Laguna Beach High

Summary:

Laguna Beach High is a public high school serving 930 students in grades 9-12 in the highly-ranked Laguna Beach Unified School District. This exceptional school consistently ranks among the top high schools in California, with outstanding academic performance, high graduation rates, and low dropout rates.

Laguna Beach High's students excel on standardized tests, with 87.5% proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and 66.67% proficient or better in Mathematics - significantly higher than the state averages. The school maintains an impressive 97.1% to 100% four-year graduation rate and a low 0% to 0.9% dropout rate. Laguna Beach High also serves its diverse student population effectively, with high rankings across subgroups including female, male, Asian, Hispanic, White, multi-racial, special education, and low socioeconomic status students.

Compared to nearby schools, Capistrano Union High has much lower proficiency rates, while Laguna Hills High and Aliso Niguel High have higher percentages of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Laguna Beach High's success can be attributed to its dedicated faculty, rigorous curriculum, and effective support systems, making it a model for high-quality education in California.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 625 Park Ave.
       Laguna Beach, CA  92651-2340


(949) 497-7750

District: Laguna Beach Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
54th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $19,910 Help


Feeder schools for Laguna Beach High:

Elementary:    El Morro Elementary
    Top of the World Elementary
Middle:    Thurston Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  18.0 Help
Number of students:  930

Racial breakdown:

White:
70.5%
Hispanic:
13.4%
Two or more races:
7.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  20.1% Help


 See top rated California high schools

 Compare Laguna Beach High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Laguna Beach High ranks better than 97.7% of high schools in California. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.65. (See more...)
Help
The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Laguna Beach High freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 (70.5%), Hispanic (13.4%), two or more races (7.7%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 20.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Laguna Beach High is 18. (See more...)
Help
Compare Laguna Beach High employs 51.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Laguna Beach High is $19,910.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Laguna Beach High:

SchoolDigger ranks Laguna Beach High 54th of 2323 California public high schools. (See Laguna Beach High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Laguna Beach Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Laguna Beach Unified 42nd of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Laguna Beach High.

What do you think?

Your rating for Laguna Beach High?

Rank History for Laguna Beach High

Help
Compare

Rank History for all students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 63.94 284th 1653 82.8%
2005 70.93 238th 1901 87.5%
2006 72.26 239th 1968 87.9%
2007 68.80 283rd 2063 86.3%
2008 71.07 257th 2117 87.9%
2009 72.98 217th 2238 90.3%
2010 80.94 124th 2281 94.6%
2011 85.02 77th 2367 96.7%
2012 85.28 74th 2354 96.9%
2013 83.33 95th 2426 96.1%
2015 93.52 114th 1994 94.3%
2016 93.30 116th 2039 94.3%
2017 93.11 127th 2021 93.7%
2018 90.95 180th 2017 91.1%
2019 95.80 88th 2133 95.9%
2022 91.95 173rd 2123 91.9%
2023 92.73 128th 2348 94.5%
2024 96.65 54th 2323 97.7%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.81 155th 366 57.7%
2022 85.80 40th 515 92.2%
2023 83.61 71st 786 91.0%
2024 94.47 13th 804 98.4%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 74.49 163rd 1547 89.5%
2024 93.56 33rd 1534 97.8%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 77.94 352nd 1862 81.1%
2019 96.11 57th 1937 97.1%
2022 90.38 144th 1943 92.6%
2023 89.46 154th 2247 93.1%
2024 98.31 28th 2235 98.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.54 146th 1760 91.7%
2019 96.95 42nd 1833 97.7%
2022 91.52 154th 1858 91.7%
2023 92.09 118th 2118 94.4%
2024 94.25 69th 2098 96.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.22 32nd 1052 97.0%
2019 98.66 20th 1117 98.2%
2022 90.36 74th 1161 93.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.18 195th 1834 89.4%
2019 93.85 104th 1880 94.5%
2022 90.23 172nd 1916 91.0%
2023 91.87 139th 2207 93.7%
2024 97.39 52nd 2172 97.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 64.06 240th 581 58.7%
2019 90.42 25th 582 95.7%
2022 89.63 26th 581 95.5%
2023 56.69 350th 731 52.1%
2024 85.91 53rd 712 92.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.16 245th 1742 85.9%
2019 93.62 71st 1814 96.1%
2022 86.91 170th 1861 90.9%
2023 93.70 83rd 2142 96.1%
2024 95.60 53rd 2125 97.5%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Laguna Beach High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.33 203rd 1173 82.7%
2019 87.63 105th 1222 91.4%
2022 74.51 273rd 1204 77.3%
2023 80.97 161st 1434 88.8%
2024 87.69 82nd 1406 94.2%
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.

