Is John Malcom Elementary a good school?

John Malcom Elementary ranks 906 th of 5862 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend John Malcom Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 551 students attended John Malcom Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of John Malcom Elementary?

Students at John Malcom Elementary are 67% White, 19% Two or more races, 11% Hispanic, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of John Malcom Elementary attend?

Students who attend John Malcom Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Niguel Hills Middle High : Dana Hills High

John Malcom Elementary

Summary:

John Malcom Elementary is a public elementary school in Laguna Niguel, California, serving 548 students in grades K-5 and part of the Capistrano Unified School District.

John Malcom Elementary consistently performs above the state average in academic assessments, with proficiency rates of 67.19% in English Language Arts/Literacy and 62.26% in Mathematics, compared to the state averages of 47.04% and 35.54%, respectively. The school also excels in the performance of its Hispanic and low socioeconomic status student subgroups, ranking among the top schools in California. However, the school has experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism rates, from 6.3% in 2017-2018 to 20.4% in 2022-2023, which warrants further investigation.

While John Malcom Elementary's academic performance is generally stronger than nearby Moulton Elementary and San Juan Elementary, the local charter schools, such as Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts and Community Roots Academy, demonstrate even higher academic achievement in some areas. Additionally, John Malcom Elementary has a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, ranging from 13.65% to 28.83%, compared to nearby schools like Kinoshita Elementary and Hidden Hills Elementary, which have significantly higher percentages of students from low-income families.

Detail:

Public K-5

32261 Charles Ave.
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-4258

(949) 248-0542

District: Capistrano Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
906^th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,478

Students who attend John Malcom Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Niguel Hills Middle
High:	Dana Hills High

Student/teacher ratio: 22.9

Number of students: 551

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.0%

Two or more races:

19.1%

Hispanic:

11.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 25.2%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare John Malcom Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details John Malcom Elementary ranks better than 84.5% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks 20^th among 34 ranked elementary schools in the Capistrano Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 85.97. (See more...)

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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (67%), two or more races (19.1%), Hispanic (11.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 25.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at John Malcom Elementary is 22.9, which is the 17^th best among 34 elementary schools in the Capistrano Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare John Malcom Elementary employs 23.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at John Malcom Elementary is $9,478. 22 elementary schools in the Capistrano Unified School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

John Malcom Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks John Malcom Elementary 906^th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See John Malcom Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Capistrano Unified:

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

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for John Malcom Elementary

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Rank History for all students at John Malcom Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2004	79.40	918^th	4809	80.9%
2005	79.66	932^nd	4822	80.7%
2006	85.30	720^th	4818	85.1%
2007	84.94	756^th	5113	85.2%
2008	82.30	865^th	5113	83.1%
2009	85.77	720^th	5193	86.1%
2010	84.55	752^nd	5314	85.8%
2011	90.37	415^th	5377	92.3%
2012	85.73	689^th	5390	87.2%
2013	83.55	845^th	5530	84.7%
2015	90.62	590^th	5611	89.5%
2016	88.31	722^nd	5614	87.1%
2017	90.11	639^th	5692	88.8%
2018	86.76	809^th	5662	85.7%
2019	87.13	789^th	5789	86.4%
2022	84.73	953^rd	5883	83.8%
2023	90.18	698^th	5874	88.1%
2024	85.97	906^th	5862	84.5%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at John Malcom Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	41.22	456^th	669	31.8%
2024	49.53	401^st	669	40.1%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at John Malcom Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	51.38	876^th	2420	63.8%
2024	58.82	742^nd	2634	71.8%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at John Malcom Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	85.92	453^rd	5084	91.1%
2019	86.51	427^th	5173	91.7%
2022	74.30	990^th	5264	81.2%
2023	90.50	368^th	5374	93.2%
2024	89.58	463^rd	5511	91.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at John Malcom Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	80.69	1005^th	5413	81.4%
2019	83.79	880^th	5492	84.0%
2022	85.23	859^th	5635	84.8%
2023	89.96	626^th	5617	88.9%
2024	86.15	820^th	5605	85.4%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at John Malcom Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	96.90	65^th	2128	96.9%
2019	96.30	73^rd	2585	97.2%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at John Malcom Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	88.99	627^th	5431	88.5%
2019	87.78	696^th	5510	87.4%
2022	81.79	1025^th	5663	81.9%
2023	88.30	709^th	5650	87.5%
2024	83.28	951^st	5636	83.1%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at John Malcom Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	94.83	135^th	4830	97.2%
2019	93.33	184^th	4963	96.3%
2022	99.97	3^rd	5084	99.9%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at John Malcom Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	64.61	1019^th	2737	62.8%
2019	62.79	1106^th	2834	61.0%
2022	60.17	1154^th	2726	57.7%
2023	73.96	659^th	2662	75.2%
2024	62.19	1058^th	2647	60.0%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary 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.

