- Enrollment
- 2,740
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · San Juan Capistrano, CA
Marco Forster Middle
Federal NCES profile for Marco Forster Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 060744000694
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Marco Forster Middle earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of California schools.
- #4 of 13
- public schools in San Juan Capistrano · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.9:1
- small classes for California
- 61.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Marco Forster Middle has class sizes smaller than 79% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Marco Forster Middle ranks #4 of 13 public schools in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
School address
District: Capistrano Unified · California
NCES ID 060744000694 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-42 students YoY
Marco Forster Middle held near 1,040 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-42 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 53.0 → 54.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-42 students YoY 060744000694 · San Juan Capistrano, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
930 enr · 17.9:1 · 61.8% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: San Clemente High (2,740 students)
Marco Forster Middle held near 1,040 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-42 headcount). Teacher FTE added 53.0 → 54.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Marco Forster Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- San Clemente H
San Clemente High
2,740 students
- San Juan Hills
San Juan Hills High
2,641 students
- Aliso Niguel H
Aliso Niguel High
2,563 students
- Tesoro High
Tesoro High
2,030 students
- Capistrano Val
Capistrano Valley High
1,991 students
- This school 930
Marco Forster Middle
930 students
What this shows Marco Forster Middle reports 930 students on the CCD universe file.
How Marco Forster Middle compares
Marco Forster Middle 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 | 17.9:1 | ▼ 17% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.8% | ▲ 11% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 930 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
930
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
61.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 21% in California - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.5%
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
$15,820
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 310 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 88 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 70.0%
White 23.2%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 70.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.3, Marco Forster Middle is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Capistrano Unified reports $15,820 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Marco Forster Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Clemente High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| San Juan Hills High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Aliso Niguel High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tesoro High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Capistrano Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Marco Forster Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,641
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,563
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,991
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~930 students)
Frequently asked questions about Marco Forster Middle
How many students attend Marco Forster Middle?
Marco Forster Middle has 930 students enrolled. It is a middle school in San Juan Capistrano, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,082 (2022-23) → 1,040 (2023-24), nearly flat (-42).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Marco Forster Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Marco Forster Middle is 17.9:1, which is 17% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Marco Forster Middle?
61.8% of students at Marco Forster Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Marco Forster Middle?
The largest demographic group at Marco Forster Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 70.0% of enrollment, in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Marco Forster Middle?
Marco Forster Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Marco Forster Middle rank among public schools in San Juan Capistrano?
By Resource Investment Index, Marco Forster Middle ranks #4 of 13 public schools in San Juan Capistrano, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in San Juan Capistrano on the city page.
What other schools are in Capistrano Unified?
Besides Marco Forster Middle, Capistrano Unified also operates San Clemente High (2,740 students), San Juan Hills High (2,641 students), and Aliso Niguel High (2,563 students). See the Capistrano Unified district page for the complete list.