San Clemente High

Summary:

San Clemente High is a public high school in San Clemente, California, serving 2,838 students in grades 9-12 and part of the Capistrano Unified School District, which is ranked 204 out of 1,568 districts in the state.

San Clemente High consistently ranks among the top high schools in California, receiving a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranking 259 out of 2,323 schools in the 2023-2024 school year. The school's academic performance is impressive, with 75.99% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and 45.48% proficient or better in Mathematics, significantly higher than the state averages. San Clemente High also maintains a high four-year graduation rate of 97.2% and a low dropout rate of just 1.1%, outperforming the Capistrano Unified School District and the state. The school's diverse student population, including strong performance across various subgroups, suggests a commitment to equity and ensuring all students have access to a quality education.

While San Clemente High excels in many areas, there are a few potential areas for improvement, such as the performance of English Language Learners and the relatively lower proficiency rates in Science. Additionally, the school's chronic absenteeism rate has increased in recent years, which could benefit from further investigation and targeted interventions. Overall, San Clemente High is an exceptional public high school that consistently delivers strong academic outcomes, high graduation rates, and equitable opportunities for its diverse student population, making it a standout institution within the Capistrano Unified School District and the state of California.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 700 Avenido Pico
       San Clemente, CA  92673-5681


(949) 492-4165

District: Capistrano Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
259th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,772 Help


Feeder schools for San Clemente High:

Elementary:    Clarence Lobo Elementary
    Concordia Elementary
    Las Palmas Elementary
    Marblehead Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Bernice Ayer Middle
    Shorecliffs Middle
    Vista del Mar Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  22.0 Help
Number of students:  2,765

Racial breakdown:

White:
61.7%
Hispanic:
27.5%
Two or more races:
7.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  35.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details San Clemente High ranks better than 88.9% of high schools in California. It also ranks 6th among 8 ranked high schools in the Capistrano Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 84.29. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at San Clemente High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (61.7%), Hispanic (27.5%), two or more races (7.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 35.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at San Clemente High is 22. 5 high schools in the Capistrano Unified School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare San Clemente High employs 125.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at San Clemente High is $9,772. 4 high schools in the Capistrano Unified School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

San Clemente High:

SchoolDigger ranks San Clemente High 259th of 2323 California public high schools. (See San Clemente High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Capistrano Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Capistrano Unified 204th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for San Clemente High?

Rank History for San Clemente High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 67.97 223rd 1653 86.5%
2005 72.73 206th 1901 89.2%
2006 79.14 129th 1968 93.4%
2007 74.71 194th 2063 90.6%
2008 81.24 110th 2117 94.8%
2009 78.07 144th 2238 93.6%
2010 78.13 161st 2281 92.9%
2011 78.09 166th 2367 93.0%
2012 76.64 191st 2354 91.9%
2013 76.19 195th 2426 92.0%
2015 91.04 166th 1994 91.7%
2016 87.02 252nd 2039 87.6%
2017 85.97 292nd 2021 85.6%
2018 88.58 236th 2017 88.3%
2019 86.92 240th 2133 88.7%
2021 87.21 168th 1290 87.0%
2022 90.34 200th 2123 90.6%
2023 89.97 178th 2348 92.4%
2024 84.29 259th 2323 88.9%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 78.40 67th 366 81.7%
2019 58.33 184th 422 56.4%
2022 83.49 56th 515 89.1%
2023 82.59 82nd 786 89.6%
2024 75.32 135th 804 83.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.50 483rd 938 48.5%
2019 36.13 563rd 941 40.2%
2021 68.88 74th 467 84.2%
2022 44.41 412th 1044 60.5%
2023 39.53 480th 1323 63.7%
2024 34.45 653rd 1350 51.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 75.47 149th 1547 90.4%
2024 68.55 233rd 1534 84.8%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 69.50 527th 1862 71.7%
2019 63.95 572nd 1937 70.5%
2021 80.83 180th 1126 84.0%
2022 71.76 407th 1943 79.1%
2023 83.38 244th 2247 89.1%
2024 75.21 340th 2235 84.8%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 62.24 90th 290 69.0%
2023 81.51 50th 417 88.0%
2024 66.44 114th 451 74.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.20 192nd 1760 89.1%
2019 86.57 218th 1833 88.1%
2021 85.45 143rd 1054 86.4%
2022 88.25 203rd 1858 89.1%
2023 89.52 158th 2118 92.5%
2024 85.17 221st 2098 89.5%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.61 136th 1052 87.1%
2019 55.52 343rd 1117 69.3%
2021 96.54 20th 555 96.4%
2022 83.32 111th 1161 90.4%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 71.80 43rd 168 74.4%
2023 68.41 63rd 233 73.0%
2024 61.01 76th 234 67.5%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.71 252nd 1834 86.3%
2019 82.82 284th 1880 84.9%
2021 85.81 167th 1122 85.1%
2022 90.25 171st 1916 91.1%
2023 88.47 190th 2207 91.4%
2024 82.07 280th 2172 87.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 72.69 166th 582 71.5%
2022 83.96 67th 581 88.5%
2023 84.36 73rd 731 90.0%
2024 66.36 255th 712 64.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.21 486th 1742 72.1%
2019 66.11 507th 1814 72.1%
2022 82.42 223rd 1861 88.0%
2023 77.73 287th 2142 86.6%
2024 67.52 442nd 2125 79.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at San Clemente High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.46 185th 1173 84.2%
2019 78.14 214th 1222 82.5%
2022 82.01 182nd 1204 84.9%
2023 82.31 145th 1434 89.9%
2024 78.92 177th 1406 87.4%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