Data source: California Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for John Malcom Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1995	834	6	25	35	0	n/a	n/a	0	900
1996	834	6	25	35	0	n/a	n/a	0	900
1997	847	4	31	34	0	n/a	n/a	0	916
1998	832	5	32	30	0	n/a	n/a	0	899
1999	771	4	22	29	0	n/a	n/a	0	826
2000	758	6	25	40	0	n/a	n/a	1	830
2001	777	8	26	30	0	n/a	n/a	0	841
2002	690	9	39	31	0	n/a	n/a	27	796
2003	690	9	39	31	0	n/a	n/a	27	796
2004	706	7	39	40	1	n/a	n/a	40	833
2005	648	6	37	32	2	n/a	n/a	42	767
2006	647	3	40	28	2	n/a	n/a	59	779
2007	616	4	30	28	1	n/a	n/a	56	735
2008	590	2	25	29	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	646
2009	557	2	26	28	2	0	60	0	675
2010	517	2	18	71	3	0	48	0	659
2011	536	0	18	76	0	0	40	0	670
2012	554	1	17	82	0	0	40	0	694
2013	559	6	19	76	0	0	47	0	707
2014	574	7	23	81	0	0	53	0	738
2015	546	5	21	77	0	1	59	0	709
2016	525	3	21	71	0	0	66	0	686
2017	496	2	20	72	1	0	69	0	660
2018	454	2	18	67	1	0	72	0	614
2019	434	1	28	68	1	0	73	0	605
2020	457	3	20	59	0	2	85	0	626
2021	362	4	13	42	0	1	76	0	498
2022	350	5	13	46	0	0	63	0	477
2023	377	3	14	59	0	0	95	0	548
2024	369	2	12	63	0	0	105	0	551

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 John Malcom Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1995	900	32.0	28.1	4.9
1996	900	32.0	28.1	4.9
1997	916	39.0	23.5	6.2
1998	899	40.0	22.5	4.4
1999	826	37.0	22.3	4.5
2000	830	39.0	21.3	4
2001	841	37.0	22.7	3.3
2002	796	33.6	23.7	6.2
2003	796	33.6	23.7	6.2
2004	833	36.0	23.1	5.8
2005	767	32.0	24.0	6.2
2006	779	33.5	23.3	4.3
2007	735	32.0	23.0	4.1
2008	646	32.0	20.2	3.3
2009	675	30.0	21.8	5.3
2010	659	24.0	27.4	5.9
2011	670	n/a	n/a	7.5
2012	694	24.6	28.1	n/a
2013	707	23.3	30.3	11.9
2014	738	23.0	32.0	10.7
2015	709	22.0	32.2	9.4
2016	686	22.0	31.1	8.6
2017	660	22.0	30.0	10.9
2018	614	20.1	30.5	13.7
2019	605	20.0	30.2	14.2
2020	626	n/a	n/a	14.7
2021	498	19.4	25.6	13.7
2022	477	22.0	21.6	18.9
2023	548	22.9	23.8	28.8
2024	551	23.9	22.9	25.2

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 John Malcom Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1995	900	32.0	28.1	4.9
1996	900	32.0	28.1	4.9
1997	916	39.0	23.5	6.2
1998	899	40.0	22.5	4.4
1999	826	37.0	22.3	4.5
2000	830	39.0	21.3	4
2001	841	37.0	22.7	3.3
2002	796	33.6	23.7	6.2
2003	796	33.6	23.7	6.2
2004	833	36.0	23.1	5.8
2005	767	32.0	24.0	6.2
2006	779	33.5	23.3	4.3
2007	735	32.0	23.0	4.1
2008	646	32.0	20.2	3.3
2009	675	30.0	21.8	5.3
2010	659	24.0	27.4	5.9
2011	670	n/a	n/a	7.5
2012	694	24.6	28.1	n/a
2013	707	23.3	30.3	11.9
2014	738	23.0	32.0	10.7
2015	709	22.0	32.2	9.4
2016	686	22.0	31.1	8.6
2017	660	22.0	30.0	10.9
2018	614	20.1	30.5	13.7
2019	605	20.0	30.2	14.2
2020	626	n/a	n/a	14.7
2021	498	19.4	25.6	13.7
2022	477	22.0	21.6	18.9
2023	548	22.9	23.8	28.8
2024	551	23.9	22.9	25.2

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.

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