2020 Best Schools in Santa AnaAbout this List

Orange County School of the Arts

• Santa Ana Unified School District, CA
• 7-12
• 516 reviews

Senior: My decision going to OCSA ended up being the best decision of my life. I am in the classical voice conservatory and have gotten so many opportunities here. I have won many vocal competitions, gotten to do master classes with famous opera stars like Suzanna Guzman, and have strengthened my music theory skills. I also get to work with kids that have the same passion and dedication that I do. This school has many different people that have different beliefs and cultures. OCSA has always dedicated a week or a day to each of these things. We have gay pride day every year, we have culture week, and even halloween is a blast with everyone in their over the top costumes! I have been lucky enough to have the best of both worlds, opera and musical theatre. I am also taking a dance class as part of my academic school day at OCSA. The dance teachers are phenomenal. some of them have even made it in the professional world. My dance training has definitely improved since I have been at OCSA.
Read 516 Reviews

• A+

• 2,166 Students
• 29:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Arnold O. Beckman High School

• Tustin Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 707 reviews

Sophomore: Although Beckman is a fairly large school, the teachers and community compensate for any feelings of solitude among students. The teachers here are absolutely outstanding, each holding a different from of patriotism (our school's motto) and setting a role model for their students. They all show students that school is not only about growing academically, but also learning more about life and having fun! Academics are very strong, with a diverse range of offered AP classes and flexibility for advanced placement into various subject fields. Every student has a place to belong at Beckman High School.
Read 707 Reviews

• A+

• 2,987 Students
• 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mater Dei High School

• Private School
• Santa Ana, CA
• 9-12
• 524 reviews

Senior: Mater Dei High School is the best thing that has happened to me! Before coming to Mater Dei, I didn’t have a sense of direction on what I wanted out of my high school experience. I wanted to be a student, an athlete, a student leader, and just get involved in everything. Mater Dei allowed me to do all of that and even allowed me the opportunity to create my own clubs. I have had the opportunity to set myself up to go to remarkable universities and have made so many great connections in my four years here. There is no place that I would have rather gone. Mater Dei is my home and my family.
Read 524 Reviews

• A+

• 2,159 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Foothill High School

• Tustin Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 476 reviews

Senior: I am currently attending Foothill High School as a senior. So far, I have had a very good experience at Foothill High School. The school is definitely one of the top schools in the Tustin/Orange/Santa Ana area. I have had a mostly positive experience with my academics. I take mostly honors and AP classes; I feel like most of my teachers (with one or two exceptions) genuinely care about students' performance both in class and on the AP test. However, advanced classes are not easy and require large amounts of studying and homework to succeed. Additionally, the school excels in sports and the arts. I am a part of the choir program, which has provided me with many musical opportunities such as festivals and concerts. Overall, my academic experience at Foothill has been stellar!
Read 476 Reviews

• A

• 2,425 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Tustin Memorial Elementary School

• Tustin Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 607 Students
• 29:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Guin Foss Elementary School

• Tustin Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A

• 443 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

La Quinta High School

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 632 reviews

Senior: La Quinta will definitely prepare you for higher education. Students here have many opportunities to be well-rounded in math/STEM, humanities, literature, music, and art. However, the student body does tend to be very academically-competitive in ways that aren't always healthy. This has improved over the last 4 years I've been here, and it obviously varies from graduating class to class. I am quite convinced that LQHS has some of the best and most caring teachers in the whole world. Most, if not all, of my teachers have been amazing mentors that have given me valuable knowledge and emotional support. Though this school can improve in its extracurricular activities and overall resources, the best thing about this campus is the faculty. I also love how this school offers challenging courses in science, math, history, and English. We are so lucky to have qualified educators teaching these high-level courses. We also have an excellent library and amazing librarian!
Read 632 Reviews

• A

• 2,211 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Hewes Middle School

• Tustin Unified School District, CA
• 6-8
• 14 reviews

High School Senior: This school is great academically, and also allows the students to have fun.
Read 14 Reviews

• A

• 964 Students
• 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Sarah McGarvin Intermediate

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• 7-8
• 6 reviews

• A

• 790 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Thomas Paine Elementary School

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• K-6
• 1 review

Alum: The teachers often play with the students to create meaningful bonds and a healthy school spirit. Academics are a big priority for the school and often bring in challenging material to keep more advanced kids interested. The administration is very relaxed and give students chances to experiment with play.
Read 1 Review

• A

• 477 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Post Elementary School

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• K-6

• A-

• 473 Students
• 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Calvary Chapel High School

