Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 38 schools in district

Bernardo Heights Middle

12990 Paseo Lucido, San Diego, CA 92128Poway Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
1,416
Students
Total enrolled
$16,206
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 13% vs nat'l
23.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 49% vs nat'l
51/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 1,416 students in grades 06–08 in San Diego, California.
13% above average funding
District spends $16,206 per pupil, 13% more than 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

Bernardo Heights Middle is a very large middle in San Diego, California, serving grades 06–08 with 1,416 students. The district invests $16,206 per student — 13% above the national average of $14,347, with a 23.0:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. With only 14% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Bernardo Heights Middle

1,416
Total Students
23.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
14%
Free Lunch
62
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution728 male · 681 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility14%
National avg 52% · 195 students
Student Composition
24%
42%
18%
12%
Asian24%
White42%
Hispanic / Latino18%
Black3%
Multiracial12%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 063153009425

Academic Outcomes at Bernardo Heights Middle

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 92128

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,206Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$16,206
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,131
Student Support$3,079
Administration$1,945
Operations$2,431
Other$1,621
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $16,206 spent per student, an estimated $7,179 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
39%
54%
State government
39.4%
Local (property tax)
54.2%
Federal programs
6.4%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 14% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 23.0:1 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
Design 39 CampusDel Sur ElementaryChaparral ElementaryWestwood Elementary
+16 more
↓
Middle
Oak Valley MiddleBlack Mountain MiddleTwin Peaks MiddleMesa Verde Middle
+1 more
↓
High School
Del Norte HighRancho Bernardo HighWestview HighPoway High
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountySan Diego County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictPoway Unified →
Phone: (858)485-4850
NCES ID: 063153009425
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in San Diego seeking a public middle 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 Poway Unified
High
Del Norte High
2,531 students · 09–12
10% FRL
High
Rancho Bernardo High
2,318 students · 09–12
● 51 opp14% FRL
High
Westview High
2,257 students · 09–12
● 55 opp10% FRL
High
Poway High
2,233 students · 09–12
● 53 opp22% FRL
High
Mt. Carmel High
1,865 students · 09–12
● 55 opp17% FRL
Mid
Oak Valley Middle
1,515 students · 06–08
9% FRL
Elem
Design 39 Campus
1,226 students · KG–08
6% FRL
Mid
Black Mountain Middle
1,129 students · 06–08
● 55 opp19% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
12990 Paseo Lucido, San Diego, CA 92128
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.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
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.