Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 51 schools in district

Pio Pico Elementary

931 W. Highland, Santa Ana, CA 92703Santa Ana Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–05Non-Charter
436
Students
Total enrolled
$20,962
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 46% vs nat'l
21.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 41% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 436 students in grades KG–05 in Santa Ana, California.
46% above average funding
District spends $20,962 per pupil, 46% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Pio Pico Elementary is a mid-sized elementary in Santa Ana, California, serving grades KG–05 with 436 students. The district invests $20,962 per student — 46% above the national average of $14,347, with a 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 90% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Pio Pico Elementary

436
Total Students
21.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
90%
Free Lunch
20
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution215 male · 221 female
49%
51%
Male 49%Female 51%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility90%
National avg 52% · 393 students
Student Composition
99%
Hispanic / Latino99%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 063531010265

Academic Outcomes at Pio Pico Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 62th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 92703

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$20,962Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$20,962
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$9,223
Student Support$3,983
Administration$2,515
Operations$3,144
Other$2,096
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $20,962 spent per student, an estimated $9,286 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
55%
26%
State government
54.7%
Local (property tax)
26.0%
Federal programs
19.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $20,962/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 90% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
McFadden Institute of TechnologySantiago ElementaryRomero-Cruz AcademyGreenville Fundamental Elementary
+15 more
↓
Middle
Gonzalo Felicitas Mendez Fundamental IntermediateDouglas MacArthur Fundamental IntermediateRaymond A. Villa Fundamental IntermediateGerald P. Carr Intermediate
+1 more
↓
High School
Santa Ana HighSegerstrom HighValley HighHector G. Godinez
+2 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 05
Location—
CountyOrange County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictSanta Ana Unified →
Phone: (714)972-7500
NCES ID: 063531010265
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Santa Ana seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Santa Ana Unified
High
Santa Ana High
3,135 students · 09–12
● 44 opp71% FRL
High
Segerstrom High
2,489 students · 09–12
● 43 opp63% FRL
High
Valley High
2,197 students · 09–12
● 43 opp73% FRL
High
Hector G. Godinez
2,026 students · 09–12
● 43 opp72% FRL
High
Century High
1,708 students · 09–12
● 46 opp70% FRL
High
Saddleback High
1,597 students · 07–12
● 44 opp70% FRL
Mid
Gonzalo Felicitas Mendez Fundamental Intermediate
1,293 students · 06–08
● 42 opp75% FRL
Mid
Douglas MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate
1,145 students · 06–08
● 44 opp66% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
931 W. Highland, Santa Ana, CA 92703
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.