Excellent
#904 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 10% in state
Early College High
High School · Newport-Mesa Unified
2985 Bear St. Bldg. A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Enrollment
200
Student-Teacher
18.2:1
Score
8.3
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
200
Student-Teacher
18.2:1
Score
8.3
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Costa Mesa
#11 of 38
public schools
California high schools
#148 of 1,892
In district
#11 of 31
Newport-Mesa Unified
Equity
10.0 / 10
Exceptional
About Early College High
Early College High is a public high school in Costa Mesa, CA, part of the Newport-Mesa Unified. The school serves approximately 200 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 18.2:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 90.5th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 62% proficiency in math, 31 points above the state average and 91% in reading/language arts, 40 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.2/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $117,627, where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a midsize city setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Early College High — Students at Early College High score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
64%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage 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: 8.1/10.
How Early College High Compares
See how Early College High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 64.5% (2019) to 65.38% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 95% (2019) to 92.31% (2024).
Location
2985 Bear St. Bldg. A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Early College High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Estancia High (rated 8.6/10, 1.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Costa Mesa High (rated 6.6/10, 1.4 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Costa Mesa, see our Costa Mesa schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| RENASCENCE SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL Costa Mesa | 0.1 mi | 8.6 |
| Montessori Harbor Mesa Elementary Costa Mesa | 0.4 mi | — |
| Adams Elementary Costa Mesa | 0.5 mi | 7.7 |
| Charles W. Tewinkle Middle Costa Mesa | 0.6 mi | 8.0 |
| California Elementary Costa Mesa | 0.6 mi | 7.6 |
| Brood of Bees Costa Mesa | 0.7 mi | — |
| Killybrooke Elementary Costa Mesa | 0.9 mi | 5.7 |
| CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL-COSTA MESA Costa Mesa | 1.1 mi | 5.4 |
| THE PEGASUS SCHOOL Huntington Beach | 1.1 mi | 7.3 |
| Estancia High Costa Mesa | 1.5 mi | 8.6 |
| Gisler (Robert) Elementary Fountain Valley | 1.4 mi | 8.0 |
| Costa Mesa High Costa Mesa | 1.4 mi | 6.6 |
| Waldorf School of Orange County Costa Mesa | 1.6 mi | — |
| THE WALDORF SCHOOL OF ORANGE COUNTY Costa Mesa | 1.6 mi | 6.8 |
| MY FIRST MONTESSORI Huntington Beach | 1.4 mi | 5.6 |
| Wilson Elementary Costa Mesa | 1.7 mi | 6.7 |
| Calvary Chapel Private School Program Santa Ana | 1.7 mi | — |
| College Park Elementary Costa Mesa | 1.7 mi | 7.9 |
| Paularino Elementary Costa Mesa | 1.5 mi | 6.3 |
| My First Montessori Huntington Beach | 1.5 mi | — |
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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Early College High has a median household income of $117,627. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,037,700, with a median rent of $2,520/month. The local poverty rate of 8.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Emery Secondary Emeryville, CA | 8.3 |
| Mendocino High Mendocino, CA | 8.3 |
| WALDORF SCHOOL-PENINSULA Mountain View, CA | 8.4 |
| IDYLLWILD ARTS ACADEMY Idyllwild, CA | 8.2 |
| La Sierra High (Alternative) Fullerton, CA | 8.2 |
| VILLANOVA PREPARATORY SCHOOL Ojai, CA | 8.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Early College High
What grades does Early College High serve?
Early College High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Early College High?
Early College High has an enrollment of approximately 200 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Early College High?
The student-teacher ratio at Early College High is 18.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Early College High rank in CA?
Early College High is ranked #904 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Early College High's MySchoolScout rating?
Early College High has a composite rating of 8.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Early College High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Early College High has 62.4% math proficiency and 91.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Early College High a charter school?
No, Early College High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Early College High a Title I school?
No, Early College High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Early College High?
64.0% of students at Early College 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 47 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 30 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 63 Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (3,601/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Costa Mesa). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 200
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 64.0%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Orange County
- Phone
- (714) 424-7990
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Newport-Mesa Unified- District Enrollment
- 17,768
- Schools in District
- 32
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $23,064
- District Rank
- #11 of 31
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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