Public schools in Aliso Viejo, CA
9 open public schools with an address in Aliso Viejo, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,045
8 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
24:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Aliso Viejo public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Aliso Viejo, CA: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 8 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,045 students, an average of 881 per school. The largest campus is Aliso Niguel High (2,563 students), and the largest elementary school is Don Juan Avila Elementary (672).
Capistrano Unified operates the most schools here (7), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 24:1, higher than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
About 33% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Aliso Viejo
Elementary schools in Aliso Viejo
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon Vista Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 533 | 24.2:1 | |
| Don Juan Avila Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 672 | 26.9:1 | |
| Journey Journey District · Charter | KG–08 | 617 | 24.7:1 | |
| Oak Grove Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 569 | 23.7:1 | |
| Wood Canyon Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 425 | 22.4:1 |
Middle schools in Aliso Viejo
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliso Viejo Middle Capistrano Unified | 06–08 | 803 | 22.3:1 | |
| Don Juan Avila Middle Capistrano Unified | 06–08 | 863 | 24.2:1 |
High schools in Aliso Viejo
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliso Niguel High Capistrano Unified | 09–12 | 2,563 | 23.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Aliso Viejo
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts III Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts III District · Charter | KG–12 | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White48.8%
- Hispanic20.9%
- Black0.9%
- Asian15.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial13.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 8 Aliso Viejo schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,045 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Aliso Viejo
How many public schools are in Aliso Viejo, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Aliso Viejo: 5 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 7,045 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Aliso Viejo?
Schools with an address in Aliso Viejo belong to 3 education agencies, led by Capistrano Unified (7 schools), Journey District (1 school), Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts III District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Aliso Viejo?
Aliso Niguel High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Aliso Viejo, with 2,563 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Aliso Viejo?
Yes. 2 of the 9 public schools in Aliso Viejo are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Journey, Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts III. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Aliso Viejo schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Aliso Viejo public schools is 24:1, higher than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Aliso Viejo guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities