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Excellent

#992 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 10% in state

Sonora Elementary

Elementary School · Newport-Mesa Unified

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

Enrollment

376

Student-Teacher

19.8:1

Score

8.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#992 of 9,539

In Costa Mesa

#13 of 39

public schools

In district

#13 of 31

Newport-Mesa Unified

School environment

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Sonora Elementary

8.4/10

Elementary School in Costa Mesa · grades Kindergarten – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St John the Baptist Catholic School

7.1/10

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

Monte Vista Independent Study

5.9/10

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

About Sonora Elementary

Sonora Elementary is a public elementary school in Costa Mesa, CA, part of Newport-Mesa Unified. Sonora Elementary serves approximately 376 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-6th, and has a 19.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Sonora Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #992 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Sonora Elementary show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.4 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.2
  • CA avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.7 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics8.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency38.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency55.5% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-7.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+12.7 pts
Overall Proficiency47% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)31% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+15.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
Resources & Environment8.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,064
Chronic Absenteeism27.9%

Sonora Elementary — Students at Sonora Elementary score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

76.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 47.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
38.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 56.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.4% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 34 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
60%
ELA
49%
2010
Math
65%
ELA
60%
2011
Math
66%
ELA
60%
2012
Math
61%
ELA
59%
2014
Math
31%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
45%
ELA
58%
2016
Math
48%
ELA
60%
2017
Math
45%
ELA
63%
2018
Math
59%
ELA
65%
2019
Math
59%
ELA
65%
2020*
Math
44%
2021*
Math
44%
2022
Math
36.2%
ELA
49.7%
2024
Math
38.2%
ELA
55.4%

* 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: 8.2/10.

How Sonora Elementary Compares

See how Sonora Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
90th percentile in CA
Academic
8.4/10
Excellent
Growth
8.2/10
Excellent
Environment
8.9/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
77%
Teaching Staff
20:1 student-teacher ratio
19 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
27.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

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

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sonora Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Maude B. Davis Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Killybrooke Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, College Park Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 1.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Costa Mesa, see our Costa Mesa schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL Costa Mesa 0.3 mi 7.1
Monte Vista Independent Study Costa Mesa 0.4 mi 5.9
Maude B. Davis Elementary Costa Mesa 0.5 mi 8.9
Paularino Elementary Costa Mesa 0.6 mi 7.6
Costa Mesa High Costa Mesa 0.7 mi 7.8
CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL-COSTA MESA Costa Mesa 0.8 mi 5.4
California Pacific Charter - San Diego Costa Mesa 1.0 mi 5.4
California Pacific Charter- Los Angeles Costa Mesa 1.0 mi 6.7
Orange County Special Education Costa Mesa 0.9 mi 3.2
ACCESS County Community Costa Mesa 0.9 mi 4.5
Frontiers Academy Costa Mesa 1.1 mi
FRONTIERS ACADEMY Costa Mesa 1.1 mi 7.4
MARINERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Costa Mesa 1.1 mi 5.2
Killybrooke Elementary Costa Mesa 1.3 mi 8.5
College Park Elementary Costa Mesa 1.3 mi 8.0
Back Bay High Costa Mesa 1.6 mi 4.9
Francis Academy Santa Ana 1.6 mi
Greenville Fundamental Elementary Santa Ana 1.6 mi 4.8
Montessori Harbor Mesa Elementary Costa Mesa 1.5 mi
Suncoast Preparatory Academy Newport Beach 1.6 mi 5.1

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
Ada Clegg Elementary Huntington Beach, CA 8.4
Anaheim Hills Elementary Anaheim, CA 8.4
Ashley Falls Elementary San Diego, CA 8.4
Braly Elementary Sunnyvale, CA 8.4
Buena Vista Elementary Carlsbad, CA 8.4
C L Smith Elementary San Luis Obispo, CA 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sonora Elementary

What grades does Sonora Elementary serve?

Sonora Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Sonora Elementary?

Sonora Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 376 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sonora Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Sonora Elementary is 19.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sonora Elementary rank in CA?

Sonora Elementary ranks #992 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Sonora Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Sonora Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 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 Sonora Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sonora Elementary has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Sonora Elementary a charter school?

No, Sonora Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Sonora Elementary a Title I school?

No, Sonora Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sonora Elementary?

76.6% of students at Sonora 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
52 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
43 Some Transit
Bike Score
63 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
376
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
19
Free/Reduced Lunch
76.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.9%

District

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

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