Enrollment
860
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Irvine, CA
Rancho San Joaquin Middle
Federal NCES profile for Rancho San Joaquin Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 068450007062
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 4
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rancho San Joaquin Middle earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 6
- middle schools in Irvine · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 26.9:1
- large classes for California
- 18.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Rancho San Joaquin Middle has class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rancho San Joaquin Middle ranks #6 of 6 middle schools in Irvine, CA.
School address
District: Irvine Unified · California
NCES ID 068450007062 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
26.9:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
18.8%
vs 55.5% California avg
-66% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Rancho San Joaquin Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Rancho San Joaquin Middle
Rancho San Joaquin Middle is a lower-poverty, large middle school in Irvine, California, enrolling 860 students.
Class loads run heavy: 26.9:1 is larger than about 89% of California schools and 25% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 18.8% free-meal eligibility runs 66% below the California average.
Enrollment of 860 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 983 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #373.
Its student body is led by Asian (50%) and White (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 478 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.8% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Irvine Unified spends $13,289 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Irvine's middle schools, it stands alongside Sierra Vista Middle (1,282 students): Rancho San Joaquin Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (26.9:1 vs 31.3:1).
Irvine Unified also operates Portola High (2,693 students) and University High (2,307 students) alongside Rancho San Joaquin Middle.
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 Rancho San Joaquin Middle compares
Rancho San Joaquin Middle on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 26.9:1 | ▲ 25% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.8% | ▼ 66% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 860 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.9:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
860
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
18.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 66% 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
26.9:1
students per teacher
- 25% 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
8.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,289
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
Counselors1.8 FTE
Per 478 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 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 49.8%
White 26.0%
Hispanic or Latino 12.2%
Two or More 9.0%
African American 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 49.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.1, Rancho San Joaquin Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Irvine Unified, which includes Rancho San Joaquin Middle.
$13,289
Per student
-20%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 62.4%
State 31.0%
Federal 6.6%
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 Rancho San Joaquin Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portola High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| University High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Woodbridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Irvine High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rancho San Joaquin Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,693
- Students per teacher
- 32.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,307
- Students per teacher
- 28.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,244
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,232
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,964
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Irvine
5 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Sierra Vista Middle
Standard public school
1,282 students 31.3:1 students per teacher
Jeffrey Trail Middle
Standard public school
1,049 students 26.9:1 students per teacher
South Lake Middle
Standard public school
652 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Lakeside Middle
Standard public school
629 students 25.2:1 students per teacher
Venado Middle
Standard public school
506 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~860 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~26.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Rancho San Joaquin Middle's federal record.
- Compare Rancho San Joaquin Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Irvine 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 Rancho San Joaquin Middle
How many students attend Rancho San Joaquin Middle?
Rancho San Joaquin Middle has 860 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Irvine, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rancho San Joaquin Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Rancho San Joaquin Middle is 26.9:1, which is 25% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 71% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rancho San Joaquin Middle?
18.8% of students at Rancho San Joaquin Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rancho San Joaquin Middle?
The largest demographic group at Rancho San Joaquin Middle is Asian at 49.8% of enrollment, in Irvine, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rancho San Joaquin Middle?
Rancho San Joaquin Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Rancho San Joaquin Middle rank among middle schools in Irvine?
By Resource Investment Index, Rancho San Joaquin Middle ranks #6 of 6 middle schools in Irvine, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Irvine on the city page.
Is Rancho San Joaquin Middle a good school?
Rancho San Joaquin Middle earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. 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 Irvine Unified?
Besides Rancho San Joaquin Middle, Irvine Unified also operates Portola High (2,693 students), University High (2,307 students), and Northwood High (2,244 students). See the Irvine 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.