- Enrollment
- 2,475
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Lake Forest, CA
Rancho Canada Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Rancho Canada Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063386005311
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rancho Canada Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 7
- elementary schools in Lake Forest · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.3:1
- large classes for California
- 22.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Rancho Canada Elementary has class sizes larger than 81% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rancho Canada Elementary ranks #1 of 7 elementary schools in Lake Forest, CA.
School address
District: Saddleback Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 063386005311 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Rancho Canada Elementary held near 630 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 25.4 → 26.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 063386005311 · Lake Forest, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
633 enr · 25.3:1 · 22.8% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Trabuco Hills High (2,475 students)
Rancho Canada Elementary held near 630 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE added 25.4 → 26.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Rancho Canada 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 633
Rancho Canada Elementary
633 students
What this shows Rancho Canada Elementary reports 633 students on the CCD universe file.
How Rancho Canada Elementary compares
Rancho Canada 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 | 25.3:1 | ▲ 18% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.8% | ▼ 59% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 633 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.3:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
633
Bigger than 75% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% 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
25.3:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 81% in California - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
13.1%
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
$15,515
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
2
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 39.8%
Hispanic or Latino 29.5%
Asian 18.8%
Two or More 10.3%
African American 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 39.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.8, Rancho Canada 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 Rancho Canada 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 | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Laguna Hills High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rancho Canada 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 Lake Forest
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ralph a. Gates Dli Magnet Elementary
Standard public school
896 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Lake Forest Elementary
Standard public school
640 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley
Standard public school
565 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
La Madera Elementary
Standard public school
554 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Santiago Steam Magnet Elementary
Standard public school
517 students 27.2:1 students per teacher
Olivewood Elementary
Standard public school
396 students 22:1 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 (~633 students)
Frequently asked questions about Rancho Canada Elementary
How many students attend Rancho Canada Elementary?
Rancho Canada Elementary has 633 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Lake Forest, CA. CCD year-over-year: 632 (2022-23) → 630 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rancho Canada Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Rancho Canada Elementary is 25.3:1, which is 18% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 61% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rancho Canada Elementary?
22.8% of students at Rancho Canada Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rancho Canada Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Rancho Canada Elementary is White at 39.8% of enrollment, in Lake Forest, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rancho Canada Elementary?
Rancho Canada Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Rancho Canada Elementary rank among elementary schools in Lake Forest?
By Resource Investment Index, Rancho Canada Elementary ranks #1 of 7 elementary schools in Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest on the city page.
What other schools are in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Besides Rancho Canada 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.