Murrieta Valley Unified

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Murrieta, California - 20 schools

An equity score of 30/100 ranks Murrieta Valley Unified #1234 of 1517 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,483 per pupil, Murrieta Valley Unified ranks #1330 of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

22,365
Total Enrollment
20
Schools
$13,483
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Murrieta Valley Unified operates 20 public schools serving 22,365 students, placing it in the mid-size range in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 11 elementary, 4 high, 4 middle, 1 combined schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Riverside County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,483 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 33.5% local, 57.2% state, and 9.3% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 30/100, ranked #1234 of 1517 in California against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 20 schools offering Advanced Placement (55 AP courses district-wide), a 621.6:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 35.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 45.6% Hispanic or Latino, 30.6% White, 7.1% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Dorothy Mcelhinney Middle, with a diversity index of 71.5/100.

Its largest campus is Vista Murrieta High, enrolling 3,328 students (15% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Murrieta Options Academy, at 12 students, a 277x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Murrieta Valley Unified school enrollment varies 277× across entities

Murrieta Valley Unified school enrollment ranges from 12 students (lowest) to 3,328 students (highest), a spread of 3,316 students. That ratio is an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Murrieta Valley Unified student-counselor ratio is 622:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Murrieta Valley Unified chronic absenteeism rate is 35.3% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

9.3%
Federal
57.2%
State
33.5%
Local

Funding Equity

30
Equity Score
1234 / 1517
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 20 schools in Murrieta Valley Unified.

White 30.6%
Hispanic or Latino 45.6%
African American 5.3%
Asian 7.1%
Multiracial 10.7%
Other 0.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 66.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Murrieta Valley Unified's schools, above the California average of 46.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Dorothy Mcelhinney Middle 71.5
  2. 2 Lisa J. Mails Elementary 71.5
  3. 3 Vista Murrieta High 70.6
  4. 4 Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary 70.6
  5. 5 Monte Vista Elementary 69.3

Programs & Resources

3 / 20
Schools with AP
55 AP courses total
621.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
35.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Murrieta Valley Unified

School Enrollment
Vista Murrieta High
3,328
Murrieta Valley High
2,104
Murrieta Mesa High
2,066
Thompson Middle
1,565
Dorothy Mcelhinney Middle
1,451
Shivela Middle
1,282
Cole Canyon Elementary
1,038
Lisa J. Mails Elementary
1,006
Murrieta Elementary
893
Alta Murrieta Elementary
849
Antelope Hills Elementary
839
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary
828
Monte Vista Elementary
769
Warm Springs Middle
755
Tovashal Elementary
745
Avaxat Elementary
617
Rail Ranch Elementary
603
E. Hale Curran Elementary
575
Murrieta Canyon Academy
296
Murrieta Options Academy
12

How Murrieta Valley Unified Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Downey Unified Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Hemet Unified Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Chula Vista Elementary Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Antelope Valley Union High Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Tustin Unified Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Murrieta Valley Unified's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $21,940/pupil
Compare vs Murrieta Valley Unified →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $18,665/pupil
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Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $18,783/pupil
Compare vs Murrieta Valley Unified →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $16,028/pupil
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Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $14,134/pupil
Compare vs Murrieta Valley Unified →

Compare Murrieta Valley Unified

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Murrieta Valley Unified?

Murrieta Valley Unified has 20 schools, including 4 high, 4 middle, 11 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 22,365 students.

How much does Murrieta Valley Unified spend per student?

Murrieta Valley Unified spends $13,483 per student. The district has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #1234 in California.

What is the demographic composition of Murrieta Valley Unified?

Murrieta Valley Unified students are 45.6% Hispanic or Latino, 30.6% White, 7.1% Asian, 5.3% African American, averaged across 20 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Murrieta Valley Unified?

Murrieta Valley Unified has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #1234 out of 1517 districts in California.