- Enrollment
- 2,475
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Mission Viejo, CA
Del Cerro Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Del Cerro Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063386005294
👥 S:T ratio 13
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Del Cerro Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 12
- elementary schools in Mission Viejo · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.7:1
- students per teacher
- 33.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Del Cerro Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Del Cerro Elementary ranks #3 of 12 elementary schools in Mission Viejo, CA.
School address
District: Saddleback Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 063386005294 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Del Cerro Elementary held near 381 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 18.9 → 17.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 063386005294 · Mission Viejo, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
390 enr · 21.7:1 · 33.8% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Trabuco Hills High (2,475 students)
Del Cerro Elementary held near 381 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 18.9 → 17.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Del Cerro Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Trabuco Hills
Trabuco Hills High
2,475 students
- El Toro High
El Toro High
1,902 students
- Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo High
1,566 students
- Laguna Hills H
Laguna Hills High
1,317 students
- Rancho Santa M
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
1,153 students
- This school 390
Del Cerro Elementary
390 students
What this shows Del Cerro Elementary reports 390 students on the CCD universe file.
How Del Cerro Elementary compares
Del Cerro Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.7:1 | ▲ 1% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.8% | ▼ 39% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 390 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.7:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
390
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.7:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 50% in California - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
20.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,515
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 37.7%
White 35.6%
Asian 13.8%
Two or More 11.8%
African American 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 37.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.8, Del Cerro Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Saddleback Valley Unified reports $15,515 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Del Cerro Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trabuco Hills High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| El Toro High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mission Viejo High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Laguna Hills High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Del Cerro Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,902
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,566
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,317
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,153
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in Mission Viejo
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County
Standard public school
704 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Bathgate Elementary
Standard public school
570 students 23.8:1 students per teacher
De Portola Elementary
Standard public school
540 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
Castille Elementary
Standard public school
482 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Viejo Elementary
Standard public school
447 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Montevideo Elementary
Standard public school
444 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~390 students)
Frequently asked questions about Del Cerro Elementary
How many students attend Del Cerro Elementary?
Del Cerro Elementary has 390 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Mission Viejo, CA. CCD year-over-year: 373 (2022-23) → 381 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Del Cerro Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Del Cerro Elementary is 21.7:1, which is 1% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 38% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Del Cerro Elementary?
33.8% of students at Del Cerro Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Del Cerro Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Del Cerro Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 37.7% of enrollment, in Mission Viejo, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Del Cerro Elementary?
Del Cerro Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Del Cerro Elementary rank among elementary schools in Mission Viejo?
By Resource Investment Index, Del Cerro Elementary ranks #3 of 12 elementary schools in Mission Viejo, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Mission Viejo on the city page.
What other schools are in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Besides Del Cerro Elementary, Saddleback Valley Unified also operates Trabuco Hills High (2,475 students), El Toro High (1,902 students), and Mission Viejo High (1,566 students). See the Saddleback Valley Unified district page for the complete list.