Public schools in Santa Ana, CA
81 open public schools with an address in Santa Ana, operated by 17 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
81
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
52,826
78 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
21.8:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
14
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Santa Ana public schools
The federal directory lists 81 public schools in Santa Ana, CA: 51 elementary, 9 middle, 16 high, 5 combined or other. The 78 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 52,826 students, an average of 677 per school. The largest campus is Santa Ana High (2,505 students), and the largest elementary school is McFadden Institute of Technology (1,074).
Santa Ana Unified operates the most schools here (53), and 4 regular districts have at least one Santa Ana campus, plus 13 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 21.8:1, 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 14 charter schools, 1 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 17 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 15 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 6 of 17 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 80% 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 Santa Ana
Santa Ana Unified
Public school district
53 schools in Santa Ana
Tustin Unified
Public school district
7 schools in Santa Ana · 28 total
Garden Grove Unified
Public school district
6 schools in Santa Ana · 66 total
Orange Unified
Public school district
2 schools in Santa Ana · 41 total
Ednovate - Legacy College Prep. District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Edward B. Cole Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Magnolia Science Academy Santa Ana District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Nova Academy Early College High District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
OCSA District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Orange County Educational Arts Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Orange Springs Charter District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Samueli Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Scholarship Prep - Orange County District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Vista Condor Global Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Vista Heritage Global Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Vista Meridian Global Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Santa Ana
Elementary schools in Santa Ana
51| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 468 | 22.2:1 | |
| Adams Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 320 | 17.3:1 | |
| Andrew Jackson Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 493 | 22.3:1 | |
| Arroyo Elementary Tustin Unified | KG–05 | 585 | 27.9:1 | |
| Carl Harvey Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 268 | 20.5:1 | |
| Diamond Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 367 | 22.9:1 | |
| Edward B. Cole Academy Edward B. Cole Academy District · Charter | KG–05 | 431 | 23.9:1 | |
| Edward Russell Elementary Garden Grove Unified | KG–06 | 473 | 32.1:1 | |
| El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy District · Charter | KG–08 | 980 | 20.7:1 | |
| Fairhaven Elementary Orange Unified | KG–06 | 421 | 22.9:1 | |
| Franklin Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 343 | 22.7:1 | |
| Garfield Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 428 | 22.5:1 | |
| George Washington Carver Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 429 | 22.5:1 | |
| Greenville Fundamental Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 817 | 24:1 | |
| Guin Foss Elementary Tustin Unified | KG–05 | 395 | 25.5:1 | |
| Heritage Elementary Garden Grove Unified | KG–06 | 376 | 23.5:1 | |
| Heroes Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 396 | 23.2:1 | |
| Jefferson Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 616 | 20.4:1 | |
| Jim Thorpe Fundamental Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 738 | 25.4:1 | |
| John F. Kennedy Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 380 | 21:1 | |
| John Muir Fundamental Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 557 | 22.3:1 | |
| Loma Vista Elementary Tustin Unified | KG–05 | 433 | 24.7:1 | |
| Lowell Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 426 | 21.3:1 | |
| Madison Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–06 | 749 | 22.6:1 | |
| Manuel Esqueda Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–08 | 811 | 21.7:1 | |
| Martin Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 443 | 23.3:1 | |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 457 | 19:1 | |
| Martin R. Heninger Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–08 | 783 | 21.5:1 | |
| McFadden Institute of Technology Santa Ana Unified | KG–08 | 1,074 | 19.4:1 | |
| Monroe Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 217 | 16.7:1 | |
| Monte Vista Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 348 | 20.4:1 | |
| Newhope Elementary Garden Grove Unified | KG–06 | 334 | 19.6:1 | |
| Orange County Educational Arts Academy Orange County Educational Arts Academy District · Charter | KG–08 | 643 | 20.1:1 | |
| Panorama Elementary Orange Unified | KG–06 | 408 | 26:1 | |
| Pio Pico Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–08 | 501 | 22.6:1 | |
