2023 Most Diverse Public High Schools in Orange County

• Anaheim Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  615 reviews

Freshman: The first great thing about Cypress High School is how clean the campus environment is. Everything is neat and well-organized; there is no trash on the floor inside the classrooms, hallways, and even outside! Even if some waste is hanging on the floor, staff clean it up so fast that you would not see that again in a minute. The second thing is their generous support to their students by providing them with many opportunities. During my freshman year, many experts came to our school, and I was able to learn and explore various career fields. It helped me gather knowledge about the benefits and risks of a career. Lastly, teachers are super supportive and enthusiastic for teaching and guiding their students to be better people. I had learned countless life-helping lessons from all of my teachers, such as managing my time, stress, and to study effectively. I have learned much more than I ever in my life during my first year at Cypress High School.... Read 615 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 2,933

• Student-teacher ratio 29:1

• Anaheim Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  613 reviews

Alum: During my time at John F Kennedy High School, I really enjoyed the social gatherings. Every week, there would be music playing on the stage at school where the ASB would host fun games. I also liked how many teachers had office hours, where they could assist students with their work, as there were always resources to help. Another positive about the school is that I felt that our campus was very safe and clean. There was no graffiti and the class rooms as well as the outdoor school itself was very clean. A downside of going to this school was that some days, the bathrooms were not held up to the same cleanliness as the rest of the school. After times, the girls bathroom was out of pads and toilet paper. Another thing I was not ecstatic about was the lunch time. As with most other schools, John F Kennedy has a designated 30 minute lunch, and I believe this is far to little because it often takes up to 15 minutes to go through the lunch line. Other than this, I enjoyed my experience!... Read 613 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 2,222

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Santa Ana, CA•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  585 reviews

Freshman: I believe that the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) is an excellent school. I am in my 3rd year at this school, as a freshman, and there are so many art opportunities for students wanting to pursue any type of art, as well as many academic opportunities such as a vast selection of clubs, honors societies, and volunteering activities. Students make so many great connections in their art field and can make friends with people they are much closer with, due to overlapping passions. Many of the arts teachers are actively working in their fields making them great resources! Overall, OCSA is a great option for any student passionate about art and curious about learning more about art! Although there are some problems with OCSA including safety because of the location, academic teachers because some are not sufficient in teaching, as well as the food since some options can be unhealthy and the menu does not get switched out daily, OCSA has a great positive community that accepts all!... Read 585 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,277

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  411 reviews

Senior: If you're looking for a school that has a lot of school spirit and a place to experience football season then you're looking at IHS. We have pep rallies that gets everyone excited for the football games on Friday. Cheer, ASB, and student forum help out with creating and setting up the decorations (posters, balloons, IHS sign, lights) around the stadium. We always do chants to encourage the football team, sometimes we throw colored powder in the air (these stain your white shoes so beware), have balloons to just wave around or you can transform it into a hat/animal!... Read 411 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 1,380

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Niche User: I really love this School because they helped me reach my goals which was graduating a year early. And it's a great school to go to when you are behind.... Read 1 review

• grade B

• grade A

• Students 84

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Garden Grove Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  442 reviews

Senior: The teachers and staff at this campus care about their students in and out of the classroom. They are very supportive of their career goals and make sure assistance is given when needed. The campus is very empty as a result of remodeling, so it could feel somber at times. There is still an inconvenient dirt track and uneven playing field, per request of the people living nearby. I highly recommend joining the NJROTC program on campus, as students get to participate in many state, regional, and national competitions.... Read 442 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 1,688

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Irvine, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  6 reviews

Senior: Simply put, Excel is a fantastic school and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it! I’ve been attending since I started high school, and I’m now a high school senior. All the teachers I’ve had (1-2 times a week Zoom classes…flexible schedule!) have been very accommodating and are well-educated in their field and communicate thoroughly with the students and parents. The platform my lessons/work are completed through, Bright Thinker, is intuitive, user-friendly, and reliable. The curricula is clean cut, and the teachers reinforce the material so you actually learn and don’t just memorize! Each student has a Teacher of Record (ToR), who you remain in close contact with throughout your school year. You can go to your ToR with questions about ANYTHING, and you meet monthly to review your coursework and grades. I adore my ToR, and she has been invaluable to my high school journey! I recommend EACS to anyone looking for a flexible schedule, friendly environment, and esteemed school.... Read 6 reviews

• grade unavailable

• grade A

• Students 1,614

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Fullerton Joint Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  604 reviews

Alum: Great school, just completed my four years this year. Very safe and all of the students are intelligent and top-class. There's a ton of diversity with people from all different types of backgrounds. Every single teacher (at least the ones I had) taught really well and clearly had expertise in the subject. This school accommodated for students perfectly during the COVID-19/online school year, providing students with many, many resources. Overall, this is easily one of the best schools in the Orange County area and I'll miss this school!... Read 604 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,401

