Pomona Elementary, Costa Mesa CA

Original Research by School Decision on Pomona Elementary

Pomona Elementary is a small elementary school in Costa Mesa serving kindergarten through sixth grade. The school sits in a neighborhood marked by mid-20th-century residential character, within walking distance of commercial corridors and the broader fabric of Orange County's commercial and civic life. Costa Mesa itself is densifying, with major mixed-use housing projects underway that will reshape the city's footprint over the next several years.

The school's current enrollment is small, with a substantial concentration of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Nearly all of the school's student population identifies as Hispanic, with very small counts of other racial and ethnic groups represented. Enrollment data for English learner status was not available, though the community composition suggests a meaningful concentration of multilingual learners.

State testing results from the most recent administration show low proficiency across both mathematics and English language arts. In mathematics, only about half the fourth-grade cohort met proficiency; third-grade performance was notably lower. Fifth and sixth graders showed particularly low results in math. In English language arts, fourth grade performed better, with proficiency around three-fifths of students; other grades showed proficiency rates ranging from the high twenties to the high forties. A single data point for science in fifth grade showed very low proficiency. Because only one year of assessment data is available, trends cannot be assessed; a parent may want to look into whether these results represent a trajectory the school is addressing or whether they reflect ongoing academic challenges.

Compared to other schools in Orange County districts, Pomona Elementary's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among schools tested, indicating that performance is notably below the county median.

The school is part of Newport-Mesa Unified, a well-resourced district that does not receive state funding under California's main formula but instead operates as a community-funded district supported primarily by local property taxes. This gives the district a comparatively robust per-pupil budget. At the district level, recent policy changes include a campus-wide cell phone ban implemented through Yondr pouches at the middle-school level, a shift that affects the daily learning environment. The district has also completed spending the funds from its last voter-approved bond, Measure F, and commissioned a Facilities Master Plan to address aging buildings; without a new bond, modernization funding must come from the district's operating budget, which shapes the timeline for facility improvements families may encounter.

Housing in the Costa Mesa zip code where Pomona sits is among the higher-cost markets in the state, with median home values substantially above the state average. Rental costs are also elevated. Walkability around the school varies by neighborhood, with some areas scoring higher for pedestrian access and others less so, though the overall city average suggests some errands can be accomplished on foot.

A parent considering Pomona Elementary would be choosing a school serving a predominantly Spanish-language-background, economically under-resourced student population with academic proficiency well below county averages. The district's overall financial stability and policy environment are solid, but the school's current test results warrant a direct conversation with the school about instructional approach, support services, and any improvement efforts underway.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 329%

School 29% · District 61% · ▼ 31 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 451%

School 51% · District 59% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 53% · ▼ 39 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Grade 614%

School 14% · District 55% · ▼ 41 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 332%

School 32% · District 60% · ▼ 27 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 63%

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 62% · ▼ 35 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 31 pts below county median

Grade 648%

School 48% · District 65% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Science

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 44% · ▼ 33 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

This schoolNewport-Mesa Unified, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.