Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 59 schools in district

Richard Henry Dana Elementary

24242 La Cresta Dr., Dana Point, CA 92629Capistrano Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–05Non-Charter
294
Students
Total enrolled
$15,077
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 5% vs nat'l
24.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 60% vs nat'l
51/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 294 students in grades KG–05 in Dana Point, California.
Near-average funding
District spends $15,077 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 51th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Richard Henry Dana Elementary is a mid-sized elementary in Dana Point, California, serving grades KG–05 with 294 students. The district invests $15,077 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 24.6:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Richard Henry Dana Elementary

294
Total Students
24.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
60%
Free Lunch
12
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution142 male · 152 female
48%
52%
Male 48%Female 52%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility60%
National avg 52% · 176 students
Student Composition
34%
58%
Asian1%
White34%
Hispanic / Latino58%
Multiracial7%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 060744000699

Academic Outcomes at Richard Henry Dana Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
51
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 51th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 81th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 92629

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,077Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$15,077
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,634
Student Support$2,865
Administration$1,809
Operations$2,262
Other$1,508
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $15,077 spent per student, an estimated $6,679 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
31%
61%
State government
31.0%
Local (property tax)
61.2%
Federal programs
7.7%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 24.6:1 student-teacher ratio — larger classes than the national average of 15.4:1
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Oso Grande ElementaryEsenciaVista del Mar ElementaryLas Palmas Elementary
+10 more
↓
Middle
Ladera Ranch MiddleMarco Forster MiddleNewhart MiddleDon Juan Avila Middle
+6 more
↓
High School
San Juan Hills HighSan Clemente HighAliso Niguel HighTesoro High
+2 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 05
Location—
CountyOrange County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictCapistrano Unified →
Phone: (949)496-5784
NCES ID: 060744000699
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Dana Point seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Capistrano Unified
High
San Juan Hills High
2,857 students · 09–12
● 49 opp35% FRL
High
San Clemente High
2,838 students · 09–12
● 51 opp36% FRL
High
Aliso Niguel High
2,774 students · 09–12
● 53 opp30% FRL
High
Tesoro High
2,217 students · 09–12
21% FRL
High
Capistrano Valley High
2,029 students · 09–12
● 48 opp39% FRL
High
Dana Hills High
1,965 students · 09–12
● 51 opp39% FRL
Mid
Ladera Ranch Middle
1,196 students · 06–08
19% FRL
Mid
Marco Forster Middle
1,082 students · 06–08
● 49 opp70% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
24242 La Cresta Dr., Dana Point, CA 92629
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.