[2] Irvine has been frequently recognized among the top school systems in California and the United States.

[3] On the state's latest Academic Performance Index, which measures overall achievement on a scale of 200 to 1,000, IUSD posted a districtwide score of 921, marking a five-point increase over the previous year.

[citation needed] Irvine schools have earned the state's highest honor – the label of California Distinguished School – 48 times since 1986, and all four comprehensive high schools have been recognized at least once.

All four comprehensive high schools have also earned the distinction as Blue Ribbon Schools, the nation's highest level of recognition for K-12 campuses.

In all, IUSD has produced 13 Blue Ribbon schools since 1983.