School Question (Orange, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel: condo, house prices, neighborhoods)

[sonik555]

Hello everyone,
This question if for anyone with kids or someone who has experience with school systems.
We are currently looking to purchase a house, however the school situation here in Southern Orange County is a little confusing too me. If someone can please clarify this it would be a amazing. We currently live in Laguna Niguel and are looking to purchase in Aliso Viejo, Ladera Ranch, potentially Laguna Niguel or Mission Viejo.
Where we moved from, correlation with house prices and more affluent towns was very much in line with good school. The more expensive the area the better the school systems.
Here it seems like regardless of where you live there are no concrete school assignments base on your location, is that true?
My questions are:
1. If one lives in particular town are you guaranteed to be assigned to that towns school?
2. I you live in one town, how can you attend a school in an adjacent town? (I have heard people do that here)
3. Also with regards to transitional year can anyone comment on how it works and when do you need to sing up?
Thank you so much.

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by sonik555

Hello everyone,
This question if for anyone with kids or someone who has experience with school systems.
We are currently looking to purchase a house, however the school situation here in Southern Orange County is a little confusing too me. If someone can please clarify this it would be a amazing. We currently live in Laguna Niguel and are looking to purchase in Aliso Viejo, Ladera Ranch, potentially Laguna Niguel or Mission Viejo.
Where we moved from, correlation with house prices and more affluent towns was very much in line with good school. The more expensive the area the better the school systems.
Here it seems like regardless of where you live there are no concrete school assignments base on your location, is that true?
My questions are:
1. If one lives in particular town are you guaranteed to be assigned to that towns school?
2. I you live in one town, how can you attend a school in an adjacent town? (I have heard people do that here)
3. Also with regards to transitional year can anyone comment on how it works and when do you need to sing up?
Thank you so much.

South County is sort of "funny" because that rule does not seem to apply. For example, "home value" in Aliso Viejo is relatively low at a median of $587,689 and an average of $645,509. This is a reflection of the fact that most homes here are primarily of the condo/townhouse variety, with few SFRs.

Nevertheless, household income in AV is pretty comparable to that of other South County cities with a median of $104,545 and an average of $130,638.

All of the cities you listed belong to the same school system, Capistrano Unified, and school attendance boundaries are determined by address.

For that reason, kids may attend school in a city different from their residence. For example, most Aliso Viejo high schoolers are enrolled at Aliso Niguel High (Servicing Aliso Viejo and part of Laguna Niguel), while others go to Laguna Beach HS, or to Laguna Hills HS.

[CLT4]

The school districts cover multiple cities in South OC and the district can largely drawn boundaries however is most efficient. That has meant they've never needed to build a high school in Laguna Niguel city boundaries, as the school district can draw boundaries splitting the students between Dana Hills High in Dana Point and Aliso Niguel High in Aliso Viejo.

The school district is completely separate from the cities, so they do not need to worry about city limits within their district.

So to answer each question:
1. You are guaranteed a seat at schools assigned to your address, but not necessarily in your town. The district can redraw attendance boundaries to redistribute students to different schools.

2. Students attend schools in other towns because the school district boundaries include multiple towns. They district can then assign neighborhoods to schools in any town to manage enrollment capacity. Geographic proximity to a school is usually a top factor in assignment.

3. Capistrano Unified and Saddleback Valley Unified have different district policies so it will depend on where you buy.