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• Saddleback Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 7-12

• grade unavailable

• grade A

• Students 84

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  490 reviews

Senior: I loved the atmosphere Woodbridge created for all of its students! I was able to easily make many friends in many of my classes because of how comfortable I felt in such classes. Woodbridge created many different opportunities for all students to feel welcome, included, and able to talk to others. When learning, I felt comfortable enough to ask my peers and teachers for help - even when I was falling behind. Through all these aspects at Woodbridge, my high school experience was elevated to a high point of great satisfaction. I will never forget my time at Woodbridge - through the fun pep rallies, inclusive activities, comfortable class setting, and more!... Read 490 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 1,931

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Saddleback Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  379 reviews

Senior: Laguna Hills High School really brought a lot of memories for me. I met so many amazing people. Along with this, the teachers here are amazing! They are so helpful and kind. Not only this, but they were also trustworthy. In my opinion, the work we were given was reasonable and that's another thing why I liked this school. To add on, the activities were also very fun! Events such as the school dances and even the football games brought us together as a school to really enjoy ourselves. Also, the sports teams here are amazing as well! These teams give every athletic student a chance to show off their skills. As for the looks of the school, it was very neat and clean most of the time. As stated before, this place brought a lot of memories for my friends and I. Laguna Hills High School was a place for us to grow close relationships with our peers, while still learning academically. These memories will stick with us for many years to come! Hopefully others get to experience the same thing!... Read 379 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 1,462

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  320 reviews

Senior: The best thing about El Dorado is the remarkable and unique school spirit on campus! Everyone on staff and in the classrooms are incredibly kind, generous, and helpful to guide you on your path to college or the career field. Our student body is flooded with school spirit and overall support for one another and I would not change one thing about our school spirit! The various offered courses, including Honors, Advanced Placements, Arts, and more, create a diversity on campus that is distinctive for our school. Teachers, administrative staff, counselors, and coaches all contribute to create a supportive and encouraging environment. If I could change one thing about El Dorado, I would increase the number of clubs and the types of offered classes. While our current clubs and offered classes are already phenomenal, I believe that increasing the variety and diversity of clubs and classes could improve the student body and allow students to thrive in their respective fields of interest.... Read 320 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,004

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Saddleback Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  556 reviews

Senior: At the time of this writing, I am currently a senior at El Toro, so I speak from current experience. The academics, counselors and the teachers are phenomenal. The counselors have helped my find a great affordable college, they also hosted an event where you meet with representatives from many colleges and career paths and even get to apply to college there. One thing I would change is to add more classes for seniors, I had wanted to have a 6th or 7th period (zero period is period one for us), but there were little classes that were mostly reserved for the earlier classes. So the only bad thing I have to say is I wish I could have taken more classes. The school also cares about your mental health, they have a room now that you can go to just to chill before your next class. The clubs at the school are also great, there are many different kinds from community service to e-sport clubs. With the diversity in academics and school life many different people can go and learn just the same.... Read 556 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 2,219

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Fullerton Joint Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  961 reviews

Senior: I have loved my time at Troy High School these past four years. Even though my sophomore year was Covid, my school has prepared me for everything I can imagine college will possibly be. I have great relationships with my teachers, they are truly in my corner and encouraging me to dream so much farther than I ever was when I started freshman year. I feel challenged in what I am learning but excited about what it to come. and I am a little restless, just ready to get going for what is next after high school. I think my time at Troy really got me ready for that! Troy has been so much fun with clubs and my soccer team and kept things balanced while keeping school going and life got busy. My favorite each year is the halloween rally when our sports teams dance and the pink game each year. Our student body takes over! I am definitely ready for the next chapter of life to start, but I will always love my time in highschool- go warriors!... Read 961 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,614

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Tustin Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  766 reviews

Sophomore: My experience at Beckman was undoubtedly challenging because I came from a middle school that most people didn't attend. Although it was very hard making friends, clubs and sports made the transition easier by allowing me to connect with my fellow classmates. The students at Beckman are incredibly studious and academically focused. Although it was hard to keep up, I realized that I thrive in an academically challenging environment because it pushes me to do my best. Lastly, clubs at Beckman were very diverse and gave various opportunities. I led and attended many events that gave me more interests and passions! The teachers were incredibly supportive and did their best to empathize with students and prepare them for their future.... Read 766 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,938

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  508 reviews

Sophomore: I've had a pretty amazing experience at University High School in Irvine, California. They have provided me with so many opportunities for rigorous learning and opportunities to be involved in so many unique clubs, activities, and classes. Students at University High are really passionate and love to collaborate with each other. Teachers also really care about their students and I've had so many meaningful interactions in their classes. Classes are interesting and engaging and we often have interesting discussions. Also, no matter what question I have or if I want to learn more about something, there is always someone willing to help me -- teachers, counselors, students, anyone! I've had a chance to really foster my love for learning by taking honors classes. The only downside I would reflect on is how competitive the environment can be, which makes you feel a bit pressured at times to be high achieving. But competitiveness has also encouraged me as well!... Read 508 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 1,708

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Orange County Department of Education, CA•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.31 out of 5  16 reviews

Senior: Pacific Coast is an independent study high school. Most of the classes are taken online, but some of the classes are either on-campus or hybrid. PCHS offers a huge amount of flexibility—not being tied to campus all day, every day means that students are provided time to develop interests, whether it be for recreation or academia. PCHS also has great people. Unique students, attracted by PCHS’ flexibility, bring diversity. The student body includes athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs. In addition to the student population, the school has great faculty. Overall, the teachers genuinely care for their students. They always, always make themselves available via email, phone, or campus visits when students are in need of help. Since PCHS is primarily online-based, the school’s campus space is very limited. There is a lack of extracurricular classes, activities, and clubs, and it would be nice to see more effort to increase the options for students.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Students 560

• Student-teacher ratio 31:1

• Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  465 reviews

Senior: My time at Valencia High School was full of ups and downs, but the high school was a relatively great school with top tier academic rigor and options. With passionate teachers, committed students, and an involved community Valencia High School provides a home and a family to more than 3000 talented and enthusiastic students representing a rich diversity of backgrounds and personal experience. The Valencia Academy, which includes an International Baccalaureate Program and a Val Tech Diploma Program, has been instrumental in bringing students to Valencia from outside the attendance area and district. Valencia High School has been able to increase the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and computer technology. The option to choose what classes you want is very much like a university, while housing a tight community of scholars from all backgrounds. The school provides minorities and low-income/underserved students the opportunity to shine and grow as scholars.... Read 465 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,628

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Huntington Beach Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  356 reviews

Senior: Going into high school I didn't know what to expect but during freshmen year Marina became a second home. I met a lot of nice people who welcomed me with open arms. I have a lot of appreciation for the teachers at Marina. I felt that they truly try to do what is best for the student. Many will offer outside of class study sessions, which were extremely helpful to me. Along with the great teachers at Marina are the great sports. Marina has every kind of sport and many are no cut! I personally did track & field. I loved the people I was around and enjoyed how it helped take my mind off things when I was stressed. High school was hard I can't ignore that, but surrounding myself with friends and activities helped make it a more enjoyable experience. One thing that I wish would improve at Marina is the overall school spirit. The school needs to find ways to get all types of students involved.... Read 356 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 2,352

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Capistrano Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  483 reviews

Senior: This school was overall amazing. The teachers were incredible. The counselors were also amazing and the other staff were all great people aswell. I could see in my eyes that they were all genuinely happy to be there and wanted the best for the kids. the school has so many programs to help the students get into good colleges which most school in the area do not have However, the school does not lack in amazing staff and opportunities it does in cleanliness and operational stuff. For example, the halls are really dirty. especially the bathrooms, they are so unbelievably dirty you can’t even go into them the vending machines break quite often, the power might go off sometimes and the air conditioning was not operating for around a month and a half towards the beginning of the school year and at least once or twice a week the fire alarm goes off having a very unpleasant noise for everyone to hearbut overall, if I had a kid, I would definitely feel comfortable sending them to this school.... Read 483 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,068

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Huntington Beach Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.54 out of 5  13 reviews

Junior: I am so happy to be at my school. The teachers are so kind and love to have real conversations with students. Coast's environment is extremely appealing, and getting involved is easy!... Read 13 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Students 180

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Huntington Beach Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  845 reviews

Junior: While attending FVHS, I've blended in the crowd with the majority of the asian population at the school. To me, there's a lot of cultural diversity, there's even a culture festival hosted every year! I like the environment I'm in, the teachers make classrooms feel lively and safe, but there have been a lot of cases of the fire alarms being pulled and fighting.... Read 845 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 3,390

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• Brea-Olinda Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  420 reviews

Junior: The community and diversity of people at Brea-Olinda High School is what builds new friendships and lifelong relationships. Coming from a small town in Orange County, every kid that lives in Brea goes to Brea-Olinda High School so you basically know almost everyone there and peers are usually welcoming. Something I would like to see change is the girls' athletic programs, the coaching staff, and the board that chooses the coaching staff. There needs to be an improvement in the teaching curriculum and adding more fun to everyday learning in cool, boring classrooms. However, the wide range of electives and choices in different career pathways is something that stands out at this school.... Read 420 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 1,758

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Irvine Unified School District, CA•

• 12

• grade unavailable

• grade A

• Students 79

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• San Juan Capistrano, CA•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  12 reviews

Senior: I enjoy being able to plan out my own daily schedule and learn at my own pace. The teachers are very supportive and helpful, and I have enjoyed most of the curriculum. They have plenty of support to help you apply for college, as well.... Read 12 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A

• Students 139

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1