Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) is the second largest school district in Orange County, California, United States. It is the 8th largest district in the state and the 78th largest in the country. The district currently has 54,036 students and administers 33 elementary schools, two K-8 schools, ten middle schools, six comprehensive high schools, five charter schools, and multiple alternative education programs.
CUSD has 40 California Distinguished Schools, 11 National Blue Ribbon Schools, 19 Golden Bell winning programs, and 36 California Business Honor Roll Schools, among many other award-winning schools and school programs. The district has a graduation rate of 97.2%, much higher than California's average of 85.1%. Every CUSD high school is ranked in the top 1000 US high schools by U.S. News & World Report.
Formed in 1965, Capistrano Unified School District encompasses 195 square miles (510 km2) and employs 3,992 people, making it the largest employer in South Orange County. With Laguna Beach Unified School District, it is part of the South Coast Regional Occupational Program (ROP).
The school district serves all or part of the following cities and unincorporated areas:
Aliso ViejoCoto de CazaDana PointDove CanyonLadera RanchLaguna NiguelLas FloresMission ViejoRancho Mission ViejoRancho Santa MargaritaSan ClementeSan Juan CapistranoWagon WheelAliso ViejoCanyon Vista Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Don Juan Avila Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Oak Grove Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Wood Canyon Elementary School (California Distinguished School)Dana PointPalisades Elementary SchoolR.H. Dana Elementary School (California Distinguished School and National Blue Ribbon School)R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs FacilityLadera RanchChaparral Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Ladera Ranch Elementary School (California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Oso Grande Elementary School (California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Laguna NiguelCrown Valley Elementary School (California Distinguished School)George White Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Hidden Hills Elementary School (California Distinguished School)John S. Malcom Elementary School (California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon School, and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Laguna Niguel Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Marian Bergeson Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Moulton Elementary School (California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon School, and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Las FloresWagon Wheel Elementary School (California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Mission ViejoBathgate Elementary School (California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon School, and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Castille Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Phillip Reilly Elementary School (California Distinguished School and National Blue Ribbon SchoolViejo Elementary two-way language immersion schoolRancho Santa MargaritaLas Flores Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Tijeras Creek Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)San ClementeClarence Lobo Elementary School (California Distinguished School)Concordia Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Las Palmas Elementary two-way language immersion school (California Distinguished School)Marblehead Elementary SchoolTruman Benedict Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Vista del Mar Elementary School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)San Juan CapistranoDel Obispo Elementary School (California Distinguished School)Harold Ambuehl Elementary School (California Distinguished School)Kinoshita Elementary SchoolSan Juan Elementary two-way language immersion schoolArroyo Vista K-8 School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Capistrano Home SchoolCarl Hankey K-8 International Baccalaureate World School (California Gold Ribbon School and California Business for Education Excellence "Star" School)Aliso ViejoAliso Viejo Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Don Juan Avila Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Ladera RanchLadera Ranch Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Laguna NiguelNiguel Hills Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Mission ViejoNewhart Middle School (California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon School, and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Rancho Santa MargaritaLas Flores Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)San ClementeBernice Ayer Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)Shorecliffs Middle School (California Distinguished School)Vista del Mar Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)San Juan CapistranoMarco Forster Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Star" School)Aliso ViejoAliso Niguel High School (California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon School, California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School, U.S. News/World Report "Best High School," Newsweek "Best High School," and US Department of Education New American High School)Dana PointDana Hills High School (California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon School, California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School, and U.S. News/World Report "Best High School")Las FloresTesoro High School (California Distinguished School, California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School, U.S. News/World Report "Best High School," and Newsweek "Best High School")Mission ViejoCapistrano Valley High School (California Distinguished School, California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School, U.S. News/World Report "Best High School," and International Baccalaureate World School)San ClementeSan Clemente High School (California Distinguished School, California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School, U.S. News/World Report "Best High School," and International Baccalaureate World School)San Juan CapistranoCalifornia Preparatory Academy virtual schoolSan Juan Hills High School (California Business for Education Excellence "Star" School, U.S. News/World Report "Best High School," and Newsweek "Best High School")San Juan CapistranoCapistrano Adult SchoolCUSD Adult Transition ProgramJunipero Serra High School (California Department of Education Model Continuation High School)In 1994, a science teacher refused to teach evolution because he felt it was a religion. In Peloza v. Capistrano School District, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the school district.
In 2015, a principal was removed from San Clemente High School. This prompted community outrage and resulted in the removal of the assistant superintendent.
Controversies regarding district management have prompted two efforts to recall school board members.
The Capistrano Unified School District has a seven-member board of trustees, with each trustee representing one of seven geographic areas within the school district. Each trustee is elected to a four-year term of office. Trustees must reside in the area they represent.
Current board of trustees:
Amy Hanacek, Area 1Jim Reardon, Area 2Patricia Holloway, Area 3Martha McNicholas, Area 4Dr. Gary Pritchard, Area 5Gila Jones, Area 6Lynn Hatton-Hodson, Area 7The board of trustees is the policy-making body for the school district. It is charged with providing a quality educational program for students in kindergarten through grade 12 in accordance with the California Constitution, the laws of the state, adopted board policies, and the desires of the community.
As elected officials, trustees are state officers responsible for the governance of a political subdivision of the state. The school district is independent of city and county governments, but cooperates with them. In addition to establishing school district policies, the board adopts an annual budget and approves all expenditures, employment decisions, curricula, textbooks, and courses of study, and makes decisions on school sites, building plans and construction contracts. Trustees have no power to act individually in the name of the board. Formal action can be taken only when the board is in session with a quorum of at least half of the trustees.
The administration of the school district is delegated by trustees to a professional administrative staff headed by the superintendent. The superintendent acts as secretary to the board of trustees.
Superintendents since unification:
1965-1969 Dr. Charles F. Kenney1969-1975 Truman Benedict1975-1991 Dr. Jerome R. Thornsley1991-2006 Dr. James A. Fleming2007-2007 Dr. Dennis Smith2007-2009 Woodrow Carter2010-2014 Dr. Joseph M. Farley2014–present Kirsten M. Vital
