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.[6] 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.
Chaparral 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 Niguel
Crown 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 Flores
Wagon Wheel Elementary School (California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)
Mission Viejo
Bathgate 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 School
Arroyo Vista K-8 School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)
Capistrano Home School
Carl Hankey K-8 International Baccalaureate World School (California Gold Ribbon School and California Business for Education Excellence "Star" School)
Aliso 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 Ranch
Ladera Ranch Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)
Laguna Niguel
Niguel Hills Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)
Mission Viejo
Newhart Middle School (California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon School, and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)
Rancho Santa Margarita
Las Flores Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Scholar" School)
San Clemente
Bernice 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 Capistrano
Marco Forster Middle School (California Distinguished School and California Business for Education Excellence "Star" School)
Dana 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 Flores
Tesoro 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 Viejo
Capistrano 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 Clemente
San 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 Hills High School (California Business for Education Excellence "Star" School, U.S. News/World Report "Best High School," and Newsweek "Best High School")
In 2012, Capistrano Unified School District was found guilty for the wrongful death of three-year old Kevin Cisler, who slowly asphyxiated to death on a bus ride home from preschool. The bus driver and CUSD employees failed to properly secure Kevin in his seat, which resulted in the child asphyxiating with the incorrect placement of his chest restraint and seat belt. In Cisler v. Capistrano Unified School District the jury found CUSD guilty and negligent in its actions.
In 2015, a principal was removed from San Clemente High School. This prompted community outrage and resulted in the removal of the assistant superintendent.[7]
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.
The 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.