La Paz Intermediate School

Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Phone: (949) 830-1720
Fax: (949) 830-3320
District: Saddleback Valley Unified

8

GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades 7,8 • 713 students

La Paz Intermediate School, a public school located in Mission Viejo, CA, serves grades 7-8 in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 8 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

La Paz Intermediate School is a public school located in Mission Viejo, CA. 713 students attend La Paz Intermediate School.

School Ratings

Category Rating Details
Test Scores 9/10 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 6/10 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: August 15, 2026

They gave my friend and her mother a hard time that they couldn’t go to the eighth grade knots trip in May 2026 so if anybody’s handicap do not come to the school cause they’re gonna give you guys a hard time

Posted: August 15, 2026

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Posted: February 26, 2026

If your family is looking for a nurturing academic environment that fosters a love of learning, look elsewhere. This school is a mechanistic learning factory trying to churn out graduates. The counsellors do very little to look out for the mental health impacts this approach has on students. Some of the teachers create a cliquey atmosphere and alienate the kids who don't fit their preferred social profile. Within a year our child has plummeted from a high-achieving A+ student to someone who is now struggling to even get passing grades. This is while continuing to flourish in their extracurriculars external to the school. We regret sending our child to La Paz Intermediate.

Posted: February 26, 2026

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Posted: January 14, 2026

Rigid and condescending staff that make up the rules as they go! Would not recommend.

Posted: January 14, 2026

Posted: January 14, 2026

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Posted: January 14, 2026

Posted: August 22, 2023

We moved to La Paz after a difficult two years at a neighboring middle school. La Paz is smaller and had the hometown feel we were seeking. The front office was really helpful when we moved and the Principal was enthusiastic and happy at her job. The PTA is engaged and so far the teachers are great. The one thing I noticed about this school is that the community didn’t have any negative things to say online, so we felt the student body was more well behaved which is huge just being that its middle school.

Posted: August 22, 2023

Posted: August 22, 2023

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Posted: August 22, 2023

Posted: August 22, 2023

Posted: June 4, 2020

Posted: June 4, 2020

Posted: June 4, 2020

My child did not enjoy it-an honors student...Aside from teachers being disengaged and learning very little the students just seemed to be rude and cliquey according to her-she felt like this school had a population of keeping up with the Jones attitude and lacked real integrity and heart.

Posted: June 4, 2020

Assignments are rarely explained with clarity and my child was an honors student. Sometimes homework was assigned without material being presented. Positive is not much homework at all so after school activities can be enjoyed.

Posted: June 4, 2020

My child was lucky enough to get one good teacher in a year. Others are coasting and just assigning without really teaching. Teachers are completely checked out and no contentment in their job.

Posted: June 4, 2020

Kids are still pushing the popularity aspect in each other’s faces..just on a subtle level.

Posted: June 4, 2020

Posted: September 11, 2017

Posted: September 11, 2017

Posted: September 11, 2017

Posted: September 11, 2017

Posted: September 11, 2017

Posted: September 11, 2017

Posted: September 11, 2017

It has been amazing! I was really concerned with my son going to middle school but this has been so organized that my son has done very well there, and he has made good friends.

Posted: November 14, 2014

This school needs new leadership! It's time for the district to replace the Principal with a person that actually understands what the students need. The administration is about appearances and test scores and not about students and their needs. Student safety and student learning should always be the first priority and with what my child experienced at La Paz it was clear that student safety was not the first priority!

Posted: September 3, 2014

My 8th grader has really soared at this school. He went from average grades to all A's and a few B's. It is obvious how much the teachers enjoy teaching by their enthusiasm and my own student's development. The parent involvement is pretty great. Those parents who are involved put in 100% and put together: International Day, 7th grade Renaissance Fair, Zombie Fundraiser, etc. I would only suggest that the District invest in more technology including a more robust wifi for the technology classes.

Posted: July 26, 2014

In response to the previous review. The scores speak for the school. I suggest you use spellcheck, or review the more rigorous English curriculum before posting.

Posted: May 7, 2014

This school is awful they do evrything there own way not the districts way, and the music teacher is awful she visited my daughters school and look at her and said "i bet you want me to shut up now dont you" this school deserves a 4 too much ressecces los alisos only has one its a way better school

Posted: November 5, 2013

My son is in 7th grade and absolutely loves La Paz. One of his comments was, "You can't not learn there. The teachers make it so easy." He has become so much more independent and responsible with his homework. The teachers are very involved with each student's progress and encourage them to achieve their best.

Posted: November 4, 2013

I have never seen such a high concentration of teachers who refuse to teach and instead assign worksheets that they *hope* give some knowledge to the student. I feel bad for the few teachers who really try to teach and who's reputation is just ruined by the others.

Posted: September 4, 2012

Excellent. I am very happy with this school. My son just graduated from the school. He has gain the skills and confidence he needs to prepare for high school. The teachers are 6 stars. Everything was super, including the fun sports activities during lunch time. Best pick intermediate school.

Posted: July 24, 2012

with only two years of middle school & 900+ students, people have a variety of experiences. My sensitive 7th grader had an easy entry b/c of the WEB program (Where Everyone Belongs) & that La Paz places all students in groups- "tribe, village, or camp"- where they share the same teachers. Yes, there will be some students who tease & bully others, & you may not like a teacher anywhere, but the school culture matters. Staff involvement in school activities was great (even after school--better than our top-rated elementary school!) & when my student had a tough time, the school counselor, VP, & teachers were extremely helpful. Love the music program (band w/ Mr Robbins-- I hear great things about orchestra too). Since it is a daily class, with performances at night, kids feel a part of something special. (I hear similar things about Drama, & the Arts electives from other parents.). The key for me is parent involvement, & since many struggle to find a balance b/t allowing their tween some space yet staying involved, it's sometimes lacking. Office staff are very helpful, the principal (Ms Carroll) is amazing, with just the right amount of the "cool" factor for the kids & authority.

Posted: August 1, 2009

Posted: August 14, 2007

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