San Clemente High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: California Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Thursday, January 6, 2022

Open Quote Phenomenal education with a majority of caring teachers. Just a lot of kids so try not to get caught up in all the distractions that come along with a big high school. Better sports teams as well than most in the area. Close Quote



Enrollment information for San Clemente High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1789 25 48 174 2 n/a n/a 0 2038
1989 1717 30 62 179 1 n/a n/a 0 1989
1990 1650 30 65 213 0 n/a n/a 0 1958
1991 1685 56 69 204 5 n/a n/a 0 2019
1992 1716 39 62 284 4 n/a n/a 0 2105
1993 1682 50 63 284 4 n/a n/a 0 2083
1994 1702 50 58 267 4 n/a n/a 0 2081
1995 1675 45 60 284 71 n/a n/a 0 2135
1996 1675 45 60 284 71 n/a n/a 0 2135
1997 1802 51 56 329 45 n/a n/a 0 2283
1998 1867 53 59 359 26 n/a n/a 0 2364
1999 2031 52 59 351 11 n/a n/a 0 2504
2000 2113 48 58 384 23 n/a n/a 0 2626
2001 2150 41 70 379 23 n/a n/a 6 2669
2002 2167 29 80 420 12 n/a n/a 141 2849
2003 2167 29 80 420 12 n/a n/a 141 2849
2004 2233 36 63 431 11 n/a n/a 94 2868
2005 2431 31 70 478 14 n/a n/a 81 3105
2006 2440 37 80 511 15 n/a n/a 64 3147
2007 2446 43 91 529 17 n/a n/a 66 3192
2008 2503 45 93 608 20 n/a n/a 0 3269
2009 2329 52 85 611 18 6 112 0 3213
2010 2006 29 86 782 13 5 219 0 3140
2011 1999 25 84 765 13 7 170 0 3063
2012 2002 19 78 757 12 8 141 0 3017
2013 2045 17 78 680 14 7 148 0 2989
2014 2072 19 72 736 15 10 143 0 3067
2015 2015 19 76 743 9 9 165 0 3036
2016 1994 24 70 744 11 8 173 0 3024
2017 1914 22 79 801 9 10 175 0 3010
2018 1916 27 86 792 11 7 187 0 3026
2019 1885 28 83 795 10 6 205 0 3012
2020 1892 19 78 797 12 4 190 0 2992
2021 1884 14 68 805 12 4 161 0 2948
2022 1829 12 55 805 10 5 186 2 2904
2023 1783 17 57 778 8 4 182 9 2838
2024 1705 15 56 760 7 6 209 7 2765

