Esencia Middle

Summary:

Esencia Middle is a public middle school located in Rancho Mission Viejo, CA, serving grades 6-8 with 229 students. It is part of the Capistrano Unified School District, which is ranked 204 out of 1,568 districts in California and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Esencia Middle has consistently been ranked among the top middle schools in California, ranking 93rd out of 2,777 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and receiving a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Esencia Middle significantly outperforms the Capistrano Unified School District and the state of California in standardized test scores across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 77.66% of Esencia Middle students were proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy, compared to 70.24% for the district and 47.04% for the state. In Mathematics, 77.74% of Esencia Middle students were proficient or better, compared to 60.54% for the district and 35.54% for the state. Esencia Middle's performance is particularly strong across various student subgroups, ranking among the top middle schools in California for female, Hispanic, and low socioeconomic status students.

Esencia Middle also stands out for its relatively low chronic absenteeism rates and lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch compared to nearby schools, such as Marco Forster Middle, La Paz Intermediate, and Arroyo Vista Middle. Additionally, Esencia Middle has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 16 to 21.5 over the past three school years, which is lower than most of the nearby schools.

Detail:

Public 6-8

5 Aprender St.
Rancho Mission Viejo, CA 92694

(949) 234-9900

District: Capistrano Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
93^rd of 2,777 California Middle Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 18.4

Number of students: 284

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.0%

Hispanic:

19.7%

Asian:

11.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 20.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Esencia Middle ranks better than 96.7% of middle schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.95. (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

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Teachers

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Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Esencia Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Esencia Middle 93^rd of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Esencia Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Capistrano Unified:

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

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Rank History for Esencia Middle

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Rank History for all students at Esencia Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	90.85	257^th	2740	90.6%
2023	96.31	112^th	2802	96.0%
2024	96.95	93^rd	2777	96.7%

See the entire list of California Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Esencia Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	96.46	39^th	1550	97.5%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Esencia Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	95.36	81^st	2549	96.8%
2024	98.71	29^th	2575	98.9%

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

Rank History for Female students at Esencia Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	91.70	199^th	2509	92.1%
2023	98.26	29^th	2547	98.9%
2024	97.53	45^th	2546	98.2%

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

Rank History for Male students at Esencia Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	88.01	296^th	2527	88.3%
2023	90.68	233^rd	2558	90.9%
2024	95.24	130^th	2547	94.9%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Esencia Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	80.79	285^th	2359	87.9%
2023	92.84	107^th	2391	95.5%
2024	98.11	32^nd	2383	98.7%

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

Rank History for White students at Esencia Middle

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	79.59	256^th	1555	83.5%
2023	88.43	99^th	1552	93.6%
2024	89.08	86^th	1535	94.4%

See the entire list of Best California Middle 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

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Enrollment information for Esencia Middle

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2020	42	2	6	9	0	0	9	68
2021	75	3	16	25	0	0	10	129
2022	121	4	23	49	1	0	22	220
2023	121	4	31	55	1	0	17	229
2024	159	5	33	56	1	2	28	284

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 Esencia Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2020	68	n/a	n/a	20.6
2021	129	6.0	21.5	15.5
2022	220	13.7	16.0	12.3
2023	229	12.8	17.8	20.1
2024	284	15.3	18.4	20.8

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 Esencia Middle

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2020	68	n/a	n/a	20.6
2021	129	6.0	21.5	15.5
2022	220	13.7	16.0	12.3
2023	229	12.8	17.8	20.1
2024	284	15.3	18.4	20.8

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.

