Early College High

Summary:

Early College High is a public high school in Costa Mesa, California, serving 201 students in grades 9-12. It is part of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, which is ranked 430 out of 1,568 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Early College High has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in California, with a current statewide ranking of 43 out of 2,323 high schools and a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Early College High's academic performance is exceptional, with 92.31% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and 65.38% proficient or better in Mathematics, significantly outperforming the district and state averages. The school also maintains a 100% four-year graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate, which are significantly higher than the district and state. Additionally, Early College High excels in supporting the academic success of diverse student populations, ranking among the top 25-47 high schools in California for female, male, Hispanic, and low socioeconomic status students.

When compared to nearby high schools, such as Monte Vista Independent Study, Back Bay High, Estancia High, and Costa Mesa High, Early College High stands out as a top-performing school, consistently outperforming them in academic achievement, graduation rates, and student group performance. The school's sustained excellence and ability to support diverse student populations make it a compelling example of what can be achieved in public education.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2990 Mesa Verde Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-3636

(714) 424-7990

District: Newport-Mesa Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
43^rd of 2,323 California High Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 17.3

Number of students: 200

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

56.0%

White:

28.0%

Asian:

8.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 64%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Early College High ranks better than 98.1% of high schools in California. It also ranks first among 7 ranked high schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.43. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Early College High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

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: Hispanic (56%), White (28%), Asian (8.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 64% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Early College High is 17.3, which is the 3^rd best among 7 high schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare Early College High employs 11.5 full-time teachers.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Early College High:

SchoolDigger ranks Early College High 43^rd of 2323 California public high schools. (See Early College High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

Newport-Mesa Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Newport-Mesa Unified 430^th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Early College High

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Rank History for all students at Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2007	70.07	258^th	2063	87.5%
2008	82.47	94^th	2117	95.6%
2009	73.22	214^th	2238	90.4%
2010	85.62	72^nd	2281	96.8%
2011	92.95	12^th	2367	99.5%
2012	89.05	39^th	2354	98.3%
2013	87.26	53^rd	2426	97.8%
2015	90.54	173^rd	1994	91.3%
2016	87.61	238^th	2039	88.3%
2017	94.61	94^th	2021	95.3%
2018	97.26	43^rd	2017	97.9%
2019	96.88	57^th	2133	97.3%
2021	89.33	139^th	1290	89.2%
2022	97.72	51^st	2123	97.6%
2023	97.69	41^st	2348	98.3%
2024	97.43	43^rd	2323	98.1%

See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	98.52	23^rd	1862	98.8%
2019	96.37	54^th	1937	97.2%
2021	84.51	133^rd	1126	88.2%
2022	97.99	41^st	1943	97.9%
2023	99.21	22^nd	2247	99.0%
2024	98.39	26^th	2235	98.8%

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

Rank History for Female students at Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	94.12	73^rd	1760	95.9%
2019	89.65	163^rd	1833	91.1%
2021	77.39	220^th	1054	79.1%
2022	93.18	131^st	1858	92.9%
2023	96.95	41^st	2118	98.1%
2024	96.35	47^th	2098	97.8%

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

Rank History for Male students at Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	98.38	25^th	1834	98.6%
2019	98.17	44^th	1880	97.7%
2021	93.50	77^th	1122	93.1%
2022	99.06	24^th	1916	98.7%
2023	97.76	42^nd	2207	98.1%
2024	98.21	35^th	2172	98.4%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	98.24	26^th	1742	98.5%
2019	90.95	113^th	1814	93.8%
2022	99.30	18^th	1861	99.0%
2023	99.00	19^th	2142	99.1%
2024	98.48	25^th	2125	98.8%

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

Rank History for White students at Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	95.69	20^th	1173	98.3%
2019	98.97	2^nd	1222	99.8%
2022	93.24	47^th	1204	96.1%
2023	96.41	16^th	1434	98.9%

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.

Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Early College High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2007	21	0	0	64	0	n/a	n/a	0	85
2008	46	3	3	94	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	146
2009	63	4	7	127	0	3	0	0	204
2010	76	4	9	160	0	2	0	0	251
2011	67	2	12	170	0	2	0	0	253
2012	48	0	11	174	1	3	0	0	237
2013	50	0	15	200	2	1	0	0	268
2014	44	1	12	174	1	1	0	0	233
2015	46	2	12	183	4	1	1	0	249
2016	50	2	13	190	3	1	1	0	260
2017	59	3	15	162	4	1	2	0	246
2018	43	2	15	136	3	3	1	0	203
2019	49	1	15	114	1	3	1	0	184
2020	61	1	11	125	1	2	1	0	202
2021	57	0	13	137	0	2	5	0	214
2022	64	0	17	124	0	0	7	0	212
2023	61	3	18	109	0	0	9	1	201
2024	56	1	17	112	0	0	12	2	200

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 Early College High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	85	3.7	23.0	70.6
2008	146	8.8	16.6	60.3
2009	204	8.6	17.4	65.2
2010	251	9.0	27.8	50.6
2011	253	n/a	n/a	63.2
2012	237	11.0	21.5	n/a
2013	268	10.5	25.3	70.5
2014	233	11.5	20.1	74.2
2015	249	10.0	24.9	69.9
2016	260	10.0	26.0	70
2017	246	10.1	24.3	64.6
2018	203	10.2	19.9	67.5
2019	184	9.0	20.3	62
2020	202	n/a	n/a	59.4
2021	214	9.1	23.4	63.1
2022	212	10.1	20.9	37.7
2023	201	11.6	17.3	59.7
2024	200	11.5	17.3	64

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 Early College High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	85	3.7	23.0	70.6
2008	146	8.8	16.6	60.3
2009	204	8.6	17.4	65.2
2010	251	9.0	27.8	50.6
2011	253	n/a	n/a	63.2
2012	237	11.0	21.5	n/a
2013	268	10.5	25.3	70.5
2014	233	11.5	20.1	74.2
2015	249	10.0	24.9	69.9
2016	260	10.0	26.0	70
2017	246	10.1	24.3	64.6
2018	203	10.2	19.9	67.5
2019	184	9.0	20.3	62
2020	202	n/a	n/a	59.4
2021	214	9.1	23.4	63.1
2022	212	10.1	20.9	37.7
2023	201	11.6	17.3	59.7
2024	200	11.5	17.3	64

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.

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Early College 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 57^th of 2133 High schools	Ranks 41^st of 2348 High schools	0.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Early College High)	94.1	92.5	1.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Newport-Mesa Unified)	63.7	57.3	6.4%
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)	57.3	55.4	1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Early College High)	66.7	67.9	1.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (Newport-Mesa Unified)	40.3	33.1	7.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (California)	32.2	27.4	4.9%
11th Grade Science (Early College High)	62.8	66	3.3%
11th Grade Science (Newport-Mesa Unified)	43.6	34	9.6%
11th Grade Science (California)	30.4	31.7	1.3%
12th Grade Science (Early College High)	45.8	47.7	1.9%
12th Grade Science (Newport-Mesa Unified)	34.7	34.9	0.3%
12th Grade Science (California)	25.6	26.8	1.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	184	201	9.2%
African American	1	3	200%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	15	18	20%
Hispanic	114	109	4.4%
Pacific Islander	3	0	100%
White	49	61	24.5%
Two or More Races	1	9	800%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	62%	59.7%	2.3%

