- Enrollment
- 2,475
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
Federal NCES profile for Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 063386002404
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 8
- public schools in Rancho Santa Margarita · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.6:1
- large classes for California
- 23.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate has class sizes larger than 83% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate ranks #6 of 8 public schools in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.
School address
District: Saddleback Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 063386002404 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+75 students YoY
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate grew from 1,041 students in 2022-23 to 1,116 in 2023-24 (+7.2%).
Teacher FTE added 45.1 → 47.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+75 students YoY 063386002404 · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
1,153 enr · 25.6:1 · 23.5% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Trabuco Hills High (2,475 students)
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate grew from 1,041 students in 2022-23 to 1,116 in 2023-24 (+7.2%). Teacher FTE added 45.1 → 47.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate 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
- This school
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
1,153 students
- Foothill Ranch
Foothill Ranch Elementary
990 students
What this shows Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate reports 1,153 students on the CCD universe file.
How Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate compares
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.6:1 | ▲ 19% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.5% | ▼ 58% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,153 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.6:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,153
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 58% 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
25.6:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 83% in California - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
12.9%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 577 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
38
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 45.9%
Hispanic or Latino 26.2%
Asian 15.6%
Two or More 10.7%
African American 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 45.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.5, Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate 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 Santa Margarita Intermediate 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 | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Foothill Ranch Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate'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
- 990
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar middle schools in Rancho Santa Margarita
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~1,153 students)
Frequently asked questions about Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
How many students attend Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate?
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate has 1,153 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,041 (2022-23) → 1,116 (2023-24), up 75.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate?
The student-teacher ratio at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate is 25.6:1, which is 19% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 63% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate?
23.5% of students at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate?
The largest demographic group at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate is White at 45.9% 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 68.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate?
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate rank among public schools in Rancho Santa Margarita?
By Resource Investment Index, Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate ranks #6 of 8 public 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 public schools in Rancho Santa Margarita on the city page.
What other schools are in Saddleback Valley Unified?
Besides Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate, 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.