Enrollment
423
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Laguna Niguel, CA
Marian Bergeson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Marian Bergeson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060744009118
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Marian Bergeson Elementary earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 8
- elementary schools in Laguna Niguel · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.1:1
- students per teacher
- 24.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Marian Bergeson Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Marian Bergeson Elementary ranks #1 of 8 elementary schools in Laguna Niguel, CA.
School address
District: Capistrano Unified · California
NCES ID 060744009118 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
21.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.1:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
24.1%
vs 55.5% California avg
-57% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Marian Bergeson Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Marian Bergeson Elementary
Marian Bergeson Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Laguna Niguel, California, enrolling 423 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 20.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 24.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 423 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,132 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #487.
Its student body is led by Asian (34%) and Two or More (29%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 423 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Laguna Niguel's elementary schools, it stands alongside Community Roots Academy (780 students): Marian Bergeson Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.1:1 vs 19.5:1).
Capistrano Unified also operates San Clemente High (2,740 students) and San Juan Hills High (2,641 students) alongside Marian Bergeson Elementary.
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 Marian Bergeson Elementary compares
Marian Bergeson Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.1:1 | ▼ 7% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.1% | ▼ 57% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 423 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
423
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
24.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% 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
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 35% in California - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
26.2%
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
$14,421
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 423 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 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
Asian 34.3%
Two or More 29.1%
White 19.9%
Hispanic or Latino 15.8%
African American 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 34.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.3, Marian Bergeson Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Capistrano Unified, which includes Marian Bergeson Elementary.
$14,421
Per student
-13%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-13%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 61.2%
State 31.0%
Federal 7.7%
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 Marian Bergeson Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Clemente High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| San Juan Hills High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Aliso Niguel High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tesoro High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Capistrano Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Marian Bergeson Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,740
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- 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
Similar elementary schools in Laguna Niguel
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Community Roots Academy
Standard public school
780 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
John Malcom Elementary
Standard public school
553 students 25.1:1 students per teacher
Moulton Elementary
Standard public school
538 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Laguna Niguel Elementary
Standard public school
456 students 26.8:1 students per teacher
George White Elementary
Standard public school
378 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Hidden Hills Elementary
Standard public school
330 students 25.4:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~423 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Marian Bergeson Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Marian Bergeson Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Capistrano 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 Marian Bergeson Elementary
How many students attend Marian Bergeson Elementary?
Marian Bergeson Elementary has 423 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Laguna Niguel, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Marian Bergeson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Marian Bergeson Elementary is 20.1:1, which is 7% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 28% 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 Marian Bergeson Elementary?
24.1% of students at Marian Bergeson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Marian Bergeson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Marian Bergeson Elementary is Asian at 34.3% of enrollment, in Laguna Niguel, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Marian Bergeson Elementary?
Marian Bergeson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical 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 Marian Bergeson Elementary rank among elementary schools in Laguna Niguel?
By Resource Investment Index, Marian Bergeson Elementary ranks #1 of 8 elementary schools in Laguna Niguel, 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 Laguna Niguel on the city page.
Is Marian Bergeson Elementary a good school?
Marian Bergeson Elementary earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools. 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 Capistrano Unified?
Besides Marian Bergeson Elementary, 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.
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.