51.5% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
69%
ELA
74%
2010
Math
69%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
74%
ELA
75%
2012
Math
77%
ELA
75%
2013
Math
76%
ELA
73%
2014
Math
48%
ELA
79%
2015
Math
43%
ELA
60%
2016
Math
52%
ELA
71%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
65%
2018
Math
45%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
45%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
43%
ELA
68%
2021*
Math
43%
ELA
68%
2024
Math
48.9%
ELA
80.4%

* 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: 6.7/10.

How Dana Hills High Compares

See how Dana Hills High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.0/10
84th percentile in CA
Academic
9.0/10
Excellent
Growth
6.7/10
Average
Environment
7.5/10
Very Good
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.6
Sports
27
14 boys' · 13 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
40%
Teaching Staff
20:1 student-teacher ratio
90 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
25.5%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
36.7% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics27sports offered
14 boys'·13 girls'·51 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Dana Hills High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. California Preparatory Academy (rated 7.7/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby San Juan Capistrano), with a very similar rating. Another option is Capistrano Home/Virtual (rated 7.6/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby San Juan Capistrano), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Palisades Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Capistrano Beach), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Dana Point, see our Dana Point schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Richard Henry Dana Elementary Dana Point 0.8 mi 6.5
ST EDWARD THE CONFESSOR PARISH SCHOOL Dana Point 0.8 mi 5.7
St. Edward the Confessor Parish School Dana Point 0.8 mi
ST EDWARD PARISH SCHOOL Dana Point 0.8 mi 5.6
John Malcom Elementary Laguna Niguel 1.3 mi 6.9
West River Academy Dana Point 1.1 mi
Del Obispo Elementary San Juan Capistrano 1.3 mi 6.4
MONARCH BAY MONTESSORI ACADEMY Dana Point 1.4 mi 6.0
Monarch Bay Montessori Academy Dana Point 1.4 mi
Marco Forster Middle San Juan Capistrano 1.4 mi 6.2
Kinoshita Elementary San Juan Capistrano 1.6 mi 4.1
California Connections Academy Southern California San Juan Capistrano 1.7 mi 3.4
Capistrano Home/Virtual San Juan Capistrano 1.7 mi 7.6
California Preparatory Academy San Juan Capistrano 1.7 mi 7.7
KIE Montessori Laguna Niguel 2.2 mi
MONTESSORI OF LAGUNA NIGUEL Laguna Niguel 2.2 mi
CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS San Juan Capistrano 2.2 mi 4.9
Palisades Elementary Capistrano Beach 2.2 mi 7.6
George White Elementary Laguna Niguel 2.8 mi 6.7
FOUNDATIONS COGNITIVE SCHOOLS San Juan Capistrano 2.7 mi 5.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 92629 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$131,731

Median Home Value

$1,212,400

Median Rent

$2,925/mo

Population

26,198

College Educated

59%

Homeownership

63.2%

Avg Commute

30.3 min

Poverty Rate

8.8%

Median Age

48.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
California High Whittier, CA 8.0
Cobalt Institute of Math and Science Victorville, CA 8.0
Kingsburg High Kingsburg, CA 8.0
Mark Keppel High Alhambra, CA 8.0
Maywood Center for Enriched Studies Maywood, CA 8.0
Mountain House High Mountain House, CA 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Dana Hills High

What grades does Dana Hills High serve?

Dana Hills High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Dana Hills High?

Dana Hills High has an enrollment of approximately 1,805 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Dana Hills High?

The student-teacher ratio at Dana Hills High is 20.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Dana Hills High rank in CA?

Dana Hills High ranks #1,518 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Dana Hills High's MySchoolScout rating?

Dana Hills High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Dana Hills High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Dana Hills High has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Dana Hills High a charter school?

No, Dana Hills High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Dana Hills High a Title I school?

No, Dana Hills High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dana Hills High?

39.7% of students at Dana Hills 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
45 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
27 Some Transit
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,805
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
90
Free/Reduced Lunch
39.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.5%
4-Year Graduation
96.0%

District

Capistrano Unified
District Enrollment
40,836
Schools in District
59
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,860
District Rank
#28 of 57

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