Richard Henry Dana Elementary

24242 La Cresta Dr.
Dana Point, CA 92629

rhdana.capousd.org/

461 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Richard Henry Dana Elementary, located in the coastal city of Dana Point, California, serves as a community-focused public school within the Capistrano Unified School District. Situated near the Pacific coastline, the school benefits from a unique geographic setting that influences its atmosphere and connection to the local environment. It typically serves students from transitional kindergarten through fifth grade, fostering a foundational academic environment that emphasizes core literacy, mathematics, and social development.

Beyond its standard curriculum, the school is known for being an integral part of the Dana Point community, often prioritizing parent involvement and extracurricular engagement. The school’s culture generally reflects the values of its surrounding affluent, coastal neighborhood, aiming to provide a well-rounded educational experience that balances rigorous academic standards with social-emotional learning. As part of a larger district, it leverages broader educational resources while maintaining the tight-knit feel of a neighborhood elementary school.

461

Total Students

25.9

Full-Time Teachers

17.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

46.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	181
Hispanic	207
Black	2
Asian	7
Two or More	64

Hispanic
207 (44.9%)
White
181 (39.3%)
Two or More
64 (13.9%)
Asian
7 (1.5%)
Black
2 (0.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Capistrano Unified
Phone:	(949)496-5784
Website:	http://rhdana.capousd.org/
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	461
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	25.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	178
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	35

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 153

Grade 1 68

Grade 2 65

Grade 3 65

Grade 4 53

Grade 5 57

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Grade	Student Count
Kindergarten	153
Grade 1	68
Grade 2	65
Grade 3	65
Grade 4	53
Grade 5	57

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for Richard Henry Dana Elementary
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	235	51%
Male	226	49%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)