Excellent
#485 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 5% in state
Thurston Middle
Middle School · Laguna Beach Unified · Laguna Beach, CA
A Laguna Beach Unified middle school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2100 Park Ave., Laguna Beach, CA 92651
- Math 65% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 75% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Thurston Middle score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 8 points since 2018, to 70% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 79% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
19.7%
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 Thurston 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 18Car-Dependent
- Transit 22Minimal Transit
- Bike 4Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,117/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Laguna Beach), 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
$143,569
Median home value
$2,000,001
Median rent
$2,812/mo
College educated
67.5%
Homeownership
65.2%
Poverty rate
5.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92651; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Juan Avila MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.5 | 6–8 | 2.8 mi | 891 | Compare → |
| Aliso Viejo MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | 6–8 | 3.7 mi | 799 | Compare → |
| Niguel Hills MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | 6–8 | 4.5 mi | 733 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Laguna Beach Unified
- Schools in district
- 4
- Rank in district
- #4 of 4
- District spending per student
- $30,416NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Thurston Middle is listed in Laguna Beach Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thurston Middle
Thurston Middle is a public middle school in Laguna Beach, CA, part of Laguna Beach Unified, serving approximately 519 students in grades 6th-8th with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks #485 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thurston Middle
What grades does Thurston Middle serve?
Thurston Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Thurston Middle?
Thurston Middle has an enrollment of approximately 519 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thurston Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Thurston Middle 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 Thurston Middle rank in CA?
Thurston Middle ranks #485 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Thurston Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Thurston Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 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 Thurston Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thurston Middle has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Thurston Middle a charter school?
No, Thurston Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thurston Middle a Title I school?
No, Thurston Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thurston Middle?
19.7% of students at Thurston 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
- 519
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 32
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Orange County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 11.9%
- Phone
- (949) 497-7785
- Area population (ZIP 92651)
- 23,477
- Area average commute
- 28.1 min
- Area median age
- 52.8
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 92651; 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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