Capistrano Unified School District, California
Capistrano Unified School District |
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Orange County, California |
District details |
Superintendent: Christopher Brown |
# of school board members: 7 |
Website: Link |
Capistrano Unified School District is a school district in California.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
Dr. Christopher Brown is the superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District. He started the position on July 1, 2023. He previously worked as the assistant superintendent for research, assessment and school improvement in the Long Beach Unified School District.[1]
Past superintendents
- Clark Hampton was the interim superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District. He previously served as the district's deputy superintendent.[2]
- Kirsten Vital was the superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District from 2014 to 2022. Vital was appointed superintendent in June 2014 and served until December 2022 when the school board voted to terminate her contract.[2] Vital's previous career experience includes working as a teacher, principal, and college professor.[3]
School board
The Capistrano Unified School District school board consists of seven members elected by district to four-year terms.
Office | Name | Date assumed office |
---|---|---|
Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees Trustee Area 1 | Jennifer Adnams | December 13, 2024 |
Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees Trustee Area 2 | Lisa Zollinger | December 13, 2024 |
Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees Trustee Area 3 | Lisa Davis | December 11, 2020 |
Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees Trustee Area 4 | Gary Pritchard | December 9, 2022 |
Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees Trustee Area 5 | Krista Castellanos | September 18, 2019 |
Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees Trustee Area 6 | Gila Jones | 2014 |
Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees Trustee Area 7 | Judy Bullockus | 2017 |
Elections
Members of the Capistrano Unified School District school board are elected to four-year terms. Three or four seats are up for election on a staggered basis every even-numbered year in November.
Four seats on the board were up for general election on November 5, 2024.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics

Public participation in board meetings
The Capistrano Unified School District school board maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[4]
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ADDRESSING THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Members of the public are encouraged to attend Board meetings and to address the Board concerning any item on the agenda or within the Board's jurisdiction. In governing the District, the Board has pledged to consider the will and needs of the community. Any member wishing to address the Board at a regular meeting, on an issue that is not on the published agenda, may request to do so during Oral Communications (Non-Agenda Items). Those wishing to address the Board on an item on the Closed Session agenda may do so immediately after the Closed Session Call to Order. So as not to inhibit public participation, persons attending Board meetings shall not be requested to sign in, complete a questionnaire, or otherwise provide their name or other information as a condition of attending the meeting. (Government Code 54953.3). However, persons choosing to speak may be asked to give their name and city or area of residence. One of the Board’s responsibilities to the public is to conduct District business in an orderly and efficient way; therefore, the following procedures shall regulate public comment to the Board. Oral Communications (Non-Agenda Items) Regular, scheduled meetings of the Board shall have a portion of each meeting devoted to Oral Communications. A person wishing to address the Board on a non-agenda item may do so under the Oral Communications portion of the Board agenda. Oral Communications will take place at the beginning of the Board meeting and immediately following the Special Recognitions portion of the Board meeting. 1. The total time for the OralCommunications (Non-Agenda Items) portions of regular meetings shall be twenty (20) minutes. When more than 20 individuals have presented requests to speak, the time allowed to the first 20 who made requests will be as follows:
2. A person wishing to be heard by the Board on a non-agenda item during Oral Communications, after having submitted a "Request to Address the Board of Trustees" card prior to the commencement of the Oral Communications portion of the meeting, shall first be recognized by the Board President. The speaker may identify himself/herself by providing the Board with his/her name and city/community of residence. 3. No additional “Request to Address the Board of Trustees” cards will be accepted once the Oral Communications portion of the meeting has begun unless otherwise approved by the Board. 4. There shall be no transfer of a person’s time or a portion of a person’s time, to another speaker. 5. Legally, the Board may not take action on items raised by speakers under Oral Communications. The Board may, however, at its discretion, refer items to the administration for follow-up or place topics on a future Board agenda. (Education Code 35145.5, Government Code 54954.3) Oral Communications (Agenda Items) 1. Members of the public shall have an opportunity to address the Board prior to the Board's consideration of each agenda item. (Education Code 35145.5, Government Code 54954.3) 2. The total time for Oral Communications shall be twenty (20) minutes on any individual Information/Discussion/Action agenda item, and twenty (20) minutes in total for the Consent Calendar. Individual speakers will be allowed between one (1) and three (3) minutes to address the Board, depending on the number of individuals who have presented requests to speak. 3. Persons seeking to address the Board on an agenda item shall complete a "Request to Address the Board of Trustees" card and give it to the Board Secretary or other designated staff member. “Request to Address the Board of Trustees” will be accepted only until 30 minutes after the start of Open Session.
