Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 41 schools in district

McPherson Magnet

333 S. Prospect St., Orange, CA 92869Orange Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–08Non-Charter
848
Students
Total enrolled
$16,323
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 14% vs nat'l
26.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 69% vs nat'l
52/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 848 students in grades KG–08 in Orange, California.
14% above average funding
District spends $16,323 per pupil, 14% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 52th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

McPherson Magnet is a large elementary in Orange, California, serving grades KG–08 with 848 students. The district invests $16,323 per student — 14% above the national average of $14,347, with a 26.1:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at McPherson Magnet

848
Total Students
26.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
40%
Free Lunch
33
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution432 male · 416 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility40%
National avg 52% · 342 students
Student Composition
12%
26%
53%
Asian12%
White26%
Hispanic / Latino53%
Black1%
Multiracial7%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 062865007195

Academic Outcomes at McPherson Magnet

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
52
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 52th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 86th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 92869

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,323Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$16,323
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,182
Student Support$3,101
Administration$1,959
Operations$2,448
Other$1,632
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $16,323 spent per student, an estimated $7,231 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
35%
54%
State government
35.0%
Local (property tax)
53.9%
Federal programs
11.1%
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
  • 26.1:1 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
Crescent ElementaryVilla Park ElementaryLampson ElementaryRunning Springs Academy
+18 more
↓
Middle
El Rancho CharterCerro Villa MiddlePortola MiddleYorba Middle
↓
High School
Canyon HighVilla Park HighEl Modena HighOrange High
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 08
Location—
CountyOrange County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictOrange Unified →
Phone: (714)997-6384
NCES ID: 062865007195
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Orange 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 Orange Unified
High
Canyon High
2,131 students · 09–12
● 55 opp28% FRL
High
Villa Park High
2,110 students · 09–12
● 56 opp54% FRL
High
El Modena High
2,040 students · 09–12
● 52 opp67% FRL
High
Orange High
1,807 students · 09–12
● 54 opp89% FRL
Mid
El Rancho Charter
1,108 students · 07–08
● 57 opp30% FRL
Elem
Crescent Elementary
784 students · KG–06
● 55 opp21% FRL
Mid
Cerro Villa Middle
750 students · 07–08
● 56 opp59% FRL
Elem
Villa Park Elementary
628 students · KG–06
● 56 opp27% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
333 S. Prospect St., Orange, CA 92869
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.