Laguna Beach 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: 3)
0%

50%

0%

50%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, May 19, 2023

Open Quote The truth as I see it. Most parents feel at ease reading high ratings based on a very rudimentary collection of data but fail to look more critically at the curriculum, culture and mission. It would be very cavalier to say Laguna Beach HS is a country club but my observation has been that parents don't seem to internalize that their children are in fact being prepared to be very successful...FOR THE 1970s. Unfortunately, it's 2023. Water polo is the driving force here. Don't think so? Ask anyone who lives in LB about the schools. You will get a positive response, but if water polo isn't in the first sentence I would be shocked. No big deal? I think it is because parents seem quite content that this is what the school is known for rather than tech prowess or a powerful critical thinking based culture and this is coming from a hyper-competitive person who loves sports. Try the same experiment, see if tech comes up in five minutes, let alone the first sentence. Of course this school enjoys way above average rankings. We live in a very affluent, highly educated 2 parent household community, but if we collectively stop patting ourselves on the back for a minute and realize that we are as a group mostly on 3rd base (no guilt) to begin with competing against those who can't get a base hit who are living in school districts where 1 parent households make food vs gas decisions every day, then we should be a little harder on ourselves. It is our responsibility to lay the tracks that lead our children on this astronomically fast moving train to their next location so that the next generation has a vital role when it comes to addressing tomorrow's problems and feeling that they have value in that world. This is based on the, “plant a tree today, knowing you yourself will never to enjoy the shade it provides personally” idea, only you are planting what you love more than anything in the world. Your children. I think this beautifully situated school underperforms miserably and frankly, it produces precisely what is demanded of it. Conversely, if this is the culture parents want, great, but then the school should have a competently run tech and real word based curriculum that is enthusiastically supported. Not a smiling, no worries, do just enough to pacify and redirect parent awareness strategy. 5 of the students would thrive if a more vigorous curriculum was offered 9th through 12th. Not forced, but offered, exposed to. Why is this group any less important? NO worries? Guess what... it’s ok to worry a little, and for the record, I think water polo is great for the fans and participants. Close Quote


by a student
Thursday, May 26, 2016

Open Quote Laguna Beach High is really nice. the teachers are always trying to make sure each student is doing their best, and is very helpful when they are struggling behind. the kids are mostly pretty nice, but since Laguna is a very rich place, they all kinda show off in a way. lunch is average, same as many other schools but the prices are a little over the top. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Laguna Beach High

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 783 5 13 26 0 n/a n/a 0 827
1989 646 6 12 26 2 n/a n/a 0 692
1990 594 4 12 28 0 n/a n/a 0 638
1991 567 6 27 47 7 n/a n/a 0 654
1992 577 12 34 64 6 n/a n/a 0 693
1993 601 6 38 63 11 n/a n/a 0 719
1994 629 7 32 61 4 n/a n/a 0 733
1995 685 9 23 51 3 n/a n/a 0 771
1996 685 9 23 51 3 n/a n/a 0 771
1997 695 12 27 53 3 n/a n/a 0 790
1998 691 12 25 53 3 n/a n/a 0 784
1999 683 8 32 54 3 n/a n/a 0 780
2000 718 5 24 49 3 n/a n/a 14 813
2001 721 14 29 62 1 n/a n/a 1 828
2002 709 8 31 84 6 n/a n/a 17 855
2003 709 8 31 84 6 n/a n/a 17 855
2004 713 6 32 84 5 n/a n/a 4 844
2005 773 13 34 89 8 n/a n/a 18 935
2006 859 16 37 77 12 n/a n/a 39 1040
2007 891 14 34 86 10 n/a n/a 38 1073
2008 878 9 34 76 11 n/a n/a 0 1008
2009 867 11 36 80 6 3 54 0 1057
2010 851 14 35 89 6 3 41 0 1039
2011 855 12 44 91 6 1 31 0 1040
2012 815 19 36 96 3 1 27 0 997
2013 827 16 32 91 1 1 20 0 988
2014 699 11 27 73 1 2 16 0 829
2015 879 9 25 89 4 4 28 0 1038
2016 898 9 37 114 7 6 32 0 1103
2017 898 14 40 117 6 4 37 0 1116
2018 842 19 53 111 4 4 51 0 1084
2019 821 14 59 117 2 3 52 0 1068
2020 808 15 60 100 1 1 62 0 1047
2021 782 13 67 116 3 1 70 0 1052
2022 727 8 70 126 3 1 78 0 1013
2023 656 9 65 125 2 0 72 1 930

