- Enrollment
- 2,740
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Tijeras Creek Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Tijeras Creek Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060744008541
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Tijeras Creek Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in Rancho Santa Margarita · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.5:1
- students per teacher
- 12.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Tijeras Creek Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Tijeras Creek Elementary ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.
School address
District: Capistrano Unified · California
NCES ID 060744008541 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Tijeras Creek Elementary shrank from 340 students in 2022-23 to 318 in 2023-24 (-6.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 14.0 → 13.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-22 students YoY 060744008541 · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
315 enr · 22.5:1 · 12.4% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: San Clemente High (2,740 students)
Tijeras Creek Elementary shrank from 340 students in 2022-23 to 318 in 2023-24 (-6.5%). Teacher FTE lost 14.0 → 13.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Tijeras Creek Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- San Clemente H
San Clemente High
2,740 students
- San Juan Hills
San Juan Hills High
2,641 students
- Aliso Niguel H
Aliso Niguel High
2,563 students
- Tesoro High
Tesoro High
2,030 students
- Capistrano Val
Capistrano Valley High
1,991 students
- This school 315
Tijeras Creek Elementary
315 students
What this shows Tijeras Creek Elementary reports 315 students on the CCD universe file.
How Tijeras Creek Elementary compares
Tijeras Creek Elementary is a shrinking 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 | 22.5:1 | ▲ 5% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 12.4% | ▼ 78% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 315 | top 72% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.5:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
315
Bigger than 34% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
12.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 78% 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
22.5:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 58% in California - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
18.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,820
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 315 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 50.6%
Hispanic or Latino 18.8%
Two or More 17.2%
Asian 12.7%
African American 0.6%
Largest group: White at 50.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.3, Tijeras Creek Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Capistrano Unified reports $15,820 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Tijeras Creek Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Clemente High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| San Juan Hills High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Aliso Niguel High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tesoro High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Capistrano Valley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Tijeras Creek Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,641
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,563
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,991
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in Rancho Santa Margarita
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Melinda Heights Elementary
Standard public school
950 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
Trabuco Mesa Elementary
Standard public school
640 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Arroyo Vista Elementary
Standard public school
508 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Cielo Vista Elementary
Standard public school
487 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Las Flores Elementary
Standard public school
328 students 23.4:1 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 (~315 students)
Frequently asked questions about Tijeras Creek Elementary
How many students attend Tijeras Creek Elementary?
Tijeras Creek Elementary has 315 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. CCD year-over-year: 340 (2022-23) → 318 (2023-24), down 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Tijeras Creek Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Tijeras Creek Elementary is 22.5:1, which is 5% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Tijeras Creek Elementary?
12.4% of students at Tijeras Creek Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Tijeras Creek Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Tijeras Creek Elementary is White at 50.6% 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 66.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Tijeras Creek Elementary?
Tijeras Creek Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Tijeras Creek Elementary rank among elementary schools in Rancho Santa Margarita?
By Resource Investment Index, Tijeras Creek Elementary ranks #3 of 6 elementary 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 elementary schools in Rancho Santa Margarita on the city page.
What other schools are in Capistrano Unified?
Besides Tijeras Creek Elementary, Capistrano Unified also operates San Clemente High (2,740 students), San Juan Hills High (2,641 students), and Aliso Niguel High (2,563 students). See the Capistrano Unified district page for the complete list.