Is Manuel Esqueda Elementary a good school?

Manuel Esqueda Elementary ranks in the bottom 10.6% of California elementary schools.

How many students attend Manuel Esqueda Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 897 students attended Manuel Esqueda Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Manuel Esqueda Elementary?

Students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary are 98% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Manuel Esqueda Elementary attend?

Students who attend Manuel Esqueda Elementary usually go on to attend: High : Saddleback High

Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Summary:

Manuel Esqueda Elementary is a public K-8 school in Santa Ana, California, serving 892 students. Unfortunately, this school consistently ranks in the bottom 10-15% of California elementary schools, with significantly below-average performance on state assessments compared to the district and state.

Manuel Esqueda Elementary faces significant challenges, including a high percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged students (80.27%) and English Language Learners. The school has also seen a troubling increase in chronic absenteeism, from 4.9% in 2017-2018 to 34.9% in 2021-2022. Additionally, the student-teacher ratio has increased from 22.8 to 21.2 over the past year, which is higher than nearby schools in the Santa Ana Unified district.

Compared to nearby schools like Pio Pico Elementary, Madison Elementary, and Martin Elementary, Manuel Esqueda Elementary consistently underperforms, with lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The school's performance has also declined over time, dropping from the top 50% of California elementary schools in 2011-2012 to the bottom 10-15% in recent years.

Detail:

Public K-8

2240 South Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92707-3264

(714) 431-1500

District: Santa Ana Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
5238^th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $6,529

Students who attend Manuel Esqueda Elementary usually attend:

High:

Saddleback High

Student/teacher ratio: 21.9

Number of students: 897

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

97.5%

Two or more races:

1.0%

Asian:

0.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 84.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Manuel Esqueda Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Manuel Esqueda Elementary ranks worse than 89.4% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks 27^th among 34 ranked elementary schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.62. (See more...)

Compare Details Manuel Esqueda Elementary ranks worse than 90.5% of middle schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.87. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (97.5%), two or more races (1%), Asian (0.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 84.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Manuel Esqueda Elementary is 21.9. 25 elementary schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Manuel Esqueda Elementary employs 40.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Manuel Esqueda Elementary is $6,529. 31 elementary schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Manuel Esqueda Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Manuel Esqueda Elementary 5238^th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See Manuel Esqueda Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Homeless students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

SchoolDigger ranks Manuel Esqueda Elementary 2513^th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Manuel Esqueda Elementary in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Homeless students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

Santa Ana Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Santa Ana Unified 1241^st of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Manuel Esqueda Elementary?

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Rank History for Manuel Esqueda Elementary

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2007	7.82	5018^th	5113	1.9%
2008	13.50	4749^th	5113	7.1%
2009	27.89	3854^th	5193	25.8%
2010	40.12	3167^th	5314	40.4%
2011	51.86	2487^th	5377	53.7%
2012	51.75	2510^th	5390	53.4%
2013	35.81	3613^th	5530	34.7%
2015	21.11	4513^th	5611	19.6%
2016	19.37	4679^th	5614	16.7%
2017	16.10	5025^th	5692	11.7%
2018	15.00	5100^th	5662	9.9%
2019	20.32	4771^st	5789	17.6%
2022	19.31	4930^th	5883	16.2%
2023	23.55	4503^rd	5874	23.3%
2024	15.62	5238^th	5862	10.6%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school English Language Learner students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	24.56	2752^nd	3246	15.2%
2019	32.23	2323^rd	3275	29.1%
2022	30.17	2591^st	3311	21.7%
2023	51.36	1118^th	3250	65.6%
2024	31.59	2446^th	3160	22.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	23.07	2022^nd	2420	16.4%
2024	34.42	1593^rd	2634	39.5%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	20.41	4461^st	5084	12.3%
2019	29.95	3863^rd	5173	25.3%
2022	27.63	4027^th	5264	23.5%
2023	32.32	3701^st	5374	31.1%
2024	20.12	4771^st	5511	13.4%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Homeless students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	19.97	332^nd	364	8.8%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	17.70	4720^th	5413	12.8%
2019	19.28	4682^nd	5492	14.7%
2022	19.38	4773^rd	5635	15.3%
2023	23.28	4402^nd	5617	21.6%
2024	13.98	5191^st	5605	7.4%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Disabled students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	27.12	1578^th	2128	25.8%
2019	29.29	1840^th	2585	28.8%
2022	19.93	2023^rd	2227	9.2%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	14.53	5000^th	5431	7.9%
2019	23.29	4358^th	5510	20.9%
2022	20.19	4698^th	5663	17.0%
2023	24.76	4287^th	5650	24.1%
2024	18.58	4845^th	5636	14.0%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	20.50	4216^th	4830	12.7%
2019	29.20	3743^rd	4963	24.6%
2022	26.14	4024^th	5084	20.8%
2023	31.85	3563^rd	5098	30.1%
2024	20.14	4445^th	5102	12.9%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Manuel Esqueda Elementary

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Rank History for all middle school students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2015	19.90	2022^nd	2477	18.4%
2016	14.68	2213^th	2497	11.4%
2017	12.95	2285^th	2508	8.9%
2018	10.99	2325^th	2480	6.3%
2019	16.80	2321^st	2715	14.5%
2022	13.85	2500^th	2740	8.8%
2023	14.38	2538^th	2802	9.4%
2024	13.87	2513^th	2777	9.5%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school English Language Learner students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	34.08	808^th	1364	40.8%
2019	24.46	1391^st	1442	3.5%
2022	28.34	1319^th	1540	14.4%
2023	27.99	1368^th	1529	10.5%
2024	29.70	1238^th	1477	16.2%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	21.66	1405^th	1538	8.6%
2024	27.23	1197^th	1550	22.8%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	14.10	2065^th	2230	7.4%
2019	23.75	1907^th	2369	19.5%
2022	18.85	2148^th	2458	12.6%
2023	19.92	2172^nd	2549	14.8%
2024	17.53	2274^th	2575	11.7%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Homeless students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	15.77	377^th	394	4.3%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	10.71	2128^th	2262	5.9%
2019	14.06	2146^th	2380	9.8%
2022	12.40	2363^rd	2509	5.8%
2023	14.25	2346^th	2547	7.9%
2024	12.46	2379^th	2546	6.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Disabled students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	37.11	757^th	1369	44.7%
2019	51.20	534^th	1491	64.2%
2022	22.61	1354^th	1531	11.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	10.82	2156^th	2273	5.1%
2019	20.54	1966^th	2407	18.3%
2022	17.44	2180^th	2527	13.7%
2023	15.19	2309^th	2558	9.7%
2024	15.88	2245^th	2547	11.9%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	14.23	1921^st	2072	7.3%
2019	22.67	1801^st	2213	18.6%
2022	17.67	2109^th	2359	10.6%
2023	18.12	2089^th	2391	12.6%
2024	17.50	2096^th	2383	12.0%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Manuel Esqueda Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2006	5	0	2	388	0	n/a	n/a	1	396
2007	10	1	6	711	0	n/a	n/a	2	730
2008	13	1	5	797	1	n/a	n/a	0	817
2009	13	0	7	825	0	0	6	0	851
2010	10	0	8	859	0	0	0	0	877
2011	9	1	4	884	7	0	0	0	905
2012	6	0	5	881	6	1	1	0	900
2013	11	0	8	1042	0	1	1	0	1063
2014	10	0	14	1165	0	1	1	0	1191
2015	8	0	4	1255	2	1	0	0	1270
2016	6	0	4	1198	2	1	0	0	1211
2017	5	0	4	1167	3	1	0	0	1180
2018	4	0	3	1147	3	1	0	0	1158
2019	3	2	5	1087	1	2	0	0	1100
2020	2	0	7	1026	1	1	2	0	1039
2021	3	1	4	989	1	1	2	0	1001
2022	2	3	5	930	2	1	4	0	947
2023	1	4	5	874	2	1	5	0	892
2024	0	4	6	875	2	1	9	0	897

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Manuel Esqueda Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	396	22.0	18.0	89.4
2007	730	33.0	22.1	83.7
2008	817	42.0	19.5	86.5
2009	851	39.0	21.3	88
2010	877	38.0	23.0	92.2
2011	905	n/a	n/a	91.6
2012	900	35.0	25.7	n/a
2013	1063	36.5	29.1	86
2014	1191	41.0	29.0	93.9
2015	1270	43.0	29.5	90.7
2016	1211	43.0	28.1	94.1
2017	1180	42.0	28.0	92.2
2018	1158	39.2	29.5	87.7
2019	1100	41.0	26.8	88.2
2020	1039	n/a	n/a	88.7
2021	1001	40.0	25.0	89.5
2022	947	41.3	22.8	60.4
2023	892	41.9	21.2	80.3
2024	897	40.8	21.9	84.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Manuel Esqueda Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	396	22.0	18.0	89.4
2007	730	33.0	22.1	83.7
2008	817	42.0	19.5	86.5
2009	851	39.0	21.3	88
2010	877	38.0	23.0	92.2
2011	905	n/a	n/a	91.6
2012	900	35.0	25.7	n/a
2013	1063	36.5	29.1	86
2014	1191	41.0	29.0	93.9
2015	1270	43.0	29.5	90.7
2016	1211	43.0	28.1	94.1
2017	1180	42.0	28.0	92.2
2018	1158	39.2	29.5	87.7
2019	1100	41.0	26.8	88.2
2020	1039	n/a	n/a	88.7
2021	1001	40.0	25.0	89.5
2022	947	41.3	22.8	60.4
2023	892	41.9	21.2	80.3
2024	897	40.8	21.9	84.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

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