- Enrollment
- 2,475
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Lake Forest, CA
Lake Forest Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Lake Forest Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063386000769
👥 S:T ratio 5
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lake Forest Elementary earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 7
- elementary schools in Lake Forest · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23.7:1
- students per teacher
- 41.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Lake Forest Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lake Forest Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in Lake Forest, CA.
School address
District: Saddleback Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 063386000769 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
Lake Forest Elementary held near 688 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 27.5 → 30.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 063386000769 · Lake Forest, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
640 enr · 23.7:1 · 41.8% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Trabuco Hills High (2,475 students)
Lake Forest Elementary held near 688 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE added 27.5 → 30.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Lake Forest 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 640
Lake Forest Elementary
640 students
What this shows Lake Forest Elementary reports 640 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lake Forest Elementary compares
Lake Forest 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 | 23.7:1 | ▲ 10% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.8% | ▼ 25% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 640 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.7:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
640
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23.7:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 69% in California - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
21.9%
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: 0.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 49.8%
White 22.2%
Asian 13.6%
Two or More 11.6%
African American 2.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 49.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.0, Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trabuco Hills High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| El Toro High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mission Viejo High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Laguna Hills High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ralph a. Gates Dli Magnet Elementary
Standard public school
896 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Rancho Canada Elementary
Standard public school
633 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley
Standard public school
565 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
La Madera Elementary
Standard public school
554 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Santiago Steam Magnet Elementary
Standard public school
517 students 27.2:1 students per teacher
Olivewood Elementary
Standard public school
396 students 22:1 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 (~640 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Lake Forest Elementary
How many students attend Lake Forest Elementary?
Lake Forest Elementary has 640 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Lake Forest, CA. CCD year-over-year: 679 (2022-23) → 688 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Forest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Lake Forest Elementary is 23.7:1, which is 10% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 51% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lake Forest Elementary?
41.8% of students at Lake Forest Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lake Forest Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Lake Forest Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 49.8% of enrollment, in Lake Forest, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lake Forest Elementary?
Lake Forest Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Lake Forest Elementary rank among elementary schools in Lake Forest?
By Resource Investment Index, Lake Forest Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest on the city page.
What other schools are in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Besides Lake Forest 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.