10 Bayfield
Irvine, CA 92614

As a parent of two children who have attended South Lake Middle School, I can confidently say it’s been a wonderful experience for our family. Principal Averill and her incredible staff are deeply committed to fostering a supportive learning environment. Mrs. Averill truly understands middle schoolers—their likes, dislikes, growing pains, and their journey toward maturity. Her insight and leadership create a school culture that meets kids where they are, helping them navigate this pivotal stage of life.The counseling support system at South Lake is outstanding. It ensures that students feel included, safe, and supported by trusted adults who guide them through challenges. The school places a strong emphasis on a growth mindset, reminding students that it’s okay to make mistakes in a safe environment as they prepare for future challenges in high school and beyond.Middle school is a time for growth—not just for students, but for us as parents too. While the teachers and staff do an excellent job providing students with tools and guidance in class, it’s still up to us as parents to be present and engaged in our children’s lives. Comments about student activity outside of school should not be placed on the school—they can only do so much within their walls. As parents, we share the responsibility of teaching and guiding our children as they navigate these formative years.Of course, no school is perfect—South Lake is home to 600+ middle schoolers, and that naturally brings big emotions and hormone-driven conflicts. However, what sets this school apart is how well the principal and staff handle these moments. They acknowledge the issues, address them thoughtfully, and equip students with the tools they need to resolve conflicts and grow from the experience.Middle school is a time for us to start letting go, giving our kids the independence they need to learn how to navigate challenges on their own. South Lake has given my children those tools, and I have no doubt they’ll thrive in high school. I highly recommend South Lake Middle School to any parent looking for a supportive, student-centered environment.

I graduated from Woodbridge a few years ago and I would say I had a pretty okay experience. The teachers are fantastic but the students make the experience worse than it should be. IUSD schools in general are pretty competitive and there's a lot of pressure to do well, especially from other students. This is especially bad in the honors/AP classes but the CP classes are alright. Woodbridge is probably one of the less academically competitive schools compared to the other IUSD high schools but it's still up there. Personally, I don't think Irvine schools are worth all the hype. I am a STEM major at a top UC now and I still think my classes at Woodbridge were more difficult to get A's in. If I had a choice, I would have chosen to live somewhere with great school ratings but not cutthroat competitive, like the Saddleback Valley or Capistrano Unified School Districts. IUSD taught me that high grades are the only things that matter, not to appreciate learning for what it is. If you are the parent(s) of young children looking to move to a good school district, I would recommend against IUSD for the kids' sake.

The kinder and prek teachers are great, and the front desk ladies are nice. But the teachers from 1st grade on are rigid and don't care about their students. Our kid was pushed out of this school because they were unwilling to find solutions to accommodate her special needs. Teaching is uninspired. Class sizes are 31+ with half of the students ELLS and teachers demonstrating zero knowledge of ESL pedagogy. Teachers are unempathetic and petty. Ditto for the parents. Except that they are also super competitive like everyone in Irvine.If your kid has special needs, forget it. The school's approach from the principal down is that your kid just needs to "get over it" and comply. There is no collaboration with parents, and the OT who is in charge of the special ed program is condescending and horrible. She demonstrated zero knowledge of our kid's conditions - ditto for the ERC. Yet they feel free to tell you what to do even though they do nothing themselves to find solutions. There are other ways and better ways to do things, but the people at this school can't be bothered to do anything different. We had to pull our kid out and homeschool them. This school literally ruined our life, and it was a terrible experience. If you can, run far from this school. In fact, if you're smart, stay away from Irvine as a whole.