- Enrollment
- 2,740
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Laguna Niguel, CA
Niguel Hills Middle
Federal NCES profile for Niguel Hills Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 060744000696
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Niguel Hills Middle earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of California schools.
- #1 of 9
- public schools in Laguna Niguel · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.7:1
- small classes for California
- 33.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Niguel Hills Middle has class sizes smaller than 75% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Niguel Hills Middle ranks #1 of 9 public schools in Laguna Niguel, CA.
School address
District: Capistrano Unified · California
NCES ID 060744000696 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Niguel Hills Middle held near 733 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 37.2 → 38.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 060744000696 · Laguna Niguel, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
693 enr · 18.7:1 · 33.8% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: San Clemente High (2,740 students)
Niguel Hills Middle held near 733 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE added 37.2 → 38.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Niguel Hills 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 693
Niguel Hills Middle
693 students
What this shows Niguel Hills Middle reports 693 students on the CCD universe file.
How Niguel Hills Middle compares
Niguel Hills 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 | 18.7:1 | ▼ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.8% | ▼ 39% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 693 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.7:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
693
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
18.7:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 25% in California - lower ratio than 75% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
24.2%
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
$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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 347 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.4%
Hispanic or Latino 30.6%
Two or More 7.6%
Asian 5.2%
African American 1.2%
Largest group: White at 55.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.1, Niguel Hills Middle is more mixed than 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 Niguel Hills Middle 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 | 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Niguel Hills 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 (~693 students)
Frequently asked questions about Niguel Hills Middle
How many students attend Niguel Hills Middle?
Niguel Hills Middle has 693 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Laguna Niguel, CA. CCD year-over-year: 721 (2022-23) → 733 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Niguel Hills Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Niguel Hills Middle is 18.7:1, which is 13% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 19% 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 Niguel Hills Middle?
33.8% of students at Niguel Hills Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Niguel Hills Middle?
The largest demographic group at Niguel Hills Middle is White at 55.4% of enrollment, in Laguna Niguel, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Niguel Hills Middle?
Niguel Hills Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Niguel Hills Middle rank among public schools in Laguna Niguel?
By Resource Investment Index, Niguel Hills Middle ranks #1 of 9 public 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 public schools in Laguna Niguel on the city page.
What other schools are in Capistrano Unified?
Besides Niguel Hills 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.