Discover exceptional education opportunities in San Clemente's coastal communities.
These desirable beach town zip codes offer access to highly-rated schools in the Capistrano Unified School District. Families in this area benefit from strong academic programs, dedicated teachers, excellent college preparation, and a supportive community atmosphere.
School District: Capistrano Unified School District
Area Highlights: Top-rated schools with strong test scores above state averages, GATE programs, IB programs, extensive AP courses, 97% high school graduation rate, and excellent college readiness
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
High Schools
Elementary Schools
‹
›
72%
Reading Proficiency
69%
Math Proficiency
727
Total Students
24:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
School Highlights
Elite California Ranking: Top 7% of California elementary schools
Outstanding Performance: Significantly exceeds California state averages in both reading and math
Special Programs: Gifted & Talented (GATE) program
Talega Community: Located in the award-winning Talega master-planned community
Community Feel: Strong parent involvement and school spirit
Demographics: 30% minority enrollment, 15% economically disadvantaged
Feeder Schools: Students typically attend Vista Del Mar Middle School
70%
Reading Proficiency
64%
Math Proficiency
600
Total Students
24:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
School Highlights
Top California Ranking: #526 out of 5,862 California elementary schools (Top 9%)
Above State Average: Significantly exceeds California state averages in both subjects
Special Programs: Gifted & Talented (GATE) program
Location: Near historic Western White House and San Onofre State Beach
Community: Strong sense of community, cutting-edge programs
Demographics: 24% minority enrollment, 18% economically disadvantaged
Feeder Schools: Students typically attend Bernice Ayer Middle School
73%
Reading Proficiency
61%
Math Proficiency
516
Total Students
25:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
School Highlights
California Ranking: #1151 out of 5,605 California elementary schools (Top 21%)
Above State Average: Exceeds state averages in reading and math proficiency
Special Programs: Gifted & Talented (GATE) program
Location: Established neighborhood near State Camp Ground
Heritage: Historical significance near Western White House
Demographics: 28% minority enrollment, 28% economically disadvantaged
Elementary Schools Comparison
Feature
Vista Del Mar
Truman Benedict
Concordia
GreatSchools Rating
8/10
8/10
7/10
CA Ranking
Top 7%
#526 (Top 9%)
#1151 (Top 21%)
Reading
72%
70%
73%
Math
69%
64%
61%
Enrollment
727
600
516
Student-Teacher
24:1
24:1
25:1
Special Programs
GATE
GATE
GATE
Middle Schools
‹
›
54%
Reading Proficiency
39%
Math Proficiency
679
Total Students
19:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
School Highlights
California Ranking: #1062 of 2,777 California middle schools | Top 50%
Above State Average: 54% reading (vs. 43% state) and 39% math (vs. 33% state)
Special Programs: Gifted & Talented (GATE) program
Excellent Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1, better than district and state averages
Campus Features: Indoor/outdoor campus with ocean views
Extracurricular Activities: Wide variety including guitar, cooking, babysitting classes
High School Feeder: Students typically attend San Clemente High School
75%
Reading Proficiency
70%
Math Proficiency
529
Total Students
19:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
School Highlights
Elite California Ranking: #161 of 2,777 California middle schools (Top 6%)
Outstanding Performance: 75% reading and 70% math proficiency - well above state averages
Top Percentile: 96.29th percentile among California middle schools
Special Programs: Gifted & Talented (GATE) program
Excellent Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1, better than district and state averages
U.S. News Recognition: Best Middle Schools award badge eligible
High School Feeder: Students typically attend San Clemente High School
74%
Reading Proficiency
52%
Math Proficiency
878
Total Students
20:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
School Highlights
Top California Ranking: #233-249 of 2,777 California middle schools (Top 9-11%)
Above State Average: 74% reading (vs. 43% state) and 52% math (vs. 33% state)
High Percentile: 84.92th percentile among California middle schools
Special Programs: Gifted & Talented (GATE) program
Excellent Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1, better than state average
U.S. News Recognition: Best Middle Schools award badge eligible
High School Feeder: Students typically attend San Clemente High School
Middle Schools Comparison
Feature
Shorecliffs
Vista Del Mar
Bernice Ayer
GreatSchools Rating
6/10
8/10
9/10
CA Ranking
#1062 (Top 50%)
#161 (Top 6%)
#233-249 (Top 9-11%)
Reading
54%
75%
74%
Math
39%
70%
52%
Enrollment
679
529
878
Student-Teacher
19:1
19:1
20:1
Special Programs
GATE
GATE
GATE
High Schools
‹
›
78%
Reading Proficiency
51%
Math Proficiency
2,765
Total Students
97%
Graduation Rate
22:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
1240
Average SAT Score
29
Average ACT Score
3.63
Average GPA
School Highlights
Top California Ranking: Top 20% of all CA high schools
National Recognition: Ranked #1,840 in National Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
Outstanding Test Scores: 78% reading proficiency (vs. 47% state) and 51% math proficiency (vs. 34% state)
Excellent Graduation Rate: 97% four-year graduation rate (vs. 87% California average)
College Preparation: 74% AP exam pass rate | 36% AP enrollment | 13 AP courses offered
Academic Performance: Average GPA of 3.63 | Average SAT 1240 | Average ACT 29
IB Program: International Baccalaureate program offered
Advanced Coursework: Very high Advanced Math and AP Science enrollment
Coastal Location: Minutes from the beach in "Spanish Village by the Sea"
School Spirit: Home of the Tritons | "One Town One Team" atmosphere
High School Overview
Feature
San Clemente High School
GreatSchools Rating
9/10
National Ranking
#1,840 (U.S. News & World Report)
Reading Proficiency
78% (vs. 47% state average)
Math Proficiency
51% (vs. 34% state average)
Graduation Rate
97% (vs. 87% state average)
Enrollment
2,765 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Average GPA
3.63
Average SAT Score
1240
Average ACT Score
29
AP Participation
36% enrollment | 74% pass rate
AP Courses Offered
13 courses
Special Programs
International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, Advanced Placement, GATE
Important Notes for Homebuyers
School boundaries can change. Always verify current school assignments with the Capistrano Unified School District before making purchasing decisions.
Test scores and rankings are based on most recent available data. Visit individual school websites for the most current information.
Sources: U.S. News Education, GreatSchools, Niche, California Department of Education | Data compiled November 2025