{"id":707,"date":"2026-08-27T10:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T17:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apartmentsbstg.wpengine.com\/?p=707"},"modified":"2026-08-27T11:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T18:24:13","slug":"best-schools-irvine-tustin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/best-schools-irvine-tustin\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Schools in Irvine and Tustin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The city of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irvine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provides an exceptional quality of life, with beautiful homes and apartment communities, abundant outdoor recreation and outstanding educational opportunities. Not only is it consistently recognized as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinestandard.com\/2023\/americas-safest-city-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">America\u2019s safest big city<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Irvine also boasts an excellent public school system frequently recognized among the top in California. Nearby <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/tustin.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tustin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is also home to many top elementary, middle and high schools. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, eight schools in Irvine and Tustin were recognized as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cde.ca.gov\/nr\/ne\/yr26\/yr26rel12.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2026 California Distinguished Schools<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. Established in 1985, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cde.ca.gov\/ta\/sr\/cs\/index.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distinguished Schools Program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> selects schools based on two categories: their ability to close the achievement gap and their exceptional student performance. Elementary schools, middle schools and high schools are recognized in alternating years. Here are the Irvine and Tustin winners for 2026:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irvine High School, Irvine Unified School District<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lakeside Middle School, Irvine Unified School District<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, Irvine Unified School District<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sierra Vista Middle School, Irvine Unified School District<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Lake Middle School, Irvine Unified School District<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Venado Middle School, Irvine Unified School District<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Woodbridge High School, Irvine Unified School District<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hewes Middle School, Tustin Unified School District<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-709 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/GettyImages-467564919.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/GettyImages-467564919.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/GettyImages-467564919-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/GettyImages-467564919-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/GettyImages-467564919-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/GettyImages-467564919-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<div data-emptytext=\"Text\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apartment Communities Near Irvine High School:<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/cypress-village\/communities.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cypress Village<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/cypress-village\/avella.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avella<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/westpark\/santa-clara.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Santa Clara<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/westpark\/santa-rosa.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Santa Rosa<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/westpark\/santa-maria.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Santa Maria<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/harvard-square\/windwood-knoll.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Windwood Knoll <\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/harvard-square\/windwood-glen.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Windwood Glen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apartment Communities Near Lakeside Middle School:<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/oak-creek\/brittany.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brittany<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/oak-creek\/shadow-oaks.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shadow Oaks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/oak-creek\/sonoma.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sonoma<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/oak-creek\/oak-glen.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oak Glen<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apartment Communities Near Rancho San Joaquin Middle School:<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/rancho-san-joaquin\/communities.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rancho San Joaquin<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/park-west.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Park West<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/town-center-apartments\/tc\/stanford-court.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stanford Court<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/town-center-apartments\/tc\/harvard-cornell-court.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harvard &amp; Cornell Court<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apartment Communities Near Sierra Vista Middle School:<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/northwood-park.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Northwood Park<\/span><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/northwood-place.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Northwood Place<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/stonegate\/mirasol.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mirasol<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/stonegate\/palmeras.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Palmeras<\/span><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/orchard-hills.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Orchard Hills<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apartment Communities Near South Lake Middle School:<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/woodbridge-pines.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Woodbridge Pines Apartment Homes<\/span><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/san-carlo-villa.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">San Carlo Villa Apartment Homes<\/span><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apartment Communities Near Venado Middle School:<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/deerfield.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deerfield Apartment Homes<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apartment Communities Near Woodbridge High School:<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/woodbridge\/woodbridge-pines.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Woodbridge Pines<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/woodbridge\/woodbridge-villas.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Woodbridge Villas<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/woodbridge\/woodbridge-willows.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Woodbridge Willows<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/woodbridge\/cedar-creek.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cedar Creek<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/irvine\/woodbridge\/cross-creek.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cross Creek<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apartment Communities Near Hewes Middle School:<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/tustin\/rancho-monterey.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rancho Monterey<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/tustin\/rancho-santa-fe.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rancho Santa Fe<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/tustin\/rancho-mariposa.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rancho Mariposa<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/locations\/orange-county\/tustin\/rancho-tierra.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rancho Tierra<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students in the Irvine and Tustin Unified School Districts have access to advanced curricula, experienced teachers and enriching activities. By developing innovative programs and keeping up with the latest technology, these districts continuously evolve their approach to education. Explore all of our communities in Irvine and Tustin to find your next home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"nectar-button n-sc-button large accent-color regular-button\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/\" data-color-override=\"#f6653c\" data-hover-color-override=\"false\" data-hover-text-color-override=\"#fff\"><span>SEARCH APARTMENTS<\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Irvine Company specifically develops new home and apartment communities surrounded by the best schools in California, while also investing within the districts themselves. In no small part because of this funding, the city of Irvine has been named as America\u2019s safest big city, with Irvine frequently recognized among the top school systems in California and the United States. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":2641,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,139],"tags":[28,134,22,39,40],"class_list":["post-707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-apartment-living","category-neighborhood-guides","tag-irvine","tag-lifestyle","tag-orange-county","tag-schools","tag-tustin"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=707"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2642,"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/707\/revisions\/2642"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.irvinecompanyapartments.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}