• Private School
• Santa Ana, CA
• PK, K-12
• 40 reviews

Parent: My child has been attending Calvary for 6 years. The campus is clean and safe. The teachers and administrators truly care for the children and are highly visible and communicate well with families. There are many school spirit activities that bring the students together. The sports programs are amazing. School sports start in 6th grade. We have won basketball, volleyball and soccer championships in the last few years in Junior High. The weekly chapels are engaging and tackle hard issues and hot topics that are age appropriate. The curriculum is challenging and the teachers present the material in various ways to make sure everyone understands and succeeds. They offer advanced classes. I am very satisfied knowing that my child is getting a strong, Christian education. We plan to keep her there through High School.
Read 40 Reviews

• A-

• 1,083 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Susan B. Anthony Elementary School

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• K-6

• A-

• 360 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

El Modena High School

• Orange Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 430 reviews

Senior: I am very glad to have attended El Modena High School as opposed to other schools in my area. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly, and the teachers have a passion for what they do. I have never felt intimidated or frightened to ask for extra help on an assignment or test. I have taken advantage of the various courses they offer at El Modena and I have discovered a lot about myself I never would have before. The campus is also extremely diverse and lively, where everyone has their own story and interests. My only complaint about the school is its facilities. The bathrooms are always going in and out of order, the buildings look very run down, and the campus could do well with a few new additions like a parking lot with solar panels and a working elevator for students who are unable to take the stairs. Other than that, I am proud to be a Vanguard!
Read 430 Reviews

• A-

• 2,133 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

James Irvine Intermediate School

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• 7-8
• 2 reviews

Alum: Despite being only in that school for two years, I’ve been able to experience new friendships due to the convergence of various students from other elementaries. I’ve developed a closer bond to them due to Boys and Girls Club and other various clubs such as Human Relations and NJHS.
Read 2 Reviews

• A-

• 696 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Loma Vista Elementary School

• Tustin Unified School District, CA
• K-5

• A-

• 506 Students
• 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Samueli Academy

• Orange County Department of Education, CA
• 9-12
• 51 reviews

Senior: Samueli Academy is an amazing high school that provides lots of opportunities and aid for the students. This school is a relatively small school holding about 500 students in total. Because of the small size it allows us to have smaller class sizes and a more one on one connection with the teachers. The teachers and staff here are phenomenal, each one of them try their hardest to make lessons fun and interactive. Every student has at least one teacher that they can confide in and talk to regularly. This school's teaching style is a Project Based Learning method meaning that almost everything that we learn in the classrooms has a corresponding project that goes along with it. This high school is what you make of it so if you know that you want opportunities and you want to succeed this is the school for you!
Read 51 Reviews

• A-

• 527 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ocia A. Peters Elementary School

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• K-6
• 5 reviews

• A-

• 1,236 Students
• 27:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Bethel Baptist Church

• Private School
• Santa Ana, CA
• PK, K-12
• 1 review

Middle School Student: Bethel is a small private Christian school. The majority of students are Asian, most being international students from Vietnam and other Asian countries. During the few years that I attended, I found that the teachers care deeply about their students and always try to make each student feel welcome. The staff is understanding and forgiving, but also strict and moral. The overall curriculum is advanced and well taught. Bethel excels in the core subjects, especially Math and English. They offer Spanish, Art, Choir, Music, Speech, Drama, and Yearbook. The students have their groups, but they are overall good kids and kind.
Read 1 Review

• A-

• 225 Students
• — Student-Teacher Ratio

Bolsa Grande High School

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 620 reviews

Junior: I genuinely think the staff and administration truly care about their students here! The only thing I would complain about is the lack of outside opportunities that they would support students in extracurriculars outside of school. I asked the counselors about outside opportunities for college credit, and they did not know that much. But in terms of everything school-wide, they are really helpful and enthusiastic. This school also has zero-tolerance for racism and discrimination and their students are aware of that. I love the teachers here who have shaped me to the person I am today.
Read 620 Reviews

• A-

• 2,016 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Columbus Tustin Middle School

• Tustin Unified School District, CA
• 6-8

• A-

• 876 Students
• 28:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

John Marshall Elementary School

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• K-6

• A-

• 436 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Tustin High School

• Tustin Unified School District, CA
• 9-12
• 406 reviews

Sophomore: I enjoyed Tustin High School so much! It made my high school experience enjoyable not only because of the opportunities it provided, but also because of how multicultural it is and accepting. Everyone feels like an equal and is able to receive a great education as well. The sports are amazing and the teachers are there for you and care about who you are. I fully recommend Tustin High School.
Read 406 Reviews

• A-

• 2,373 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

McPherson Magnet School

• Orange Unified School District, CA
• K-8
• 1 review

• B+

• 878 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

R.F. Hazard Elementary School

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA
• K-6

• B+

• 514 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio