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Melinda Heights Elementary School

21001 Rancho Trabuco
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

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Top 20%

Tel: (949) 888-7311

www.svusd.org

SAVE SCHOOL

Serving 950 students in grades Kindergarten-6, Melinda Heights Elementary School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).

The percentage of students achieving is 61% (which is higher than the California state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 67% (which is higher than the California state average of 47%).

The student-teacher ratio of 28:1 is higher than the California state level of 21:1.

Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the California state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Kindergarten-6
Enrollment: 950 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 28:1
Minority Enrollment: 49%
: Top 20% in CA
: 61% (Top 20%)
: 67% (Top 20%)
: 50-54% (Top 20%)
: Melinda Heights Elementary serves the western part of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, covering an attendance zone of approximately 2.2 square miles. Most families can expect a typical drive of about 5 to 10 minutes to the school, with an average distance of 1.1 miles from the school to the edge of the zone.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Melinda Heights Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

School Overview

Melinda Heights Elementary School's student population of 950 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 34 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Awards

Blue Ribbon School - Selected in 2005

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-6

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Melinda Heights Elementary School
Kind	120
1	107
2	123
3	156
4	142
5	141
6	161

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Total Students

950 students

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1998-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School
2025	950
2024	950
2023	959
2022	978
2021	972
2020	1,041
2019	1,010
2018	996
2017	1,030
2015	1,077
2014	1,114
2013	1,153
2012	1,222
2011	1,282
2010	1,282
2009	1,189
2008	1,197
2007	1,250
2006	1,311
2005	1,308
2004	1,328
2003	1,346
2002	1,369
2001	1,320
2000	1,277
1999	1,043
1998	719

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Total Classroom Teachers

34 teachers

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Showing 2014–2025. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1998-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School
2025	34
2024	33
2023	38
2022	38
2021	35
2019	30
2018	30
2017	36
2015	38
2014	38
2013	41
2012	41
2010	49
2009	47
2008	54
2007	53
2006	54
2005	53
2004	53
2003	59
2002	67
2001	65
2000	61
1999	48
1998	34

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Year Founded

1998

School Rankings

Melinda Heights Elementary School ranks within the top 20% of all 9,523 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Melinda Heights Elementary School is 0.66, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (CA)

#1251 out of 9523 schools
(Top 20%)

View Data

Showing 2011–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School
2023	#1251
2022	#1166
2019	#1141
2018	#954
2017	#807
2016	#604
2015	#660
2013	#581
2012	#755
2011	#794
2010	#640

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61%

34%

View Data

Showing 2011–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Comparison (2010-2023)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2023	61%	34%	50%
2022	64%	33%	50%
2019	66%	40%	53%
2018	67%	39%	52%
2017	70%	38%	51%
2016	70%	37%	50%
2015	70%	34%	48%
2013	83%	59%	73%
2012	79%	59%	73%
2011	81%	58%	74%
2010	81%	56%	69%

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67%

47%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2010-2022)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2022	67%	47%	59%
2019	72%	51%	64%
2018	73%	50%	52%
2017	73%	48%	64%
2016	78%	48%	65%
2015	71%	44%	62%
2013	86%	57%	73%
2012	87%	58%	75%
2011	82%	56%	75%
2010	84%	54%	73%

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50-54%

29%

Student-Teacher Ratio

28:1

21:1

View Data

Showing 2014–2025. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1998-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2025	28:1	21:1
2024	29:1	22:1
2023	25:1	22:1	23:1
2022	26:1	22:1	24:1
2021	28:1	22:1	25:1
2019	34:1	23:1	29:1
2018	33:1	23:1	26:1
2017	29:1	23:1	26:1
2015	28:1	24:1	27:1
2014	29:1	24:1	28:1
2013	28:1	24:1	27:1
2012	30:1	23:1	27:1
2010	26:1	21:1	25:1
2009	25:1	20:1	24:1
2008	22:1	18:1	22:1
2007	24:1	21:1	24:1
2006	24:1	20:1	24:1
2005	25:1	21:1	24:1
2004	25:1	21:1	25:1
2003	23:1	20:1	23:1
2002	20:1	20:1	22:1
2001	20:1	20:1	22:1
2000	21:1	21:1	22:1
1999	22:1	21:1	22:1
1998	21:1	21:1	21:1

