Very Good
#259 of 1,787 private schools in CA
Top 14% of private schools
Mcdowell School
Elementary School
29028 ALOMA AVE, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Enrollment
78
Student-Teacher
3:1
Score
7.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
78
Student-Teacher
3:1
Score
7.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
California private schools
#259 of 1,787
In Laguna Niguel
#1 of 4
public schools
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Mcdowell School
Elementary School in Laguna Niguel · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Stratford School Laguna Niguel
0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Niguel Hills Middle
0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Mcdowell School
Mcdowell School is a private elementary school in Laguna Niguel, CA. Mcdowell School serves approximately 78 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 3:1 student-teacher ratio. Mcdowell School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #259 of 1,787 private schools in CA.
- This school 7.5 · Very Good
- CA avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
At 78 students, Mcdowell School 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 3:1 students to teachers, Mcdowell School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Mcdowell School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow Mcdowell School compares to 8 public schools serving similar grades in Laguna Niguel, CA
Student Demographics
Nearby Elementary Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Mcdowell School (this school) | 7.5 |
| Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts | 8.5 |
| Community Roots Academy | 7.3 |
| Marian Bergeson Elementary | 8.3 |
| Hidden Hills Elementary | 7.3 |
| Laguna Niguel Elementary | 8.6 |
| George White Elementary | 6.7 |
| Moulton Elementary | 7.8 |
| John Malcom Elementary | 6.9 |
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in CA
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
29028 ALOMA AVE, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Mcdowell School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Laguna Niguel Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts (rated 8.5/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Marian Bergeson Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Laguna Niguel, see our Laguna Niguel schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Stratford School Laguna Niguel Laguna Niguel | 0.0 mi | — |
| Niguel Hills Middle Laguna Niguel | 0.3 mi | 7.8 |
| Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts Laguna Niguel | 0.4 mi | 8.5 |
| Community Roots Academy Laguna Niguel | 0.5 mi | 7.3 |
| Marian Bergeson Elementary Laguna Niguel | 0.9 mi | 8.3 |
| Hidden Hills Elementary Laguna Niguel | 0.9 mi | 7.3 |
| MISSION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Laguna Niguel | 1.0 mi | 4.9 |
| LAGUNA NIGUEL MONTESSORI CENTER Laguna Niguel | 1.1 mi | 5.3 |
| Mission Lutheran School Laguna Niguel | 1.0 mi | — |
| STONEYBROOKE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL San Juan Capistrano | 1.1 mi | 4.5 |
| Stoneybrooke Christian School San Juan Capistrano | 1.1 mi | — |
| Laguna Niguel Elementary Laguna Niguel | 1.3 mi | 8.6 |
| Capistrano Valley High Mission Viejo | 1.2 mi | 7.9 |
| Armenta Learning Academy Laguna Niguel | 1.4 mi | — |
| SUNFLOWER MONTESSORI Mission Viejo | 1.4 mi | — |
| George White Elementary Laguna Niguel | 1.7 mi | 6.7 |
| LAGUNA NIGUEL JR ACADEMY Laguna Niguel | 1.7 mi | 5.1 |
| KENSINGTON MONTESSORRI SCHOOL Laguna Niguel | 1.7 mi | — |
| JSerra Catholic High School San Juan Capistrano | 1.9 mi | — |
| Laguna Niguel Jr. Academy Laguna Niguel | 1.8 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 92677 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$140,605
Median Home Value
$1,123,000
Median Rent
$2,819/mo
Population
64,023
College Educated
59.3%
Homeownership
66.5%
Avg Commute
26.5 min
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Median Age
47.7
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Canyon Elementary Canyon, CA | 7.5 |
| Eel River Charter Covelo, CA | 7.5 |
| Geyserville Elementary Geyserville, CA | 7.5 |
| L.A. COUNTY FAIR ASSOC. CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Pomona, CA | 7.5 |
| MARIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL San Diego, CA | 7.5 |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF PALM SPRINGS Palm Springs, CA | 7.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Mcdowell School
What grades does Mcdowell School serve?
Mcdowell School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Mcdowell School?
Mcdowell School has an enrollment of approximately 78 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell School is 3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Mcdowell School rank in CA?
Mcdowell School ranks #259 of 1,787 private schools in CA.
What is Mcdowell School's MySchoolScout rating?
Mcdowell School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
Is Mcdowell School a private school?
Yes, Mcdowell School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is Mcdowell School a religious school?
No, Mcdowell School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.
Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 78
- Gender Split
- 47% M / 53% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Nonsectarian
- School Day
- 6.5 hours
- Days Per Year
- 175 days
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Orange County
- Phone
- (949) 495-5162
Resources & Links
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