Public schools in Laguna Niguel, CA
9 open public schools with an address in Laguna Niguel, 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
4,400
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
23.5:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Laguna Niguel public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Laguna Niguel, CA: 8 elementary, 1 middle. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,400 students, an average of 489 per school. The largest campus is Community Roots Academy (780 students).
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 23.5:1, 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 32% 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 Laguna Niguel
Elementary schools in Laguna Niguel
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Roots Academy Community Roots Academy District · Charter | KG–08 | 780 | 15.8:1 | |
| George White Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 378 | 23.6:1 | |
| Hidden Hills Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 330 | 20.6:1 | |
| John Malcom Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 553 | 24.1:1 | |
| Laguna Niguel Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 456 | 22.8:1 | |
| Marian Bergeson Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 423 | 23.5:1 | |
| Moulton Elementary Capistrano Unified | KG–05 | 538 | 24.5:1 | |
| Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts District · Charter | KG–05 | 249 | 24.9:1 |
Middle schools in Laguna Niguel
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niguel Hills Middle Capistrano Unified | 06–08 | 693 | 19.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White52.6%
- Hispanic23.2%
- Black0.6%
- Asian8.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial14.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Laguna Niguel schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,400 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Laguna Niguel
How many public schools are in Laguna Niguel, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Laguna Niguel: 8 elementary, 1 middle. Together they reported 4,400 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Laguna Niguel?
Schools with an address in Laguna Niguel belong to 3 education agencies, led by Capistrano Unified (7 schools), Community Roots Academy District (1 school), Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
Are there charter schools in Laguna Niguel?
Yes. 2 of the 9 public schools in Laguna Niguel are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Community Roots Academy, Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Laguna Niguel schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Laguna Niguel public schools is 23.5:1, 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 Laguna Niguel 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