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Asian

14%

12%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1998-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2025	14%	12%
2024	13%	12%
2023	12%	12%	12%
2022	12%	12%	13%
2021	13%	12%	13%
2020	12%	12%	12%
2019	12%	12%	12%
2018	12%	12%	12%
2017	11%	11%	12%
2015	11%	11%	12%
2014	11%	11%	10%
2013	11%	11%	12%
2012	11%	11%	10%
2011	10%	11%	10%
2010	10%	11%	10%
2009	13%	11%	12%
2008	13%	12%	11%
2007	13%	12%	11%
2006	11%	12%	11%
2005	11%	12%	12%
2004	11%	12%	11%
2003	11%	12%	11%
2002	10%	11%	11%
2001	10%	11%	11%
2000	10%	11%	11%
1999	9%	11%	11%
1998	9%	11%	11%

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Hispanic

24%

56%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1998-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2025	24%	56%
2024	25%	56%
2023	25%	55%	39%
2022	24%	56%	38%
2021	23%	56%	37%
2020	22%	55%	36%
2019	20%	55%	36%
2018	20%	54%	35%
2017	19%	54%	35%
2015	16%	54%	34%
2014	13%	53%	32%
2013	14%	53%	30%
2012	15%	52%	30%
2011	14%	51%	29%
2010	13%	50%	28%
2009	11%	49%	25%
2008	12%	50%	25%
2007	12%	49%	24%
2006	12%	48%	23%
2005	11%	47%	21%
2004	10%	46%	20%
2003	10%	45%	19%
2002	10%	44%	18%
2001	11%	43%	17%
2000	11%	42%	16%
1999	11%	41%	15%
1998	12%	40%	15%

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Black

View Data

Showing 2014–2025. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1998-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2025	1%	5%
2024	1%	5%
2023	1%	5%	1%
2022	1%	5%	1%
2021	1%	5%	1%
2019	1%	5%	1%
2018	1%	5%	1%
2017	1%	6%	1%
2015	2%	6%	1%
2014	1%	6%	2%
2013	1%	6%	1%
2012	1%	6%	2%
2011	1%	7%	2%
2010	2%	7%	2%
2009	2%	7%	2%
2008	2%	8%	2%
2007	1%	8%	2%
2006	1%	8%	2%
2005	1%	8%	2%
2004	2%	8%	2%
2003	1%	8%	2%
2002	2%	9%	2%
2001	1%	9%	2%
2000	3%	9%	2%
1999	2%	9%	2%
1998	2%	9%	2%

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White

51%

20%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1998-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2025	51%	20%
2024	51%	20%
2023	50%	21%	39%
2022	51%	21%	39%
2021	50%	22%	41%
2020	55%	22%	44%
2019	56%	23%	44%
2018	56%	23%	46%
2017	58%	24%	46%
2015	62%	25%	48%
2014	66%	25%	50%
2013	65%	25%	52%
2012	65%	26%	53%
2011	66%	27%	55%
2010	68%	27%	56%
2009	69%	28%	59%
2008	73%	29%	62%
2007	73%	30%	63%
2006	75%	31%	64%
2005	76%	32%	65%
2004	77%	33%	67%
2003	77%	34%	68%
2002	77%	35%	69%
2001	77%	36%	70%
2000	76%	37%	71%
1999	77%	38%	72%
1998	76%	39%	72%

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Two or more races

10%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 17-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2009-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2025	10%	6%
2024	10%	6%
2023	11%	6%	9%
2022	12%	5%	9%
2021	13%	5%	8%
2020	11%	5%	7%
2019	11%	4%	7%
2018	11%	4%	6%
2017	11%	4%	6%
2015	9%	3%	5%
2014	9%	3%	6%
2013	9%	3%	5%
2012	8%	3%	5%
2011	8%	3%	4%
2010	7%	3%	4%
2009	5%	3%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

