Enrollment
1,487
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · San Diego, CA
Bernardo Heights Middle
Federal NCES profile for Bernardo Heights Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 063153009425
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bernardo Heights Middle earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #29 of 37
- middle schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.4:1
- large classes for California
- 13.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Bernardo Heights Middle has class sizes larger than 75% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bernardo Heights Middle ranks #29 of 37 middle schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: Poway Unified · California
NCES ID 063153009425 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
61.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.4:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
13.0%
vs 55.5% California avg
-77% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Bernardo Heights Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Bernardo Heights Middle
Bernardo Heights Middle is a lower-poverty, large middle school in San Diego, California, enrolling 1,487 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.4:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 13.0% free-meal eligibility runs 77% below the California average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 94% of state schools at 1,487 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 268 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #246, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (41%) and Asian (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 744 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.9% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among San Diego's middle schools, it stands alongside Oak Valley Middle (1,503 students): Bernardo Heights Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.4:1 vs 24.6:1).
Poway Unified also operates Del Norte High (2,557 students) and Rancho Bernardo High (2,210 students) alongside Bernardo Heights Middle.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Bernardo Heights Middle compares
Bernardo Heights Middle on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.4:1 | ▲ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.0% | ▼ 77% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,487 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.4:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,487
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
13.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 77% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
24.4:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 75% in California - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
14.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,960
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 744 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 41.4%
Asian 27.0%
Hispanic or Latino 16.7%
Two or More 12.6%
African American 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 41.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.2, Bernardo Heights Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Poway Unified, which includes Bernardo Heights Middle.
$13,960
Per student
-15%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.2%
State 39.4%
Federal 6.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Bernardo Heights Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Norte High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rancho Bernardo High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Westview High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Poway High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mt. Carmel High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bernardo Heights Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,557
- Students per teacher
- 26.9:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 2,210
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 2,116
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,101
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,800
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar middle schools in San Diego
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Oak Valley Middle
Standard public school
1,503 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
Marshall Middle
Standard public school
1,390 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
Mesa Verde Middle
Standard public school
1,178 students 28.7:1 students per teacher
Black Mountain Middle
Standard public school
1,077 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Lewis Middle
Standard public school
1,013 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Pershing Middle
Standard public school
980 students 31.6:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,487 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Bernardo Heights Middle's federal record.
- Compare Bernardo Heights Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Poway Unified's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Bernardo Heights Middle
How many students attend Bernardo Heights Middle?
Bernardo Heights Middle has 1,487 students enrolled. It is a middle school in San Diego, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bernardo Heights Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Bernardo Heights Middle is 24.4:1, which is 13% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 55% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bernardo Heights Middle?
13.0% of students at Bernardo Heights Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bernardo Heights Middle?
The largest demographic group at Bernardo Heights Middle is White at 41.4% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bernardo Heights Middle?
Bernardo Heights Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bernardo Heights Middle rank among middle schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, Bernardo Heights Middle ranks #29 of 37 middle schools in San Diego, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in San Diego on the city page.
Is Bernardo Heights Middle a good school?
Bernardo Heights Middle earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Poway Unified?
Besides Bernardo Heights Middle, Poway Unified also operates Del Norte High (2,557 students), Rancho Bernardo High (2,210 students), and Westview High (2,116 students). See the Poway Unified district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.