Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 33 schools in district

Serrano Intermediate

24642 Jeronimo Rd., Lake Forest, CA 92630Saddleback Valley Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 07–08Non-Charter
977
Students
Total enrolled
$14,959
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
22.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 49% vs nat'l
47/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 977 students in grades 07–08 in Lake Forest, California.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,959 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 47th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Serrano Intermediate is a large middle in Lake Forest, California, serving grades 07–08 with 977 students. The district invests $14,959 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 22.9:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 48% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Serrano Intermediate

977
Total Students
22.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
48%
Free Lunch
43
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (07–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution520 male · 455 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility48%
National avg 52% · 467 students
Student Composition
13%
37%
41%
Asian13%
White37%
Hispanic / Latino41%
Black2%
Multiracial6%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 063386005314

Academic Outcomes at Serrano Intermediate

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
47
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 47th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 67th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 92630

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,959Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,959
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,582
Student Support$2,842
Administration$1,795
Operations$2,244
Other$1,496
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,959 spent per student, an estimated $6,627 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
30%
63%
State government
29.5%
Local (property tax)
62.5%
Federal programs
7.9%
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
  • 22.9:1 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
Foothill Ranch ElementaryMelinda Heights ElementaryRalph A. Gates DLI Magnet ElementaryPortola Hills Elementary
+17 more
↓
Middle
Rancho Santa Margarita IntermediateLa Paz IntermediateLos Alisos Intermediate
↓
High School
Trabuco Hills HighEl Toro HighMission Viejo HighLaguna Hills High
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades07 – 08
Location—
CountyOrange County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictSaddleback Valley Unified →
Phone: (949)586-3221
NCES ID: 063386005314
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Lake Forest 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 Saddleback Valley Unified
High
Trabuco Hills High
2,579 students · 09–12
● 47 opp37% FRL
High
El Toro High
2,031 students · 09–12
● 47 opp49% FRL
High
Mission Viejo High
1,646 students · 09–12
● 47 opp41% FRL
High
Laguna Hills High
1,434 students · 09–12
● 55 opp53% FRL
Elem
Foothill Ranch Elementary
1,056 students · KG–06
● 47 opp27% FRL
Mid
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
1,041 students · 07–08
34% FRL
Elem
Melinda Heights Elementary
959 students · KG–06
25% FRL
Elem
Ralph A. Gates DLI Magnet Elementary
940 students · KG–06
● 47 opp62% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
24642 Jeronimo Rd., Lake Forest, CA 92630
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.