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Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

Phone: (949) 459-8253
Fax: (949) 459-8258
District: Saddleback Valley Unified

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public • Grades 7,8 • 1153 students

Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School, a public school located in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, serves grades 7-8 in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 7 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School is a public school located in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. 1153 students attend Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School.

School Ratings

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	9/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education.
Student Growth	3/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from California Department of Education.

Posted: May 25, 2026

this school barely cares about issues that truly need to be handled.

Posted: April 14, 2026

Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate does a wonderful job transitioning the students from Elementary to High School. I have had 2 students completing their 7th and 8th grade in RSM Intermediate and my 3rd student incoming for the next school year.
I recommend this school. The staff and Principal are great. The school is clean and secure. They have grown academically and socially. The variety of Electives is great and so is the options for core subjects to do them as regular or honors. Plenty of flexibility for each student to find what suits them better for their learning style.
There is an assigned school counselor for 7th grade and one for 8th grade. They are amazing and caring and will work with the families for any concerns (socially, mental health or academic) that may arise during the years at RSM Intermediate.
I recommend this school.

Posted: December 29, 2025

MOST of the teachers great, helpful, knowledgeable and competent. Some are new grads and are not as experienced w kids and it shows. One teacher couldnt stop taking about herself on back to school night. She had anime, Sanrio all over the place and barely talked about her teaching style or the students. This school gives out way too much homework. Its all of the teachers. My kids are exhausted every school day many of the kids are rude, disrespectful, mean and they dont follow dress code and the teachers dont enforce it. Ive seen at least and handful of girls every day wearing very short shots that show they cheeks. This area is safe and pretty but their cheeks. Morality and empathy around here is a poor. There isnt a dedicated special Ed, 504 plan specialist. Its just the regular counselor that just says whatever and tries to just move on to the next thing. Nobody cares much here. Elementary school in this same district was much more helpful and supportive. Im disappointed. As much taxes as I pay to live here, things should be better.

Posted: June 4, 2025

We are very happy with the experience my son is having at RSM Intermediate. Since starting here, he is doing his best work, making principal's honor roll and taking honors classes. More importantly, hes excited about learning. The teachers are not only knowledgeable but truly care about the student's success and well-being.

The staff and administration create a supportive and engaging environment that motivates kids to do their best. They also hold kids accountable and make opportunities for growth. Theyre always approachable, proactive in their communication, and go above and beyond to make sure every student feels valued and encouraged.

It's clear to me that RSM Intermediate prioritizes both academic excellence and emotional growth. We are grateful to be part of such a dedicated and inspiring school.

Posted: October 23, 2024

This school sucked I hate this school don't go to this school

Posted: May 10, 2023

I had two kids go through this school and their overall experience/our overall experience as a family was positive. The transition from elementary school to middle school could have been really challenging, but I felt there was good support in place for the 7th graders. They are grouped into several "villages" to provide a smaller feel to a large school, and the 7th grade teachers seemed to do a good job of easing them in at the beginning of the year. There are a wide variety of electives to choose from and nice outdoor amenities, including tennis courts and a full-size track -- I was pleased to see that PE was not a periodic thing, but a daily class that kept the kids active. Was there foul language and inappropriate behavior that I would expect (though not condone) from some 12-14 year-olds? Definitely. But I found the administrative staff to be generally responsive and supportive if concerns arose. (Contrary to an earlier post, there is a Principal and two Assistant Principals and only one of them is a "white man in his 40's") There were absolutely some teachers that my kids had a better experience with than others but, unless they felt threatened or mistreated, my message to them was that they won't get along with/agree with everyone and it was a life lesson for them to learn to self-advocate and know when to ask for help when needed. At the end of their two years at RSM, I felt my kids were as prepared as possible (academically and socially) to successfully transition to high school.

Posted: December 12, 2022

If you want staff that don't care about what your child is doing I recommend Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School. The teaching at rsm is somewhat decent but the teachers do not care at all if you understand it or not, I personally believe that teachers are rushed to teach things. Meaning, that whatever they have to forcefully teach without notice they lack to show any sympathy. Which in my opinion doesn't feel good for students, It makes them feel like the teachers don't care about them at all and they just are there for whatever. The students there are just awful, They make fun of you for any little thing and if you tell the office they do not care about you one bit if you're a different race. OHH and don't let the kids at rsm find you're social media because its sooooo much drama they threaten you, and they all say they want to jump you for no reason at all. you might think well okay? tell the office then, nope bad idea don't. they do not care one bit the principals would rather watch you suffer, so if you do come across a problem like that at rsm, just go to the district because no one absolutely cares there. and by showing they "care" they make you write student statements for the most dumbest things possible. going through depression? the counselors there can support you! wrong. they listen to you and just say "yeah" "mhm" and if you talk to them about a problem at rsm that you want to do something about it they will say "i really cant to anything about that, sorry". The safety of you're child going to this school is less than 1% the kids at rsm just go to school for drama to see who is dating who and who wants to "jump" who and the staff do not care whatsoever about you're child. the people at the front office are just rude and always tired. You're kid at this school will start doing sexual actives and drugs at this school. what I'm saying is DO NOT BRING YOUR LOVING CHILD TO THIS SCHOOL. especially if you're a DIFFERENT RACE. the administration is white 40 year old people who just want money.

