Cardiff Elementary

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Cardiff-By-the-Sea, California - 2 schools

An equity score of 41/100 ranks Cardiff Elementary #970 of 1526 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $19,879 per pupil, Cardiff Elementary ranks #489 of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

642
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$19,879
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Cardiff Elementary operates 2 public schools serving 642 students, placing it among the smallest districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in San Diego County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,879 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 82.0% local, 12.5% state, and 5.5% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 41/100, ranked #970 of 1526 in California against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

and 17.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 65.5% White, 14.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Ada W. Harris Elementary, enrolling 382 students (60% of the district's total enrollment).

Ada W. Harris Elementary accounts for 59.5% of all Cardiff Elementary student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Cardiff Elementary a distant remainder — means Cardiff Elementary-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: elementary. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Cardiff Elementary chronic absenteeism rate is 17.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Cardiff Elementary is typically wider than the Cardiff Elementary-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

5.5%
Federal
12.5%
State
82.0%
Local

Funding Equity

41
Equity Score
970 / 1526
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Cardiff Elementary.

White 65.5%
Hispanic or Latino 14.0%
Asian 2.4%
Multiracial 17.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

17.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Cardiff Elementary

School Enrollment
Ada W. Harris Elementary
382
Cardiff Elementary
259

How Cardiff Elementary Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Scholarship Prep District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Summit Public School: Denali District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
High Tech High Chula Vista District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Grant Elementary Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Cardiff Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $22,606/pupil
Compare vs Cardiff Elementary →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $20,783/pupil
Compare vs Cardiff Elementary →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,909/pupil
Compare vs Cardiff Elementary →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $18,419/pupil
Compare vs Cardiff Elementary →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $15,921/pupil
Compare vs Cardiff Elementary →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Cardiff Elementary

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Cardiff Elementary?

Cardiff Elementary has 2 schools, including 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 642 students.

How much does Cardiff Elementary spend per student?

Cardiff Elementary spends $19,879 per student. The district has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #970 in California.

What is the demographic composition of Cardiff Elementary?

Cardiff Elementary students are 65.5% White, 14.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% Asian, 0.3% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Cardiff Elementary?

Cardiff Elementary has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #970 out of 1526 districts in California.