Enrollment
548
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Irvine, CA
Santiago Hills Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Santiago Hills Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 068450007064
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 80
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Santiago Hills Elementary earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of California schools.
- #4 of 35
- elementary schools in Irvine · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 30.4:1
- large classes for California
- 10.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Santiago Hills Elementary has class sizes larger than 96% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Santiago Hills Elementary ranks #4 of 35 elementary schools in Irvine, CA.
School address
District: Irvine Unified · California
NCES ID 068450007064 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
18.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
30.4:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+41% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
10.9%
vs 55.5% California avg
-80% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Santiago Hills Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Santiago Hills Elementary
Santiago Hills Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Irvine, California, enrolling 548 students.
Class loads run heavy: 30.4:1 is larger than about 96% of California schools and 41% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 10.9% free-meal eligibility runs 80% below the California average.
With 548 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 92% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 954 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #57, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Asian (67%) and White (15%) (diversity index 51/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.0% 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 elementary schools, it stands alongside Orchard Hills (1,373 students): Santiago Hills Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (30.4:1 vs 29.2:1).
Irvine Unified also operates Portola High (2,693 students) and University High (2,307 students) alongside Santiago Hills Elementary.
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 Santiago Hills Elementary compares
Santiago Hills Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 30.4:1 | ▲ 41% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.9% | ▼ 80% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 548 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
30.4:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
548
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
10.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 80% 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
30.4:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 96% in California - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
8.0%
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 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 67.0%
White 15.3%
Two or More 10.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%
African American 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Asian at 67.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.3, Santiago Hills Elementary 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 Santiago Hills Elementary.
$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 Santiago Hills Elementary 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 | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northwood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Woodbridge High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Irvine High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Santiago Hills Elementary'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 elementary schools in Irvine
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Orchard Hills
Standard public school
1,373 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Woodbury Elementary
Standard public school
1,095 students 31.3:1 students per teacher
Beacon Park
Standard public school
1,065 students 29.6:1 students per teacher
Stonegate Elementary
Standard public school
1,037 students 32.4:1 students per teacher
Cypress Village Elementary
Standard public school
1,007 students 28:1 students per teacher
Solis Park
Standard public school
972 students 60.8:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~548 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~30.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Santiago Hills Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Santiago Hills Elementary 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 Santiago Hills Elementary
How many students attend Santiago Hills Elementary?
Santiago Hills Elementary has 548 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Irvine, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santiago Hills Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Santiago Hills Elementary is 30.4:1, which is 41% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 94% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Santiago Hills Elementary?
10.9% of students at Santiago Hills Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Santiago Hills Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Santiago Hills Elementary is Asian at 67.0% of enrollment, in Irvine, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Santiago Hills Elementary?
Santiago Hills Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Santiago Hills Elementary rank among elementary schools in Irvine?
By Resource Investment Index, Santiago Hills Elementary ranks #4 of 35 elementary 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 elementary schools in Irvine on the city page.
Is Santiago Hills Elementary a good school?
Santiago Hills Elementary earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of 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 Santiago Hills Elementary, 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.