Very Good
#2349 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 25% in state
Paularino Elementary
Elementary School · Newport-mesa Unified · Costa Mesa, CA
A Newport-mesa Unified elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2985 Bear St. Bldg. A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
- Math 32% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 46% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Paularino Elementary score 39% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 11 points since 2020, reaching 39% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 49% (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 38 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
72.5%
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 Paularino Elementary 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 85Very Walkable
- Transit 39Some Transit
- Bike 60Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,601/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Costa Mesa), 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
$117,627
Median home value
$1,037,700
Median rent
$2,520/mo
College educated
46.3%
Homeownership
42%
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92626; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John the Baptist Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.1private | K–8 | 0.3 mi | 492 | Compare → |
| Christian Montessori School-costa MesaPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | PK–6 | 0.5 mi | 48 | Compare → |
| Sonora ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | K–6 | 0.6 mi | 376 | Compare → |
| California Pacific Charter - San DiegoCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.4 | K–12 | 0.7 mi | 280 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Newport-mesa Unified
- Schools in district
- 32
- Rank in district
- #24 of 31
- District spending per student
- $23,064NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Paularino Elementary is listed in Newport-Mesa Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Paularino Elementary
Paularino Elementary is a public elementary school in Costa Mesa, CA, part of Newport-mesa Unified, serving approximately 356 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,349 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Paularino Elementary
What grades does Paularino Elementary serve?
Paularino Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Paularino Elementary?
Paularino Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 356 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paularino Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Paularino Elementary is 16.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Paularino Elementary rank in CA?
Paularino Elementary ranks #2,349 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Paularino Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Paularino Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 Paularino Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Paularino Elementary has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Paularino Elementary a charter school?
No, Paularino Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Paularino Elementary a Title I school?
No, Paularino Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Paularino Elementary?
72.5% of students at Paularino Elementary 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
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 356
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Orange County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 35.7%
- Phone
- (714) 424-7950
- Area population (ZIP 92626)
- 50,569
- Area average commute
- 22.2 min
- Area median age
- 37.1
Official sources & links
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 92626; 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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