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at San Clemente High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2038 91.1 22.3 n/a
1989 1989 87.1 22.8 n/a
1990 1958 87.0 22.5 n/a
1991 2019 89.7 22.5 n/a
1992 2105 91.2 23.0 6.7
1993 2083 85.8 24.3 10
1994 2081 87.7 23.7 10.7
1995 2135 85.5 25.0 11.9
1996 2135 85.5 25.0 11.9
1997 2283 89.7 25.5 17.6
1998 2364 95.8 24.7 13.1
1999 2504 103.8 24.1 11.2
2000 2626 109.2 24.0 13.2
2001 2669 111.2 24.0 14
2002 2849 116.2 24.5 13.7
2003 2849 116.2 24.5 13.7
2004 2868 111.5 25.7 12
2005 3105 121.1 25.6 12
2006 3147 125.6 25.1 11.7
2007 3192 118.2 27.0 14.5
2008 3269 122.1 26.8 14.7
2009 3213 118.6 25.8 21.3
2010 3140 114.8 27.3 20.6
2011 3063 n/a n/a 22
2012 3017 115.1 26.2 n/a
2013 2989 106.3 28.1 23.4
2014 3067 100.7 30.4 20.9
2015 3036 107.0 28.3 20.1
2016 3024 113.0 26.7 20
2017 3010 116.0 25.9 20.9
2018 3026 120.5 25.0 24.6
2019 3012 116.7 25.7 25.9
2020 2992 n/a n/a 27.2
2021 2948 117.8 25.0 24.5
2022 2904 129.6 22.3 24.4
2023 2838 125.0 22.7 35.9
2024 2765 125.3 22.0 35.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio San Clemente High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2038 91.1 22.3 n/a
1989 1989 87.1 22.8 n/a
1990 1958 87.0 22.5 n/a
1991 2019 89.7 22.5 n/a
1992 2105 91.2 23.0 6.7
1993 2083 85.8 24.3 10
1994 2081 87.7 23.7 10.7
1995 2135 85.5 25.0 11.9
1996 2135 85.5 25.0 11.9
1997 2283 89.7 25.5 17.6
1998 2364 95.8 24.7 13.1
1999 2504 103.8 24.1 11.2
2000 2626 109.2 24.0 13.2
2001 2669 111.2 24.0 14
2002 2849 116.2 24.5 13.7
2003 2849 116.2 24.5 13.7
2004 2868 111.5 25.7 12
2005 3105 121.1 25.6 12
2006 3147 125.6 25.1 11.7
2007 3192 118.2 27.0 14.5
2008 3269 122.1 26.8 14.7
2009 3213 118.6 25.8 21.3
2010 3140 114.8 27.3 20.6
2011 3063 n/a n/a 22
2012 3017 115.1 26.2 n/a
2013 2989 106.3 28.1 23.4
2014 3067 100.7 30.4 20.9
2015 3036 107.0 28.3 20.1
2016 3024 113.0 26.7 20
2017 3010 116.0 25.9 20.9
2018 3026 120.5 25.0 24.6
2019 3012 116.7 25.7 25.9
2020 2992 n/a n/a 27.2
2021 2948 117.8 25.0 24.5
2022 2904 129.6 22.3 24.4
2023 2838 125.0 22.7 35.9
2024 2765 125.3 22.0 35.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for San Clemente High

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $9,772

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on San Clemente High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 240th of 2133 High schoolsRanks 178th of 2348 High schools
 3.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (San Clemente High)68.277.4
 9.2%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Capistrano Unified)75.476.3
 0.8%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (San Clemente High)50.548.5
 2.1%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Capistrano Unified)50.549
 1.5%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
12th Grade Science (San Clemente High)40.350.6
 10.4%
   12th Grade Science (Capistrano Unified)46.550.7
 4.2%
   12th Grade Science (California)25.626.9
 1.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students30122838
 5.8%
African American2817
 39.3%
American Indian108
 20%
Asian8357
 31.3%
Hispanic795778
 2.1%
Pacific Islander64
 33.3%
White18851783
 5.4%
Two or More Races205182
 11.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients25.9%35.9%
 10%


Schools Near San Clemente High









Frequently Asked Questions about San Clemente High

Students at San Clemente High are 62% White, 27% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

San Clemente High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Clarence Lobo Elementary
Elementary : Concordia Elementary
Elementary : Las Palmas Elementary
Elementary : Marblehead Elementary
Elementary : Truman Benedict Elementary
Elementary : Vista del Mar Elementary
Middle : Bernice Ayer Middle
Middle : Shorecliffs Middle
Middle : Vista del Mar Middle

In the 2023-24 school year, 2,765 students attended San Clemente High.

San Clemente High ranks 259th of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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