49%

80%

0.66

0.63

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1998-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2025	0.66	0.63
2024	0.66	0.63
2023	0.67	0.64	0.68
2022	0.66	0.63	0.68
2021	0.67	0.62	0.68
2020	0.63	0.64	0.67
2019	0.63	0.63	0.67
2018	0.63	0.64	0.65
2017	0.61	0.64	0.65
2015	0.58	0.64	0.63
2014	0.53	0.65	0.64
2013	0.54	0.65	0.63
2012	0.54	0.65	0.62
2011	0.53	0.66	0.61
2010	0.51	0.67	0.60
2009	0.50	0.67	0.58
2008	0.44	0.65	0.55
2007	0.44	0.66	0.54
2006	0.41	0.66	0.53
2005	0.40	0.66	0.52
2004	0.39	0.67	0.51
2003	0.39	0.67	0.49
2002	0.39	0.67	0.49
2001	0.39	0.67	0.47
2000	0.40	0.67	0.46
1999	0.39	0.67	0.45
1998	0.40	0.67	0.45

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(22-23)

13.8%

27.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2023	13.8%	27.7%	18%
2022	15.7%	33%	20.2%
2021	4.5%	15.4%	5.8%

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Eligible for

17%

54%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1998-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2025	17%	54%
2024	17%	54%
2023	15%	51%	32%
2022	11%	51%	29%
2021	11%	53%	26%
2020	12%	52%	27%
2019	14%	52%	27%
2018	13%	53%	21%
2017	8%	49%	21%
2015	7%	50%	19%
2014	6%	49%	22%
2013	5%	48%	21%
2011	5%	46%	16%
2010	4%	46%	14%
2009	2%	43%	11%
2008	2%	41%	11%
2007	1%	40%	9%
2006	2%	40%	10%
2005	2%	40%	11%
2004	2%	40%	10%
2003	2%	39%	9%
2002	2%	39%	8%
2001	2%	39%	7%
2000	3%	40%	7%
1999	3%	40%	7%
1998	6%	47%	10%

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Eligible for

10%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1999-2025)
Year	Melinda Heights Elementary School	California	Saddleback Valley Unified School District
2025	10%	8%
2024	11%	8%
2023	10%	8%	10%
2022	1%	7%	2%
2021	1%	6%	2%
2020	1%	7%	3%
2019	1%	7%	3%
2018	1%	7%	5%
2017	2%	9%	5%
2015	2%	9%	5%
2014	3%	9%	6%
2013	3%	7%	5%
2011	2%	8%	4%
2010	2%	9%	5%
2009	2%	10%	5%
2008	2%	10%	5%
2007	2%	10%	4%
2006	2%	9%	4%
2005	2%	9%	4%
2004	1%	9%	4%
2003	1%	9%	4%
2002	1%	8%	3%
2001	2%	8%	3%
2000	2%	7%	3%
1999	2%	7%	3%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Saddleback Valley Unified School District

Sports

School Mascot

Mountain Lion

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Melinda Heights Elementary School's ranking?

Melinda Heights Elementary School is ranked #1251 out of 9,523 schools, which ranks it among the top 20% of public schools in California.

What schools are Melinda Heights Elementary School often compared to?

Melinda Heights Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Trabuco Mesa Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

61% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% CA state average), while 67% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).

How many students attend Melinda Heights Elementary School?

950 students attend Melinda Heights Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

51% of Melinda Heights Elementary School students are White, 24% of students are Hispanic, 14% of students are Asian, 10% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Black.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Melinda Heights Elementary School?

Melinda Heights Elementary School has a student ration of 28:1, which is higher than the California state average of 21:1.

What grades does Melinda Heights Elementary School offer ?

Melinda Heights Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-6

What school district is Melinda Heights Elementary School part of?

Melinda Heights Elementary School is part of Saddleback Valley Unified School District.

School Calendar

View the Melinda Heights Elementary School yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event

Date

THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 23, 2026 (Monday)

THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 24, 2026 (Tuesday)

THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 25, 2026 (Wednesday)

THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 26, 2026 (Thursday)

THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 27, 2026 (Friday)

School Reviews

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Kindergarten-6
Enrollment: 950 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 28:1
Minority Enrollment: 49%
: Top 20%
: 61% (Top 20%)
: 67% (Top 20%)
: 50-54% (Top 20%)
: Melinda Heights Elementary serves the western part of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, covering an attendance zone of approximately 2.2 square miles. Most families can expect a typical drive of about 5 to 10 minutes to the school, with an average distance of 1.1 miles from the school to the edge of the zone.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education