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Teacher quality
Principal leadership
Parent involvement
the best school i have ever gone to. every teacher helps you if you ask for help and the teachers make sure you suceed
It is an OK school. My son loves this school and even on weekends he waits for school to be opened. the principal does a good leadership. The math teacher is not good and she is old but overall the school has a good quality.
—Submitted by a parent
Couldn't be more pleased with our experience this year. Great leadership and high expectations.
—Submitted by a parent
We could not be happier with our experience at South Lake. Our daughter began the school year late but the teachers and staff went above and beyond to ensure that she made a smooth transition. She has been challenged without being overwhelmed, there is great teacher communication, a reasonable workload and my daughter feels like the staff actually cares. On a side note, we were extremely concerned about teenage drama, bullying and mean girl attitudes but my daughter has yet to encounter that due, in large part, to a staff that has made it abundantly clear that it will not be tolerated. The Vice Principal is highly visibly and actively engages the students. All in all, this school is highly recommended!
—Submitted by a parent
My child entered South Lake one year ago as a special needs child. The school helped her deal with her learning disability and moved her out of the special education program. With personal attention like she has never had before, the teachers and staff supported her in ways that we could not have imagined. Her grades steadily improved, and her confidence grew. Last week, she brought home a grade report of all A's and one B+. I cannot say enough good things about this school. If only all schools were this great, we would have a much better world. Thank you South Lake!
—Submitted by a parent
I go to south lake.... I think it its a great school but some of the staff arent that nice.... If their is an issue they say oh yeah we'll fix that right away but you have to wait for awhile until you actually get help.... But some of the staff on the other hand..... They are awesome!! they keep it fun but your still learning!!:]
—Submitted by a student
I have been attending this school for a while now. I find this school very interesting. It is not a very great choice. While there are no gangs, or bullies, the staff and some other people are very.... unlikeable. Don't get me wrong, some staff and teachers are great, but the others are types of people that you share a problem with and they act like they care and that they will get right on the problem. But once you turn around they don't care. And they problem WILL NOT be fixed.
—Submitted by a student
Our children are happy in this school. So far (in 1 year) we had no problems.
—Submitted by a parent
My children are very happy in this school: teachers are friendly and strict enough. Overall we have a good impression.
—Submitted by a parent
South Lake Middle School is a California Distinguished School and my daughter attends 7th grade there. We have been impressed with the quality of her teachers; her understanding of math and language has improved. (We moved here from Northern California where she had attended a private school.) While she says there are no bullies or gangs or mention of drugs. She says the students are well behaved in and outside of class. We approve of the friends she has chosen there and notice that their parents are highly involved in and supportive of their children's education. Also, the office staff seem to know all the students by name and have a warm relationship with them.
—Submitted by a parent
Excellent! Teachers really care about the kids. Music & sport programs are a high priority. Parents seem to attend school events and be very involved in their child's education. Had a very good experience at this school.
—Submitted by a parent
Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.
The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.
The API reflects year-over-year schools performance based on STAR test score results from spring 2012.
The state average for Algebra I was 86% in 2012.
19 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for English Language Arts was 62% in 2012.
281 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Math was 52% in 2012.
262 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
The state average for Algebra I was 49% in 2012.
87 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for English Language Arts was 59% in 2012.
288 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for General Mathematics (Grades 6 & 7 Standards) was 32% in 2012.
181 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Geometry was 87% in 2012.
27 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for History - Social Science Grade 8 Cumulative was 52% in 2012.
292 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
The state average for Science was 66% in 2012.
287 students were tested at this school in 2012.