| R. F. Hazard Elementary Garden Grove Unified | KG–06 | 383 | 23.9:1 | |
| Red Hill Elementary Tustin Unified | KG–05 | 436 | 25.6:1 | |
| Romero-Cruz Academy Santa Ana Unified | KG–08 | 827 | 17.4:1 | |
| Roosevelt Walker Academy Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 675 | 22.4:1 | |
| Rosita Elementary Garden Grove Unified | KG–06 | 305 | 25.2:1 | |
| Santiago Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–08 | 906 | 22.5:1 | |
| Scholarship Prep - Orange County Scholarship Prep - Orange County District · Charter | KG–08 | 615 | 25.7:1 | |
| Sierra Preparatory Academy Santa Ana Unified | KG–08 | 697 | 17.3:1 | |
| Taft Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–06 | 408 | 15.7:1 | |
| Thomas A. Edison Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 332 | 20.7:1 | |
| Tustin Memorial Elementary Tustin Unified · Magnet | KG–05 | 613 | 27.9:1 | |
| Virginia & William Guzman Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 394 | 24.5:1 | |
| Vista Condor Global Academy Vista Condor Global Academy District · Charter | KG–05 | 357 | 23:1 | |
| Wallace R. Davis Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–06 | 413 | 21.7:1 | |
| Washington Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 529 | 21.9:1 | |
| Wilson Elementary Santa Ana Unified | KG–05 | 422 | 21.1:1 |
Middle schools in Santa Ana
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate Santa Ana Unified | 06–08 | 1,005 | 22.4:1 | |
| Gerald P. Carr Intermediate Santa Ana Unified | 06–08 | 886 | 18.9:1 | |
| Gonzalo Felicitas Mendez Fundamental Intermediate Santa Ana Unified | 06–08 | 1,234 | 21.4:1 | |
| Hewes Middle Tustin Unified | 06–08 | 929 | 25.2:1 | |
| Julia C. Lathrop Intermediate Santa Ana Unified | 06–08 | 584 | 17.5:1 | |
| Raymond A. Villa Fundamental Intermediate Santa Ana Unified | 06–08 | 936 | 20.5:1 | |
| Stephen R. Fitz Intermediate Garden Grove Unified | 07–08 | 534 | 22.1:1 | |
| Vista Heritage Global Academy Vista Heritage Global Academy District · Charter | 06–08 | 369 | 22.9:1 | |
| Willard Intermediate Santa Ana Unified | 06–08 | 390 | 14.3:1 |
High schools in Santa Ana
16| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Century High Santa Ana Unified | 09–12 | 1,519 | 16.3:1 | |
| Cesar E. Chavez High Santa Ana Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 350 | 16.4:1 | |
| Ednovate - Legacy College Prep. Ednovate - Legacy College Prep. District · Charter | 09–12 | 427 | 22.5:1 | |
| Foothill High Tustin Unified | 09–12 | 2,126 | 25:1 | |
| Hector G. Godinez Santa Ana Unified | 09–12 | 1,687 | 19.1:1 | |
| Lorin Griset Academy Santa Ana Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 283 | 16.4:1 | |
| Middle College High Santa Ana Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 448 | 20.1:1 | |
| Nova Academy Early College High Nova Academy Early College High District · Charter | 09–12 | 288 | 19:1 | |
| Ocsa OCSA District · Charter | 07–12 | 2,346 | 18.1:1 | |
| REACH Academy Santa Ana Unified · Alternative School | 06–12 | 36 | 5:1 | |
| Saddleback High Santa Ana Unified | 07–12 | 1,451 | 18.5:1 | |
| Samueli Academy Samueli Academy District · Charter | 07–12 | 842 | 21.3:1 | |
| Santa Ana High Santa Ana Unified | 09–12 | 2,505 | 19.7:1 | |
| Segerstrom High Santa Ana Unified | 09–12 | 2,376 | 23.9:1 | |
| Valley High Santa Ana Unified | 09–12 | 1,908 | 17.9:1 | |
| Vista Meridian Global Academy Vista Meridian Global Academy District · Charter | 09–12 | 260 | 24.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Santa Ana
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Learning Academy Santa Ana Unified · Charter | KG–12 | 363 | 11.7:1 | |
| Magnolia Science Academy Santa Ana Magnolia Science Academy Santa Ana District · Charter | KG–12 | 524 | 17.9:1 | |
| Mitchell Child Development Santa Ana Unified | Not reported | — | — | |
| Orange Springs Charter Orange Springs Charter District · Charter | KG–12 | — | — | |
| Santa Ana Virtual Academy Santa Ana Unified · Alternative School | KG–12 | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White6%
- Hispanic85.2%
- Black0.4%
- Asian5.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial2%
Enrollment-weighted across 78 Santa Ana schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (52,826 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Santa Ana
How many public schools are in Santa Ana, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 81 open public schools with a location address in Santa Ana: 51 elementary, 9 middle, 16 high, 5 combined or other. Together they reported 52,826 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Santa Ana?
Schools with an address in Santa Ana belong to 17 education agencies, led by Santa Ana Unified (53 schools), Tustin Unified (7 schools), Garden Grove Unified (6 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Santa Ana?
Santa Ana High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Santa Ana, with 2,505 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Santa Ana?
Yes. 14 of the 81 public schools in Santa Ana are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Advanced Learning Academy, Ednovate - Legacy College Prep., Edward B. Cole Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Santa Ana schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Santa Ana public schools is 21.8:1, 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 Santa Ana 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