- Enrollment
- 2,475
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Melinda Heights Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Melinda Heights 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 063386007200
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Melinda Heights Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of California schools.
- #1 of 6
- elementary schools in Rancho Santa Margarita · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.7:1
- large classes for California
- 15.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Melinda Heights Elementary has class sizes larger than 84% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Melinda Heights Elementary ranks #1 of 6 elementary schools in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.
School address
District: Saddleback Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 063386007200 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
Melinda Heights Elementary held near 950 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.5 → 32.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 063386007200 · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
950 enr · 25.7:1 · 15.0% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Trabuco Hills High (2,475 students)
Melinda Heights Elementary held near 950 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.5 → 32.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Melinda Heights 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 950
Melinda Heights Elementary
950 students
What this shows Melinda Heights Elementary reports 950 students on the CCD universe file.
How Melinda Heights Elementary compares
Melinda Heights 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 | 25.7:1 | ▲ 20% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.0% | ▼ 73% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 950 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.7:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
950
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
15.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% 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
25.7:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 84% in California - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
15.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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 + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 51.3%
Hispanic or Latino 23.8%
Asian 13.7%
Two or More 10.1%
African American 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 51.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.1, Melinda Heights 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 Melinda Heights Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trabuco Hills High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| El Toro High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mission Viejo High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Laguna Hills High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Melinda Heights 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 Rancho Santa Margarita
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Trabuco Mesa Elementary
Standard public school
640 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Arroyo Vista Elementary
Standard public school
508 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Cielo Vista Elementary
Standard public school
487 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Las Flores Elementary
Standard public school
328 students 23.4:1 students per teacher
Tijeras Creek Elementary
Standard public school
315 students 22.5:1 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 (~950 students)
Frequently asked questions about Melinda Heights Elementary
How many students attend Melinda Heights Elementary?
Melinda Heights Elementary has 950 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. CCD year-over-year: 959 (2022-23) → 950 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Melinda Heights Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Melinda Heights Elementary is 25.7:1, which is 20% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 64% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Melinda Heights Elementary?
15.0% of students at Melinda Heights Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Melinda Heights Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Melinda Heights Elementary is White at 51.3% of enrollment, in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Melinda Heights Elementary?
Melinda Heights 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 Melinda Heights Elementary rank among elementary schools in Rancho Santa Margarita?
By Resource Investment Index, Melinda Heights Elementary ranks #1 of 6 elementary schools in Rancho Santa Margarita, 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 Rancho Santa Margarita on the city page.
What other schools are in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Besides Melinda Heights 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.