Posted: September 23, 2021

I love this school and the teachers. My daughter has excelled since arriving here and we look forward to continued success.
Thank you RSM!!!

Posted: September 23, 2021

My daughter has seen a marked improvement in her overall study habits, test scores and this has further increased her self esteem and motivation for higher learning. Thank you staff at RSM!!

Posted: September 23, 2021

Posted: November 5, 2019

Very good because of the strong student, parent, teacher, and administrator participation.

Posted: November 5, 2019

Posted: April 30, 2019

When teachers show no integrity what does that show students?

Posted: April 30, 2019

Teachers believed over students by management. No lie.

Posted: April 30, 2019

Bullying of students by teachers exists. No lie

Posted: April 30, 2019

Bad. See above comments. Most of our child's teachers at this school are fine, but the husband wife math and history teachers are about the worst we've encountered.

Posted: April 30, 2019

Husband wife pair who teach math and history lose homework a lot. We see child has completed it at home the night before. They even lose it a second time after it has been redone.

Posted: April 30, 2019

Husband and wife who are math and history teachers at RSM middle school consistently misplace our kids home work, then grade them down for it, and retaliate against them in front of the class after we emailed the teacher and principal about it. As parents we stay involved in our kids progress in school, this pair of teachers do not tolerate it.

Posted: December 4, 2018

There is a lot of drug use and students vandalize the city park after school.

Posted: December 4, 2018

No communication with parents. It is practically impossible to talk to a person live. Their phone system takes you through 20 min of choices and MAYBE you will be able to talk to a real person after 20 min.

Posted: December 4, 2018

I doubt it. They don't even effectively support the students without learning differences.

Posted: December 4, 2018

I read about bullying all the time on the RSM moms face book page.

Posted: December 4, 2018

HORRIBLE! I hate this school. There are no lockers, they rarely use the chromebooks, there are no awards for students. Academics are below average. Stay away if at all possible.

Posted: December 4, 2018

The homework is all paper pencil busy work.

Posted: February 19, 2017

Excellent. Teachers are dedicated and kids are made to feel safe and welcomed

Posted: February 19, 2017

Reviews provided by GreatSchools^™

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1	Whispering Winds Apartments	Apartment Complex	San Clemente	CA	13.6 mi
2	Copper Canyon	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Murrieta	CA	20.3 mi
3	The Ranchos	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Murrieta	CA	21.2 mi
4	Amberwalk Townhomes	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Murrieta	CA	22.6 mi
5	Redhawk	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Temecula	CA	30.9 mi
6	Montecito village apartments	Apartment Complex	Oceanside	CA	33.6 mi
7	St. Cloud	Condominium/Townhouse	Oceanside	CA	33.8 mi
8	Mira Costa Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Oceanside	CA	35 mi
9	Palisades Pointe	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Carlsbad	CA	37.2 mi
10	Shadowridge	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Vista	CA	38.1 mi
11	Windsor at Aviara	Apartment Complex	Carlsbad	CA	40.9 mi
12	Rancho Carrillo	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Carlsbad	CA	41.6 mi
13	La Costa	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Carlsbad	CA	41.9 mi
14	Hollyglen	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Hawthorne	CA	48.3 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Downtown	San Clemente	CA	15.2 mi
2	West Side	murrieta	CA	21.8 mi
3	Murrieta	Murrieta	CA	25 mi
4	Murrieta, California	Murrieta	CA	27.8 mi
5	Temecula, California	Temecula	CA	29.6 mi
6	Downtown Oceanside	Oceanside	CA	33.2 mi
7	Lake Rancho Viejo	Fallbrook	CA	33.3 mi
8	Carlsbad	Carlsbad	CA	36.3 mi
9	Encinitas	Encinitas	CA	45.2 mi

Base	Distance
Camp Pendleton	22.7 mi.
March Air Reserve Base	25.9 mi.
Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station	29.6 mi.
Los Alamitos JFTB	33 mi.
Los Angeles AFB	49.1 mi.

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Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

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