Saddleback Valley Unified

Mission Viejo, California — 33 schools

23,711
Total Enrollment
33
Schools
$14,938
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Saddleback Valley Unified operates 33 public schools serving 23,711 students, placing it in the mid-size range in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 22 elementary, 5 high, 4 middle, 2 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 22,646 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Orange County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,938 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 62.6% local, 29.5% state, and 7.9% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $79,206 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 27/100, ranked #1370 of 1547 in California against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 5 of 33 schools offering Advanced Placement (78 AP courses district-wide), a 389.9:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 26.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 42.3% Hispanic or Latino, 35.1% White, 11.8% Asian across the district's schools.

Saddleback Valley Unified school enrollment varies 31× across entities

Saddleback Valley Unified school enrollment ranges from 80 students (lowest) to 2,475 students (highest), a spread of 2,395 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. 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

Saddleback Valley Unified student-counselor ratio is 390:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Saddleback Valley Unified chronic absenteeism rate is 26.8% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Saddleback Valley Unified is typically wider than the Saddleback Valley Unified-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

7.9%
Federal
29.5%
State
62.6%
Local

Funding Equity

27
Equity Score
1370 / 1547
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Orange County county, where this district is located.

$2,682
Studio/mo
$2,746
1 BR/mo
$3,236
2 BR/mo
$4,393
3 BR/mo
$5,246
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$79,206
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 33 schools in Saddleback Valley Unified.

White 35.1%
Hispanic or Latino 42.3%
African American 1.0%
Asian 11.8%
Multiracial 9.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

5 / 33
Schools with AP
78 AP courses total
389.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
26.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Saddleback Valley Unified

School Enrollment
Trabuco Hills High
2,475
El Toro High
1,902
Mission Viejo High
1,566
Laguna Hills High
1,317
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
1,153
Foothill Ranch Elementary
990
Melinda Heights Elementary
950
Ralph a. Gates Dli Magnet Elementary
896
Serrano Intermediate
868
Portola Hills Elementary
809
La Paz Intermediate
713
Lake Forest Elementary
640
Trabuco Mesa Elementary
640
Rancho Canada Elementary
633
Los Alisos Intermediate
595
La Madera Elementary
554
De Portola Elementary
540
Valencia Elementary
525
Santiago Steam Magnet Elementary
517
Lomarena Elementary
487
Cielo Vista Elementary
487
Robinson Elementary
486
Montevideo Elementary
444
Olivewood Elementary
396
Del Cerro Elementary
390
Del Lago Elementary
362
Glen Yermo Elementary
308
Linda Vista Magnet Elementary
263
San Joaquin Elementary
221
Silverado High
200
Svusd Virtual Academy (Alternative)
149
Trabuco Elementary
90
Esperanza Education Center
80

Nearby Districts in California

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Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $25,877/pupil
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San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $26,901/pupil
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Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,737/pupil
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Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $19,558/pupil
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Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $16,975/pupil
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Compare Saddleback Valley Unified

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Saddleback Valley Unified?

Saddleback Valley Unified has 33 schools, including 5 high, 4 middle, 22 elementary, 2 other. Total enrollment is 23,711 students.

How much does Saddleback Valley Unified spend per student?

Saddleback Valley Unified spends $14,938 per student. The district has an equity score of 27/100, ranking #1370 in California.

What is the average teacher salary in Saddleback Valley Unified?

The average teacher salary in Saddleback Valley Unified is $79,206 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Saddleback Valley Unified?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Orange County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Saddleback Valley Unified?

Saddleback Valley Unified students are 42.3% Hispanic or Latino, 35.1% White, 11.8% Asian, 1.0% African American, averaged across 33 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Saddleback Valley Unified?

Saddleback Valley Unified has an equity score of 27/100, ranking #1370 out of 1547 districts in California. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

Coverage

50 states + DC

Full national footprint

Update cadence

Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

Source agency

Federal

Authoritative data, no third-party aggregation

Page reliability score 94.0%
Industry baseline

Composite score weighing source authority, update freshness, and methodological transparency. 1.0 = full federal-source coverage with documented methodology and recent update.