Bernice Ayer Middle School

San Clemente, CA 92673

Phone: (949) 366-9607
Fax: (949) 366-1519
District: Capistrano Unified School District

10

GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades 6,7,8 • 919 students

Bernice Ayer Middle School, a public school located in San Clemente, CA, serves grades 6-8 in the Capistrano Unified School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 10 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Bernice Ayer Middle School is a public school located in San Clemente, CA. 919 students attend Bernice Ayer Middle School.

School Ratings

Category Rating Details
Test Scores 10/10 The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education.
Student Growth 10/10 The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from California Department of Education.

Posted: September 17, 2025

My kids love it here!! The teachers are amazing

Posted: September 17, 2025

Posted: September 17, 2025

Posted: September 17, 2025

Posted: September 17, 2025

Posted: September 17, 2025

Posted: September 17, 2025

Posted: September 17, 2025

Posted: December 5, 2023

The administrators at this school care more about their reputation and the facade that it is "not your average school" that they will go to any length to protect it. If a site wide issue is pointed out they shame and harass the parent/student reporting the issue rather than work towards fixing the issue. There is school wide bullying that occurs and instead of dealing with it the administration lies to the parent and retaliates against the student so that they no longer feel safe around the Administration, feel as though they are being targeted by the Administration and are fearful of reporting the threats and physical abuse they are suffering at the hands of "celebrated" students. Numerous parents have had the same experience resulting in parents pulling their children out of the school due to the harassment by Administrators. It's a dangerous environment when Administrators will band together to harass a student, lie to their parents and make a child feel unsafe on campus, and the child is the one who suffers.

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 27, 2022

As a special education parent this school is disappointing. Administration only cares about the high achiever students with their quarterly awards and all the awards they get from the department of education. It is not an inclusive school. There is no additional support to help get caught up with English, Math or improving state/district assessments. The only positive thing I can say is there have been a couple of teachers that truly care about my sons educational needs and support but that’s it.

Posted: December 27, 2022

Posted: October 29, 2019

Fantastic. I had high expectations and they have been exceeded.

Posted: October 29, 2019

As a parent we receive daily School Loop updates with our student’s grades and homework. The amount of work is appropriate.

Posted: October 29, 2019

Amazing teachers and staff that are highly qualified and caring.

Posted: October 29, 2019

Posted: October 29, 2019

Principal is amazing! Nick has this place running on all cylinders.

Posted: October 29, 2019

Posted: October 29, 2019

They have a strong anti-bullying program and is quickly shut down. This is a great environment.

Posted: February 22, 2019

Posted: February 22, 2019

Unfortunately my daughter was bullied, and we found their approach to be ineffective.

Posted: February 22, 2019

Posted: February 22, 2019

Passionate, caring, thoughtful, experienced and inspiring. Our kids LOVE their teachers at BAMS.

Posted: February 22, 2019

I believe the Teachers encourage this, but sadly, some of the administrative policies enforced by Supervisors and administrative leadership don’t align with the schools values at all times.

Posted: February 22, 2019

Their policies related to discipline are questionable at best, and Parent communication is unreliable and often missed when necessary.

Posted: February 22, 2019

Teachers are AWESOME. Inspiring and caring. We have struggled with a number of policies and processes set by the Administrative leadership team. Hoping this improves.

Reviews provided by GreatSchools

# Name Type City State Overall Rating Distance
1 Whispering Winds Apartments Apartment Complex San Clemente CA 2.2 mi
2 Copper Canyon Neighborhood/Subdivision Murrieta CA 23 mi
3 The Ranchos Neighborhood/Subdivision Murrieta CA 23.7 mi
4 Amberwalk Townhomes Neighborhood/Subdivision Murrieta CA 24.7 mi
5 Montecito village apartments Apartment Complex Oceanside CA 25.2 mi
6 St. Cloud Condominium/Townhouse Oceanside CA 25.4 mi
7 Mira Costa Estates Neighborhood/Subdivision Oceanside CA 26.3 mi
8 Palisades Pointe Neighborhood/Subdivision Carlsbad CA 27.8 mi
9 Shadowridge Neighborhood/Subdivision Vista CA 29.9 mi
10 Redhawk Neighborhood/Subdivision Temecula CA 30.5 mi
11 Windsor at Aviara Apartment Complex Carlsbad CA 31.6 mi
12 La Costa Neighborhood/Subdivision Carlsbad CA 32.7 mi
13 Rancho Carrillo Neighborhood/Subdivision Carlsbad CA 32.8 mi
14 Torrey Highlands Neighborhood/Subdivision San Diego CA 43.6 mi
# Name City State Overall Rating Distance
1 Downtown San Clemente CA 2.9 mi
2 Downtown Oceanside Oceanside CA 23.5 mi
3 West Side murrieta CA 24 mi
4 Carlsbad Carlsbad CA 26.6 mi
5 Murrieta Murrieta CA 27.7 mi
6 Lake Rancho Viejo Fallbrook CA 28.9 mi
7 Murrieta, California Murrieta CA 29.9 mi
8 Temecula, California Temecula CA 29.9 mi
9 Encinitas Encinitas CA 35.3 mi
10 Torrey Highlands San Diego CA 43.6 mi
11 Mira Mesa San Diego CA 47.3 mi
Base Distance
Camp Pendleton 15.1 mi.
Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station 33.1 mi.
March Air Reserve Base 36.4 mi.
Los Alamitos JFTB 37.6 mi.
Miramar MCAS 49.8 mi.
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