Very Good
#2370 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 25% in state
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
Middle School · Saddleback Valley Unified · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
A Saddleback Valley Unified middle school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
21931 Alma Aldea, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
- Math 61% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 64% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 23.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate score 63% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 5 points since 2018, to 63% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 28 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
32.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Los Angeles map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 70Very Walkable
- Bike 56Bikeable
- City Safety: Average607/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Rancho Santa Margarita), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$142,015
Median home value
$857,100
Median rent
$2,508/mo
College educated
48.6%
Homeownership
69.6%
Poverty rate
5.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92688; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Vista MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 9.1 | 6–8 | 2.0 mi | 330 | Compare → |
| Heritage Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | PK–12 | 3.9 mi | 254 | Compare → |
| Las Flores MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.7 | 6–8 | 4.5 mi | 559 | Compare → |
| Fred Newhart MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | 6–8 | 4.7 mi | 1,083 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Saddleback Valley Unified
- Schools in district
- 34
- Rank in district
- #5 of 33
- District spending per student
- $15,539NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate is listed in Saddleback Valley Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate is a public middle school in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, part of Saddleback Valley Unified, serving approximately 1,116 students in grades 7th-8th with a 23.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,370 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
What grades does Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate serve?
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate?
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate has an enrollment of approximately 1,116 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate?
The student-teacher ratio at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate is 23.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate rank in CA?
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate ranks #2,370 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate's MySchoolScout rating?
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate a charter school?
No, Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate a Title I school?
No, Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate?
32.8% of students at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 7th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,116
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 23.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 47
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Orange County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.1%
- Phone
- (949) 459-8253
- Area population (ZIP 92688)
- 43,937
- Area average commute
- 26.3 min
- Area median age
- 39
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 92688; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.