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District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[6]
SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
---|---|---|---|
Federal: | $45,820,000 | $1,048 | 6% |
Local: | $403,714,000 | $9,234 | 56% |
State: | $266,407,000 | $6,094 | 37% |
Total: | $715,941,000 | $16,376 |
TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
---|---|---|---|
Total Expenditures: | $613,596,000 | $14,034 | |
Total Current Expenditures: | $543,481,000 | $12,431 | |
Instructional Expenditures: | $350,715,000 | $8,022 | 57% |
Student and Staff Support: | $66,015,000 | $1,509 | 11% |
Administration: | $62,392,000 | $1,427 | 10% |
Operations, Food Service, Other: | $64,359,000 | $1,472 | 10% |
Total Capital Outlay: | $22,888,000 | $523 | |
Construction: | $20,127,000 | $460 | |
Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $24,000 | $0 | |
Interest on Debt: | $2,906,000 | $66 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
Year | Minimum | Maximum |
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2023-2024[7] | $63,319 | $129,202 |
2020-2021[8] | $55,047 | $112,324 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[9]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
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2020-2021 | 50 | 75-79 | 21-39 | 32 | <50 | 55-59 | 54 |
2018-2019 | 61 | 81 | 35-39 | 38 | 40-49 | 73 | 68 |
2017-2018 | 60 | 82 | 35-39 | 37 | 60-69 | 72 | 67 |
2016-2017 | 58 | 80 | 32 | 35 | 50-59 | 66 | 65 |
2015-2016 | 58 | 81 | 40-44 | 34 | 50-59 | 68 | 66 |
2014-2015 | 56 | 80 | 35-39 | 32 | 50-54 | 66 | 62 |
2013-2014 | 77 | 92 | 60-69 | 59 | >=80 | 85-89 | 82 |
2012-2013 | 73 | 90 | 50-54 | 54 | 70-74 | 79 | 79 |
2011-2012 | 74 | 90 | 52 | 55 | 60-64 | 78 | 79 |
2010-2011 | 73 | 89 | 50 | 55 | 70-74 | 78 | 78 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
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2020-2021 | 72 | 84 | 40-59 | 58 | >=50 | 75-79 | 77 |
2018-2019 | 70 | 85 | 55-59 | 50 | 70-79 | 81 | 77 |
2017-2018 | 70 | 85 | 55-59 | 49 | 60-69 | 82 | 77 |
2016-2017 | 69 | 84 | 54 | 47 | 60-69 | 77 | 76 |
2015-2016 | 68 | 84 | 50-54 | 46 | 70-79 | 80 | 76 |
2014-2015 | 69 | 84 | 50-54 | 45 | 65-69 | 79 | 76 |
2013-2014 | 75 | 86 | 60-69 | 55 | 60-79 | 85-89 | 81 |
2012-2013 | 75 | 88 | 65-69 | 52 | 70-74 | 85 | 82 |
2011-2012 | 77 | 89 | 62 | 56 | 70-74 | 83 | 83 |
2010-2011 | 76 | 87 | 61 | 55 | 80-84 | 84 | 82 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
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2019-2020 | 96 | 97 | >=90 | 95 | >=50 | >=95 | 96 |
2018-2019 | 96 | 98 | >=90 | 96 | >=50 | >=95 | 96 |
2017-2018 | 96 | 98 | 80-89 | 95 | >=50 | >=95 | 96 |
2016-2017 | 97 | >=95 | >=90 | 96 | >=50 | >=95 | 97 |
2015-2016 | 97 | >=95 | 80-89 | 96 | >=80 | >=95 | 98 |
2014-2015 | 97 | 98 | >=90 | 94 | >=80 | >=95 | 98 |
2013-2014 | 97 | >=99 | >=90 | 94 | >=80 | >=95 | 98 |
2012-2013 | 97 | >=95 | >=90 | 95 | >=50 | >=95 | 98 |
2011-2012 | 97 | 98 | >=90 | 94 | >=80 | >=95 | 98 |
2010-2011 | 97 | 98 | >=90 | 93 | >=80 | >=95 | 98 |
Students
Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
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2022-2023 | 41,855 | -2.1 |
2021-2022 | 42,754 | -2.3 |
2020-2021 | 43,719 | -6.4 |
2019-2020 | 46,501 | -1.5 |
2018-2019 | 47,205 | -13.6 |
2017-2018 | 53,622 | 0.0 |
2016-2017 | 53,613 | -0.5 |
2015-2016 | 53,878 | -0.3 |
2014-2015 | 54,036 | 0.4 |
2013-2014 | 53,833 | 0.1 |
2012-2013 | 53,785 | 1.1 |
2011-2012 | 53,170 | 0.0 |
2010-2011 | 53,192 | -0.4 |
2009-2010 | 53,381 | 1.3 |
2008-2009 | 52,681 | 0.6 |
2007-2008 | 52,390 | 1.7 |
2006-2007 | 51,512 | 0.5 |
2005-2006 | 51,245 | 1.2 |
2004-2005 | 50,615 | 1.7 |
2003-2004 | 49,746 | 2.3 |
2002-2003 | 48,608 | 3.8 |
2001-2002 | 46,756 | 3.6 |
2000-2001 | 45,074 | 3.2 |
