- Enrollment
- 2,183
- Students per teacher
- 27.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Orange, CA
Mcpherson Magnet
Federal NCES profile for Mcpherson Magnet, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062865007195
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcpherson Magnet earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of California schools.
- #2 of 17
- elementary schools in Orange · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 27:1
- large classes for California
- 25.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcpherson Magnet has class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mcpherson Magnet ranks #2 of 17 elementary schools in Orange, CA.
School address
District: Orange Unified · California
NCES ID 062865007195 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Mcpherson Magnet held near 853 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 32.5 → 31.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 062865007195 · Orange, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
863 enr · 27:1 · 25.4% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Canyon High (2,183 students)
Mcpherson Magnet held near 853 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 32.5 → 31.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Mcpherson Magnet in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Canyon High
Canyon High
2,183 students
- Villa Park Hig
Villa Park High
2,023 students
- El Modena High
El Modena High
1,795 students
- Orange High
Orange High
1,728 students
- El Rancho Char
El Rancho Charter
1,144 students
- This school 863
Mcpherson Magnet
863 students
What this shows Mcpherson Magnet reports 863 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mcpherson Magnet compares
Mcpherson Magnet 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 | 27:1 | ▲ 26% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.4% | ▼ 54% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 863 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
863
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% 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
27:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 89% in California - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
11.5%
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
$15,133
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 863 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 53.3%
White 25.3%
Asian 11.9%
Two or More 8.1%
African American 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 53.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.1, Mcpherson Magnet is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Orange Unified reports $15,133 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mcpherson Magnet Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Villa Park High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| El Modena High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Orange High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| El Rancho Charter | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mcpherson Magnet's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,023
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,795
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,728
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 29.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Orange
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
California Iinspire Academy
Standard public school
699 students 33.3:1 students per teacher
Fletcher Mandarin Language & Gate Academy
Standard public school
493 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science
Standard public school
430 students 30.7:1 students per teacher
Palmyra Elementary
Standard public school
429 students 25.2:1 students per teacher
Cambridge Elementary
Standard public school
415 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
West Orange Elementary
Standard public school
410 students 31.5:1 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 (~863 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mcpherson Magnet
How many students attend Mcpherson Magnet?
Mcpherson Magnet has 863 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Orange, CA. CCD year-over-year: 848 (2022-23) → 853 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcpherson Magnet?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcpherson Magnet is 27:1, which is 26% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 72% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mcpherson Magnet?
25.4% of students at Mcpherson Magnet are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mcpherson Magnet?
The largest demographic group at Mcpherson Magnet is Hispanic or Latino at 53.3% of enrollment, in Orange, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcpherson Magnet?
Mcpherson Magnet has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Mcpherson Magnet rank among elementary schools in Orange?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcpherson Magnet ranks #2 of 17 elementary schools in Orange, 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 Orange on the city page.
What other schools are in Orange Unified?
Besides Mcpherson Magnet, Orange Unified also operates Canyon High (2,183 students), Villa Park High (2,023 students), and El Modena High (1,795 students). See the Orange Unified district page for the complete list.