Public schools in Placentia, CA
18 open public schools with an address in Placentia, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
18
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
11,461
18 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
21.5:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
0
5 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Placentia public schools
The federal directory lists 18 public schools in Placentia, CA: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 3 combined or other. The 18 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 11,461 students, an average of 637 per school. The largest campus is Valencia High (2,411 students), and the largest elementary school is Golden Elementary (834).
Every listed school belongs to Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified. 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 21.5:1, similar to 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 5 magnet schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 6 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 52% 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 Placentia
Elementary schools in Placentia
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookhaven Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified | KG–06 | 482 | 21:1 | |
| Charles Wagner Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified | KG–06 | 440 | 20.5:1 | |
| Golden Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Magnet | KG–06 | 834 | 26.5:1 | |
| John O. Tynes Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Magnet | KG–06 | 591 | 22.2:1 | |
| Melrose Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified | KG–05 | 354 | 23.6:1 | |
| Morse Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified | KG–06 | 382 | 19.7:1 | |
| Ruby Drive Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified | KG–06 | 373 | 20.2:1 | |
| Sierra Vista Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified | KG–06 | 454 | 25.8:1 | |
| Van Buren Elementary Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified | KG–06 | 538 | 20.4:1 |
Middle schools in Placentia
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Col. J. K. Tuffree Middle Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified | 07–08 | 566 | 23.2:1 | |
| Kraemer Middle Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Magnet | 07–08 | 889 | 24.5:1 | |
| Valadez Middle School Academy Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified | 06–08 | 527 | 19.9:1 |
High schools in Placentia
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Camino Real Continuation High Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 142 | 13.6:1 | |
| El Dorado High Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,998 | 24.9:1 | |
| Valencia High Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,411 | 21.9:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Placentia
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista Virtual Academy Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Virtual · Alternative School | KG–12 | 97 | 19.1:1 | |
| George Key Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Special Education School | KG–12 | 124 | 11.4:1 | |
| Parkview Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · Alternative School | KG–12 | 259 | 34.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White19.2%
- Hispanic53.7%
- Black1.4%
- Asian20.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial4.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 18 Placentia schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (11,461 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Placentia
How many public schools are in Placentia, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 18 open public schools with a location address in Placentia: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 11,461 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Placentia?
All listed public schools with an address in Placentia belong to Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Placentia?
Valencia High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Placentia, with 2,411 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Placentia?
No school with an address in Placentia is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in California.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Placentia schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Placentia public schools is 21.5:1, similar to 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 Placentia 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