If you could live anywhere in Southern California where would it be? (Los Angeles: condos, violent crime)

[Havnfun]

Originally Posted by ExeterMedia

I don't think that's actually a negative to Laguna Niguel. Depending on where you live, you get either Aliso Niguel (885 API, 10 out of 10 GreatSchools rating), or Dana Hills (857 API, 9 out of 10 GreatSchools rating).

Compare that to Mission Viejo High School (858 API).

Not sure what you mean by "compare that to Mission Viejo High School" as it has a higher rating (only by 1) than Dana Hills and Mission Viejo is also 9 out of 10 on GreatSchools. To me that means they are the same.

[ExeterMedia]

Originally Posted by Havnfun

Not sure what you mean by "compare that to Mission Viejo High School" as it has a higher rating (only by 1) than Dana Hills and Mission Viejo is also 9 out of 10 on GreatSchools. To me that means they are the same.

That's my point. No matter where someone lives in Laguna Niguel, they get either a high school that is statistically the same as Mission Viejo High School, or an even higher rated school like Aliso Niguel which has a higher API and GreatSchools rating than Mission Viejo High School. In some cases I believe you can be zoned to Laguna Hills High which is a good school as well (not sure though).

So not having a LN High School isn't a negative IMO (in fact Aliso Niguel is higher rated than MVHS), which is a point you brought up in your previous post. Makes sense?

[marcellamiami]

How about Los Alamitos vs Laguna Niguel? How do they compare?

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by Havnfun

We moved here from Canada 5 years ago and looked at Laguna Niguel as we had family living there but one thing I didn't like is they don't have their own high school.

Actually, neither does Aliso Viejo, and I don't know if it really matters. Even though Aliso Niguel High School, one the the two high schools which service Laguna Niguel, is physically located in this city, it is not administered by the city of Aliso Viejo. It's run by the Capistrano Unified School District.

BTW, while most Aliso Viejo teens go to Aliso Niguel High, the others attend Laguna Beach High.

I don't know, but I guess the Aliso Niguel High name is derived from contracting Aliso Viejo with Laguna Niguel.

[ExeterMedia]

Originally Posted by pacific2

I don't know, but I guess the Aliso Niguel High name is derived from contracting Aliso Viejo with Laguna Niguel.

It is. Back in the 90s when they opened up the school (before AV was an actual incorporated city), the main purpose of "Aliso Niguel High School" was to better serve AV and LN residents instead of sending the kids to Laguna Hills, or Dana Hills, both of which were not ideally located for some residents of either city.

Regardless, Aliso Niguel is an excellent high school that serves both AV and LN, so I don't get the "LN not having a high school within the city limits" as a negative. Maybe Havnfun can explain the logic in that thought.

[Joe Van Fossen]

As a graduating student, I can give more insight on Aliso Niguel HS. I went to ANHS for about a year and a half (my class was the first graduating class of the school). I especially liked it because it was new and seemed to offer more interesting electives. Compared to my previous high school (Diamond Bar--another highly rated school), it actually was a bit more challenging academically and physically. I'm sure things could have changed some in the years since, but it was definitely a good school and a good experience. Plus it was nice being able to frequent Laguna Beach on days off, weekends, and dare I say the days I ditched school.

Also, anecdotal-ly speaking, two friends who graduated with me went straight to good universities (UCI and Reed), and eventually moved on to Harvard and Georgetown. One of their sister's took the same route and graduated from Harvard law a few years ago. Neither of them came from what most would consider wealthy families, and did it all on the merits of their academics.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by marcellamiami

How about Los Alamitos vs Laguna Niguel? How do they compare?

Here is the California school rating site with the API scores for all schools.

California School Ratings, school profiles, test scores - Orange County

California School Ratings - by County

[marcellamiami]

Thank you for the tips. I will look into the school websites and go from there. No one has said anything negative about Corona del Mar so I will start there, followed by Laguna Niguel and Dana Point. Of course as it has been suggested, one visit could change my mind completely but it's a good starting point.

Any input on Los Alamitos?

[LuvSouthOC]

Actually, I did mention something about both CDL (Newport Beach) and Ladera Ranch on the other post you started. Based on your questions and having starting to get a "feel" for what you might like, I still highly encourage you to consider Nellie Gail Ranch. You mentioned here, or perhaps on another thread, that you liked Covenant Hills. If that's the case, please also look at Laguna Hills in Nellie Gail Ranch. Admittedly, it is a bit hotter than LN, but not by much at all.

[LuvSouthOC]

Re: Los Alamitos, I would consider Seal Beach instead. Los Alamitos is by Hawaiian Gardens.