Enrollment
2,307
California · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Irvine, CA
University High
Federal NCES profile for University High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 068450007067
👥 S:T ratio 0
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 75
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
University High earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #6 of 8
- high schools in Irvine · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 28.5:1
- large classes for California
- 20.5%
- free-lunch eligible
University High has class sizes larger than 94% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, University High ranks #6 of 8 high schools in Irvine, CA.
School address
District: Irvine Unified · California
NCES ID 068450007067 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
81.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
28.5:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+33% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
20.5%
vs 55.5% California avg
-63% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How University High compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at University High
University High is a large high school in Irvine, California, enrolling 2,307 students.
Class loads run heavy: 28.5:1 is larger than about 94% of California schools and 33% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 20.5% free-meal eligibility runs 63% below the California average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 98% of state schools at 2,307 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 245 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #140.
Its student body is led by Asian (44%) and White (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 24 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 385 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
10.1% 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.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Irvine's high schools, it stands alongside Arnold O. Beckman High (2,776 students): University High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (28.5:1 vs 26.4:1).
Irvine Unified also operates Portola High (2,693 students) and Northwood High (2,244 students) alongside University High.
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 University High compares
University High on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 28.5:1 | ▲ 33% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.5% | ▼ 63% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,307 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
28.5:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,307
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
20.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% 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
28.5:1
students per teacher
- 33% above state mean
Top 94% in California - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
10.1%
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
$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
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 385 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 44.2%
White 31.6%
Hispanic or Latino 12.2%
Two or More 9.2%
African American 2.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 44.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.1, University High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 24
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Irvine Unified, which includes University High.
$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 University High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portola High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwood High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Woodbridge High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Irvine High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sierra Vista Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to University High'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
- 2,244
- 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
- Enrollment
- 1,282
- Students per teacher
- 31.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar high schools in Irvine
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Arnold O. Beckman High
Standard public school
2,776 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Portola High
Standard public school
2,693 students 32.4:1 students per teacher
Northwood High
Standard public school
2,244 students 27.7:1 students per teacher
Woodbridge High
Standard public school
2,232 students 24:1 students per teacher
Irvine High
Standard public school
1,964 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Irvine Adult Transition Programs
Special-education school
117 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~2,307 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on University High's federal record.
- Compare University High 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 University High
How many students attend University High?
University High has 2,307 students enrolled. It is a high school in Irvine, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at University High?
The student-teacher ratio at University High is 28.5:1, which is 33% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 82% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at University High?
20.5% of students at University High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of University High?
The largest demographic group at University High is Asian at 44.2% of enrollment, in Irvine, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for University High?
University High has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does University High rank among high schools in Irvine?
By Resource Investment Index, University High ranks #6 of 8 high 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 high schools in Irvine on the city page.
Is University High a good school?
University High earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California. 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 University High, Irvine Unified also operates Portola High (2,693 students), Northwood High (2,244 students), and Woodbridge High (2,232 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.