Schools Near Esencia Middle

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				CSA Spanish Reading/Language Arts (2024)				CAST Science (2024)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2018)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CSA Spanish Reading/Language Arts 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading/Language Arts 7th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading/Language Arts 8th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading/Language Arts End of Course	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics End of Course	Total
Esencia Middle	Public	6-8	5 Aprender St.	Rancho Mission Viejo	92694	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-9900	284	15	18.4	20.8%	159 (56.0%)	5 (1.8%)	56 (19.7%)	33 (11.6%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	28 (9.9%)	96.9	93^rd of 2777 public middle schools	96.7%		96.3	112^th of 2802 public middle schools	96.0%	19					69.3	69.3	72.7	74.7	89.2	77.7	76.9	78.0	78.7	77.7
Ladera Ranch Middle	Public	6-8	29551 Sienna Pkwy.	Ladera Ranch	92694	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5922	1,100	51	21.6	19.3%	709 (64.5%)	9 (0.8%)	113 (10.3%)	137 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	128 (11.6%)	98.1	41^st of 2777 public middle schools	98.5%		97.7	67^th of 2802 public middle schools	97.6%	26					68.7	68.7	83.9	83.2	81.0	82.8	75.4	79.6	75.7	77.0	$9,640
Las Flores Middle	Public	6-8	25862 Antonio Pkwy.	Rancho Santa Margarita	92688	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 589-6543	559	30	18.8	23.8%	322 (57.6%)	8 (1.4%)	94 (16.8%)	74 (13.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (10.7%)	96.3	112^th of 2777 public middle schools	96.0%		95.9	124^th of 2802 public middle schools	95.6%	12					61.3	61.3	72.4	81.1	79.6	77.7	70.2	73.1	67.0	70.1	$9,924
Carl Hankey Middle	Public	6-8	27252 Nubles	Mission Viejo	92692	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5315	175	12	14.3	48.6%	66 (37.7%)	2 (1.1%)	73 (41.7%)	14 (8.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (10.3%)	79.1	497^th of 2777 public middle schools	82.1%		92.3	224^th of 2802 public middle schools	92.0%	273					39.6	39.6	56.5	78.3	66.0	66.9	33.9	56.7	47.9	45.9	$12,158
Vista del Mar Middle	Public	6-8	1130 Avenue Talega	San Clemente	92673	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5955	529	28	18.5	17.6%	390 (73.7%)	1 (0.2%)	64 (12.1%)	19 (3.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (10.0%)	96.1	125^th of 2777 public middle schools	95.5%		95.9	120^th of 2802 public middle schools	95.7%	5					56.1	56.1	79.8	78.4	82.4	80.2	63.6	67.7	74.1	68.4	$10,418
Bernice Ayer Middle	Public	6-8	1271 Sarmentoso	San Clemente	92673	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 366-9607	878	45	19.6	37.1%	501 (57.1%)	2 (0.2%)	284 (32.3%)	17 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	72 (8.2%)	91.2	249^th of 2777 public middle schools	91.0%		92.2	232^nd of 2802 public middle schools	91.7%	17	26.7	8.4	13.7	16.9	42.8	42.8	66.1	75.3	69.1	70.3	62.7	73.9	62.4	66.6	$9,933
Niguel Hills Middle	Public	6-8	29070 Shark Bay	Laguna Niguel	92677	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5360	733	38	19.1	40.4%	417 (56.9%)	9 (1.2%)	216 (29.5%)	33 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	55 (7.5%)	92.4	217^th of 2777 public middle schools	92.2%		91.6	249^th of 2802 public middle schools	91.1%	32					58.4	58.4	66.2	72.1	76.0	71.4	55.7	65.1	64.1	61.5	$10,704
Fred Newhart Middle	Public	6-8	25001 Veterans Way	Mission Viejo	92692	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 855-0162	1,083	55	19.6	34.6%	463 (42.8%)	15 (1.4%)	289 (26.7%)	133 (12.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	178 (16.4%)	94.6	165^th of 2777 public middle schools	94.1%		92.2	231^st of 2802 public middle schools	91.8%	66	10.5	3.3	22.8	12.0	56.2	56.2	71.9	79.0	74.9	75.2	67.6	67.0	61.3	65.3	$9,940
Marco Forster Middle	Public	6-8	25601 Camino del Avion	San Juan Capistrano	92675	Orange County	Capistrano Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 234-5907	1,040	54	19.2	70.6%	266 (25.6%)	1 (0.1%)	713 (68.6%)	10 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	48 (4.6%)	59.3	899^th of 2777 public middle schools	67.6%		54.3	1050^th of 2802 public middle schools	62.5%	151	13.5	3.1	9.7	8.7	37.2	37.2	40.7	48.7	55.9	49.1	29.4	39.5	31.3	33.1	$10,276
La Paz Intermediate	Public	7-8	25151 Pradera Dr.	Mission Viejo	92691	Orange County	Saddleback Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 830-1720	707	31	22.7	41.7%	314 (44.4%)	5 (0.7%)	227 (32.1%)	73 (10.3%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	83 (11.7%)	90.8	259^th of 2777 public middle schools	90.7%		93.5	187^th of 2802 public middle schools	93.3%	72					63.5	63.5		65.2	70.3	67.6		61.5	54.0	57.9	$6,101

Frequently Asked Questions about Esencia Middle

Is Esencia Middle a good school?

Yes! Esencia Middle is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 93^rd of 2777 California middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Esencia Middle?

Students at Esencia Middle are 56% White, 20% Hispanic, 12% Asian, 10% Two or more races, 2% African American.

How many students attend Esencia Middle?

In the 2023-24 school year, 284 students attended Esencia Middle.

What district is Esencia Middle in?

Capistrano Unified

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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.