1999-2000 | 43,648 | 0.0 |
RACE | Capistrano Unified School District (%) | California K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
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American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.1 | 0.0 |
Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 8.4 | 0.0 |
Black | 0.8 | 0.0 |
Hispanic | 27.2 | 0.0 |
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.1 | 0.0 |
Two or More Races | 10.7 | 0.0 |
White | 52.5 | 0.0 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, Capistrano Unified School District had 1,856.37 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 22.55.
TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
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Prekindergarten: | 0.00 |
Kindergarten: | 150.17 |
Elementary: | 1,042.49 |
Secondary: | 663.71 |
Total: | 1,856.37 |
Capistrano Unified School District employed 26.80 district administrators and 116.55 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
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District Administrators: | 26.80 |
District Administrative Support: | 89.50 |
School Administrators: | 116.55 |
School Administrative Support: | 181.65 |
TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
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Instructional Aides: | 524.53 |
Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 12.00 |
Total Guidance Counselors: | 87.60 |
Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 46.60 |
Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 35.00 |
Librarians/Media Specialists: | 0.00 |
Library/Media Support: | 0.00 |
Student Support Services: | 141.10 |
Other Support Services: | 801.19 |
Schools
Noteworthy events
2014: New superintendent starts
In August 2014, the Capistrano Unified School District welcomed Kirsten Vital as its new superintendent. Before serving Capistrano Unified School District, Vital served for over five years as Alameda Unified School District's superintendent. Vital replaced Joe Farley, who retired as superintendent on July 1, 2014. In addition to her work in the Alameda Unified School District, Vital also served as an administrator in the Oakland Unified School District and the Los Angeles Unified School District.[10][11]
Contact information
Capistrano Unified School District
33122 Valle Road
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Phone: 949-234-9200
About school boards
Education legislation in California
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
California | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Capistrano Unified School District
- California Department of Education
- California School Boards Association
Footnotes
- ↑ OCDE Newsroom, "Capistrano Unified announces Long Beach educator as its next superintendent," June 15, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Capistrano Dispatch, "Capo Unified Trustees Announce Termination of Superintendent’s Contract," December 22, 2022
- ↑ Capistrano Unified School District, "News Release: Capistrano Unified Announces its Next Superintendent," June 19, 2014
- ↑ Capistrano Unified School District, "Article 9: Bylaws of the Board - Meeting Conduct," accessed January 10, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
- ↑ Capistrano Unified School District, "CERTIFICATED SALARY SCHEDULE with Base Credential," accessed February 2, 2024
- ↑ Capistrano Unified School District, California, "Certificated Salary Schedule With Base Credential," accessed July 7, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑ East Bay Times, "Alameda: A farewell to schools Superintendent Kirsten Vital," July 23, 2014
- ↑ The Orange County Register, "Capistrano district hires Alameda superintendent as schools chief," June 19, 2014
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