Schools Near Early College High

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				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	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science End of Course	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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics End of Course	Total
Early College High	Public	9-12	2990 Mesa Verde Dr.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-7990	200	12	17.3	64.0%	56 (28.0%)	1 (0.5%)	112 (56.0%)	17 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.0%)	97.4	43^rd of 2323 public high schools	98.1%		97.7	41^st of 2348 public high schools	98.3%	2		67.3		67.3			92.3	92.3			65.4	65.4
Costa Mesa High	Public	7-12	2650 Fairview Rd.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 424-8700	1,761	94	18.6	75.2%	293 (16.6%)	25 (1.4%)	1,223 (69.4%)	101 (5.7%)	5 (0.3%)	23 (1.3%)	89 (5.1%)	51.3	829^th of 2323 public high schools	64.3%		51.4	836^th of 2348 public high schools	64.4%	7	27.3	33.0	7.1	29.5	49.3	40.6	51.8	47.2	40.1	26.7	19.6	28.9
Estancia High	Public	9-12	2323 Placentia Ave.	Costa Mesa	92627	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6500	1,030	54	18.9	84.1%	114 (11.1%)	5 (0.5%)	852 (82.7%)	22 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.5%)	26 (2.5%)	58.1	679^th of 2323 public high schools	70.8%		55.6	744^th of 2348 public high schools	68.3%	65		27.4		27.4			61.5	61.5			25.4	25.4
Coastline Regional Occupational Program	Public	9-12	1001 Presidio Sq.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Coastline Regional Occupational Program	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(714) 979-1955	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Monte Vista Independent Study	Public	7-12	1003 Presidio Sq.	Costa Mesa	92626	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6690	62	6	10.1	64.5%	30 (48.4%)	2 (3.2%)	25 (40.3%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.5%)	38.8	1161^st of 2323 public high schools	50.0%		65.3	556^th of 2348 public high schools	76.3%	605		20.0		26.9			46.7	43.8			0.0	21.9
Segerstrom High	Public	9-12	2301 West MacArthur Blvd.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 241-5000	2,499	100	25.0	65.4%	21 (0.8%)	10 (0.4%)	2,300 (92.0%)	147 (5.9%)	1 (0.0%)	5 (0.2%)	13 (0.5%)	63.5	566^th of 2323 public high schools	75.6%		64.9	559^th of 2348 public high schools	76.2%	7		29.8		29.8			67.0	67.0			27.6	27.6	$7,180
Fountain Valley High	Public	9-12	17816 Bushard	Fountain Valley	92708	Orange County	Huntington Beach Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 962-3301	3,130	120	26.1	51.0%	640 (20.4%)	18 (0.6%)	521 (16.6%)	1,769 (56.5%)	6 (0.2%)	17 (0.5%)	156 (5.0%)	95.1	80^th of 2323 public high schools	96.6%		94.5	98^th of 2348 public high schools	95.8%	18		60.3	37.5	59.6			83.3	83.3			61.5	61.5	$9,260
Valley Vista High	Public	9-12	9600 Dolphin St.	Fountain Valley	92708	Orange County	Huntington Beach Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 964-7766	269	14	19.1	79.2%	55 (20.4%)	3 (1.1%)	169 (62.8%)	25 (9.3%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	10 (3.7%)	15.9	1786^th of 2323 public high schools	23.1%		17.9	1752^nd of 2348 public high schools	25.4%	34		11.0	15.4	11.4			18.6	18.6			4.7	4.7	$15,509
Los Amigos High	Public	9-12	16566 Newhope St.	Fountain Valley	92708	Orange County	Garden Grove Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 663-6288	1,437	76	18.8	94.4%	27 (1.9%)	6 (0.4%)	1,200 (83.5%)	188 (13.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.3%)	11 (0.8%)	58.2	678^th of 2323 public high schools	70.8%		49.7	873^rd of 2348 public high schools	62.8%	195		27.3	0.0	26.5			58.8	58.8			28.3	28.3	$12,911
Back Bay High	Public	9-12	390 Monte Vista Ave.	Costa Mesa	92627	Orange County	Newport-Mesa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 515-6900	150	17	8.7	84.0%	30 (20.0%)	2 (1.3%)	112 (74.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	6.9	2257^th of 2323 public high schools	2.8%		7.1	2262^nd of 2348 public high schools	3.7%	5		0.0		0.0			3.5	3.5			0.0	0.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Early College High

How many students attend Early College High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 200 students attended Early College High.

What is the racial makeup of Early College High?

Students at Early College High are 56% Hispanic, 28% White, 9% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

Is Early College High a good school?

Yes! Early College High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 43^rd of 2323 California high schools.

What district is Early College High in?

Newport-Mesa 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.