Very Good
#1886 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 20% in state
Niguel Hills Middle
Middle School · Capistrano Unified · Laguna Niguel, CA
A Capistrano Unified middle school where students score 15 points above what's typical for similar communities.
29070 Shark Bay, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
- Math 62% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 71% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Niguel Hills Middle score 66% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 42 points since 2020, reaching 67% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 66% (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 36 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
40.4%
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 Niguel Hills Middle 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 42Car-Dependent
- Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,036/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Laguna Niguel), 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
$140,605
Median home value
$1,123,000
Median rent
$2,819/mo
College educated
59.3%
Homeownership
66.5%
Poverty rate
5.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92677; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont San Juan CapistranoPrivate · tuition | 7.1private | PK–12 | 1.9 mi | 360 | Compare → |
| Fairmont Private SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.6private | PK–12 | 2.0 mi | 338 | Compare → |
| Carl Hankey MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | 6–8 | 2.7 mi | 175 | Compare → |
| Ladera Ranch MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.7 | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 1,100 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Capistrano Unified
- Schools in district
- 59
- Rank in district
- #33 of 57
- District spending per student
- $15,860NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Niguel Hills Middle is listed in Capistrano Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Niguel Hills Middle
Niguel Hills Middle is a public middle school in Laguna Niguel, CA, part of Capistrano Unified, serving approximately 733 students in grades 6th-8th with a 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,886 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Niguel Hills Middle
What grades does Niguel Hills Middle serve?
Niguel Hills Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Niguel Hills Middle?
Niguel Hills Middle has an enrollment of approximately 733 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Niguel Hills Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Niguel Hills Middle is 19.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Niguel Hills Middle rank in CA?
Niguel Hills Middle ranks #1,886 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Niguel Hills Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Niguel Hills Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Niguel Hills Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Niguel Hills Middle has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Niguel Hills Middle a charter school?
No, Niguel Hills Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Niguel Hills Middle a Title I school?
No, Niguel Hills Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Niguel Hills Middle?
40.4% of students at Niguel Hills Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 733
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Orange County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.1%
- Phone
- (949) 234-5360
- Area population (ZIP 92677)
- 64,023
- Area average commute
- 26.5 min
- Area median age
- 47.7
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 92677; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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