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 Laguna Beach High

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 827 36.8 22.4 n/a
1989 692 32.2 21.4 n/a
1990 638 30.9 20.6 n/a
1991 654 30.2 21.6 n/a
1992 693 30.7 22.5 3.8
1993 719 32.2 22.3 4.6
1994 733 35.0 20.9 4.8
1995 771 36.6 21.1 6.4
1996 771 36.6 21.1 6.4
1997 790 31.0 25.5 3.8
1998 784 31.0 25.3 3.8
1999 780 31.4 24.8 5.8
2000 813 34.0 23.9 6.5
2001 828 34.8 23.8 7.5
2002 855 37.0 23.1 6
2003 855 37.0 23.1 6
2004 844 38.6 21.9 8.5
2005 935 40.2 23.3 5.1
2006 1040 45.5 22.9 4.4
2007 1073 47.9 22.4 4.3
2008 1008 53.6 18.8 4.2
2009 1057 45.6 19.9 4.3
2010 1039 49.6 20.9 7.3
2011 1040 n/a n/a 11.7
2012 997 47.0 21.2 n/a
2013 988 46.6 21.2 7.8
2014 829 48.0 17.2 7.6
2015 1038 47.0 22.0 6.1
2016 1103 51.0 21.6 7.4
2017 1116 50.0 22.3 6.9
2018 1084 53.3 20.3 12.3
2019 1068 53.6 19.9 11
2020 1047 n/a n/a 10.3
2021 1052 54.2 19.3 10.9
2022 1013 52.1 19.4 18.7
2023 930 51.4 18.0 20.1

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 Laguna Beach High

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 827 36.8 22.4 n/a
1989 692 32.2 21.4 n/a
1990 638 30.9 20.6 n/a
1991 654 30.2 21.6 n/a
1992 693 30.7 22.5 3.8
1993 719 32.2 22.3 4.6
1994 733 35.0 20.9 4.8
1995 771 36.6 21.1 6.4
1996 771 36.6 21.1 6.4
1997 790 31.0 25.5 3.8
1998 784 31.0 25.3 3.8
1999 780 31.4 24.8 5.8
2000 813 34.0 23.9 6.5
2001 828 34.8 23.8 7.5
2002 855 37.0 23.1 6
2003 855 37.0 23.1 6
2004 844 38.6 21.9 8.5
2005 935 40.2 23.3 5.1
2006 1040 45.5 22.9 4.4
2007 1073 47.9 22.4 4.3
2008 1008 53.6 18.8 4.2
2009 1057 45.6 19.9 4.3
2010 1039 49.6 20.9 7.3
2011 1040 n/a n/a 11.7
2012 997 47.0 21.2 n/a
2013 988 46.6 21.2 7.8
2014 829 48.0 17.2 7.6
2015 1038 47.0 22.0 6.1
2016 1103 51.0 21.6 7.4
2017 1116 50.0 22.3 6.9
2018 1084 53.3 20.3 12.3
2019 1068 53.6 19.9 11
2020 1047 n/a n/a 10.3
2021 1052 54.2 19.3 10.9
2022 1013 52.1 19.4 18.7
2023 930 51.4 18.0 20.1

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 Laguna Beach High

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $19,910

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Laguna Beach 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 88th of 2133 High schoolsRanks 128th of 2348 High schools
 1.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Laguna Beach High)79.984.3
 4.4%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Laguna Beach Unified)79.984.3
 4.4%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Laguna Beach High)69.849.8
 20%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Laguna Beach Unified)69.849.8
 20%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
11th Grade Science (Laguna Beach High)63.961.5
 2.4%
   11th Grade Science (Laguna Beach Unified)63.961.5
 2.4%
   11th Grade Science (California)30.431.7
 1.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students1068930
 12.9%
African American149
 35.7%
American Indian22
Asian5965
 10.2%
Hispanic117125
 6.8%
Pacific Islander30
 100%
White821656
 20.1%
Two or More Races5272
 38.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients11%20.1%
 9.2%


Schools Near Laguna Beach High









Frequently Asked Questions about Laguna Beach High

In the 2022-23 school year, 930 students attended Laguna Beach High.

Yes! Laguna Beach High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 54th of 2323 California high schools.

Laguna Beach High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : El Morro Elementary
Elementary : Top of the World Elementary
Middle : Thurston Middle

Students at Laguna Beach High are 71% White, 13% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 7% Asian.


Rate Laguna Beach High!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Laguna Beach High!




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.





Diagnostics
t12_062037002454 retrieved from Memory in 0 milliseconds.
None retrieved from Database in 89 milliseconds.