2012
2011
2010
2009
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 100% |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | 100% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 100% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | n/a |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 100% |
| Students with no reported disability | 100% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 100% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | 100% |
| All Students | 89% |
| Females | 92% |
| Males | 86% |
| African American | 56% |
| Asian | 97% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | 87% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 88% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 72% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 93% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 91% |
| English learner | 67% |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 92% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | 89% |
| All Students | 80% |
| Females | 79% |
| Males | 80% |
| African American | 40% |
| Asian | 92% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | 59% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 82% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 61% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 85% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 81% |
| English learner | 73% |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 81% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | 80% |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
| All Students | 99% |
| Females | 100% |
| Males | 98% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 100% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 100% |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 100% |
| Students with disability | n/a |
| Students with no reported disability | 99% |
| English learner | n/a |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 99% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | 99% |
| All Students | 88% |
| Females | 91% |
| Males | 85% |
| African American | 71% |
| Asian | 91% |
| Filipino | 91% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 85% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 88% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 81% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 90% |
| Students with disability | 58% |
| Students with no reported disability | 89% |
| English learner | 48% |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 92% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | 88% |
| All Students | 79% |
| Females | 80% |
| Males | 78% |
| African American | 50% |
| Asian | 86% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | 77% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 78% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 66% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 85% |
| Students with disability | 44% |
| Students with no reported disability | 82% |
| English learner | 72% |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 80% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | n/a |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | 79% |
| All Students | 100% |
| Females | n/a |
| Males | 100% |
| African American | n/a |
| Asian | 100% |
| Filipino | n/a |
| Hispanic or Latino | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | n/a |
| Economically disadvantaged | n/a |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 100% |
| Students with no reported disability | 100% |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 100% |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | 100% |
| All Students | 88% |
| Females | 84% |
| Males | 91% |
| African American | 73% |
| Asian | 92% |
| Filipino | 91% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 87% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 85% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 76% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 92% |
| Students with disability | 47% |
| Students with no reported disability | 91% |
| English learner | 69% |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 90% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | 88% |
| All Students | 94% |
| Females | 94% |
| Males | 93% |
| African American | 79% |
| Asian | 99% |
| Filipino | 91% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 83% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | n/a |
| Pacific Islander | n/a |
| Samoan | n/a |
| Other Pacific Islander | n/a |
| White (not Hispanic) | 95% |
| Economically disadvantaged | 84% |
| Non-economically disadvantaged | 96% |
| Students with disability | 91% |
| Students with no reported disability | 93% |
| English learner | 84% |
| Fluent-English proficient and English only | 94% |
| Migrant education | n/a |
| Gifted and talented | 100% |
| Parent education - not a high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - high school graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - some college (includes AA degree) | n/a |
| Parent education - college graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - graduate school/post graduate | n/a |
| Parent education - declined to state | 93% |
In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.
The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.
See California's state standards
Source: California Department of Education
GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »
Grade 7
Grade 8
All students
Female
Male
All students
African American
Asian
Filipino
Hispanic or Latino
White (not Hispanic)
All students
Economically disadvantaged
Non-economically disadvantaged
Students with disability
Students with no reported disability
English learner
Fluent-English proficient and English only
Gifted and talented
Parent education - declined to state
All students
| Ethnicity | This school | State average | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 44% | 28% | ||
| Asian | 29% | 8% | ||
| Hispanic or Latino | 13% | 49% | ||
| Multiple or No Response | 6% | 3% | ||
| African American | 4% | 7% | ||
| Filipino | 2% | 3% | ||
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 1% | 1% | ||
| Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English language learners 1 | 8% | N/A | 24% |
| Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 2 | 9% | N/A | 52% |
| Language | This school | State average | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 25% | 0% | ||
| Spanish | 25% | 85% | ||
| Korean | 21% | 1% | ||
| Vietnamese | 6% | 2% | ||
| Farsi (Persian) | 4% | 0% | ||
| Hungarian | 4% | 0% | ||
| Arabic | 2% | 1% | ||
| Filipino (Pilipino or Tagalog) | 2% | 1% | ||
| German | 2% | 0% | ||
| Gujarati | 2% | 0% | ||
| Hebrew | 2% | 0% | ||
| Mandarin (Putonghua) | 2% | 1% | ||
| Pashto | 2% | 0% | ||
| Russian | 2% | 0% | ||
| Thai | 2% | 0% |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average class size | 28 | N/A | 25 |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average years teaching in district | 8 | N/A | 11 |
| Average years teaching | 11 | N/A | 13 |
| This school | District average | State average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full credential | 100% | N/A | 96% |
| Emergency credential or waiver | 0% | N/A | 2% |
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655 West Yale Loop
Irvine,
CA 92614
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Phone: (949) 936-6700
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