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Excellent

#395 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 4% in state

Horace Ensign Intermediate

Middle School · Newport-Mesa Unified

2985 Bear St. Bldg. A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Enrollment

924

Student-Teacher

22:1

Score

8.9

Grades

7th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#395 of 9,539

In Costa Mesa

#6 of 39

public schools

In district

#6 of 31

Newport-Mesa Unified

Academic growth

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Horace Ensign Intermediate

8.9/10

Middle School in Costa Mesa · grades 7th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Newport Harbor High

8.2/10

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

Newport Heights Elementary

8.0/10

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

About Horace Ensign Intermediate

Horace Ensign Intermediate is a public middle school in Costa Mesa, CA, part of Newport-Mesa Unified. Horace Ensign Intermediate serves approximately 924 students, and covers grades 7th-8th, and has a 22:1 student-teacher ratio. Horace Ensign Intermediate has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #395 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Horace Ensign Intermediate show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares1.1 pts above district
  • This school 8.9 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.8
  • CA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Horace Ensign Intermediate runs 22:1 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 · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.2Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.15 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics8.9Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency54% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency66.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+20.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+18.9 pts
Overall Proficiency60% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+13.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile84th
Resources & Environment8.3Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,064
Chronic Absenteeism24.6%

Horace Ensign Intermediate — Students at Horace Ensign Intermediate score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

49.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 56.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
33.7% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 64.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
46.8% (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
61%
ELA
61%
2010
Math
66%
ELA
65%
2011
Math
65%
ELA
68%
2012
Math
61%
ELA
63%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
55%
2015
Math
51%
ELA
57%
2016
Math
55%
ELA
64%
2017
Math
59%
ELA
66%
2018
Math
58%
ELA
68%
2019
Math
58%
ELA
68%
2020*
Math
49%
2021*
Math
49%
2022
Math
55.1%
ELA
68.4%
2024
Math
53.9%
ELA
66.2%

* 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: 9.2/10.

How Horace Ensign Intermediate Compares

See how Horace Ensign Intermediate performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.9/10
96th percentile in CA
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
9.2/10
Excellent
Environment
8.3/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
50%
Teaching Staff
22:1 student-teacher ratio
42 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
24.6%

Location

2985 Bear St. Bldg. A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Horace Ensign Intermediate may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Newport Elementary (rated 9.4/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Heinz Kaiser Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 2.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Everett A. Rea Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 2.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Costa Mesa, see our Costa Mesa schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Newport Harbor High Costa Mesa 0.4 mi 8.2
Newport Heights Elementary Costa Mesa 0.6 mi 8.0
Newport Elementary Costa Mesa 0.9 mi 9.4
International School for Science and Culture Costa Mesa 1.0 mi 4.1
Mariners Elementary Costa Mesa 1.1 mi 8.2
Pacifica Christian High School-Orange County Newport Beach 1.3 mi
Carden Hall, Inc Newport Beach 1.4 mi
CARDEN HALL Newport Beach 1.4 mi 7.3
WOODLAND CHILD DEVT CENTER Costa Mesa 1.7 mi 3.9
Woodland Elementary Costa Mesa 1.7 mi 8.0
Villages Preparatory Costa Mesa 1.9 mi
Heinz Kaiser Elementary Costa Mesa 2.0 mi 9.1
Whittier Elementary Costa Mesa 2.0 mi 6.8
Pomona Elementary Costa Mesa 2.2 mi 7.7
Everett A. Rea Elementary Costa Mesa 2.2 mi 8.7
Page Private-Costa Mesa Costa Mesa 2.3 mi
PAGE ACADEMY Costa Mesa 2.3 mi 7.8
CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Costa Mesa 2.5 mi 6.0
Wilson Elementary Costa Mesa 2.7 mi 6.5
Victoria Elementary Costa Mesa 2.7 mi 7.2

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
Colonel Joseph C. Rodriguez PREP Academy San Bernardino, CA 8.9
Crittenden Middle Mountain View, CA 8.9
Harvest Park Middle Pleasanton, CA 8.9
M. H. Stanley Middle Lafayette, CA 8.9
Sierra Madre Middle Sierra Madre, CA 8.9
Thomas Russell Middle Milpitas, CA 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Horace Ensign Intermediate

What grades does Horace Ensign Intermediate serve?

Horace Ensign Intermediate serves students in grades 7th through 8th.

How many students attend Horace Ensign Intermediate?

Horace Ensign Intermediate has an enrollment of approximately 924 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Horace Ensign Intermediate?

The student-teacher ratio at Horace Ensign Intermediate is 22:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Horace Ensign Intermediate rank in CA?

Horace Ensign Intermediate ranks #395 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Horace Ensign Intermediate's MySchoolScout rating?

Horace Ensign Intermediate has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 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 Horace Ensign Intermediate?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Horace Ensign Intermediate has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Horace Ensign Intermediate a charter school?

No, Horace Ensign Intermediate is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Horace Ensign Intermediate a Title I school?

No, Horace Ensign Intermediate is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Horace Ensign Intermediate?

49.6% of students at Horace Ensign Intermediate 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
67 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
31 Some Transit
Bike Score
67 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
924
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Teachers (FTE)
42
Free/Reduced Lunch
49.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
24.6%

District

Newport-Mesa Unified
District Enrollment
17,768
Schools in District
32
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,064
District Rank
#6 of 31

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