Enrollment
652
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Irvine, CA
South Lake Middle
Federal NCES profile for South Lake Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 068450003493
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Lake Middle earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #5 of 6
- middle schools in Irvine · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.1:1
- large classes for California
- 29.8%
- free-lunch eligible
South Lake Middle has class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Lake Middle ranks #5 of 6 middle schools in Irvine, CA.
School address
District: Irvine Unified · California
NCES ID 068450003493 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.1:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
29.8%
vs 55.5% California avg
-46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Lake Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Lake Middle
South Lake Middle is a mid-sized middle school in Irvine, California, enrolling 652 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.1:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 29.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 652 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 1,389 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #343.
Its student body is led by Asian (37%) and White (31%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 386 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
15.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
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): South Lake Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.1:1 vs 31.3:1).
Irvine Unified also operates Portola High (2,693 students) and University High (2,307 students) alongside South Lake 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 South Lake Middle compares
South Lake 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 | 24.1:1 | ▲ 12% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.8% | ▼ 46% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 652 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.1:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
652
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
29.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
24.1:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 72% in California - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
15.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors1.7 FTE
Per 386 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 27 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 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 36.7%
White 31.4%
Hispanic or Latino 16.6%
Two or More 11.0%
African American 3.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 36.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.6, South Lake 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 South Lake 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 South Lake Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portola High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| University High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwood High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Woodbridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Irvine High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Lake 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
Rancho San Joaquin Middle
Standard public school
860 students 26.9:1 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 (~652 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Lake Middle's federal record.
- Compare South Lake 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 South Lake Middle
How many students attend South Lake Middle?
South Lake Middle has 652 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Irvine, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Lake Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at South Lake Middle is 24.1:1, which is 12% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 54% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Lake Middle?
29.8% of students at South Lake Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Lake Middle?
The largest demographic group at South Lake Middle is Asian at 36.7% of enrollment, in Irvine, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Lake Middle?
South Lake Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 South Lake Middle rank among middle schools in Irvine?
By Resource Investment Index, South Lake Middle ranks #5 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 South Lake Middle a good school?
South Lake Middle earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% 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 South Lake 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.