Design Tech High District

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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Redwood City, California - 1 schools

An equity score of 35/100 ranks Design Tech High District #1146 of 1517 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $18,226 per pupil, Design Tech High District ranks #377 of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

545
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$18,226
Per-Pupil Spending
High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Design Tech High District operates 1 public schools serving 545 students, placing it among the smallest districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high 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 Mateo County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,226 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 92.3% local, 5.2% state, and 2.5% 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 35/100, ranked #1146 of 1517 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.

a 141.8:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 12.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 41.2% White, 24.9% Asian, 14.6% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Design Tech High, enrolling 567 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Design Tech High accounts for 100.0% of all Design Tech High District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Design Tech High District a distant remainder — means Design Tech High District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Design Tech High District student-counselor ratio is 142:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Design Tech High District chronic absenteeism rate is 12.0% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

2.5%
Federal
5.2%
State
92.3%
Local

Funding Equity

35
Equity Score
1146 / 1517
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Design Tech High District.

White 41.2%
Hispanic or Latino 14.6%
African American 1.2%
Asian 24.9%
Multiracial 17.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

141.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
12.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Design Tech High District

School Enrollment
Design Tech High
Charter
567

How Design Tech High District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Excel Academy Charter District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Gilroy Prep (a Navigator School) District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Camino Nuevo Charter Academy #4 District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Lighthouse Community Charter District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Design Tech High District'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 · $21,940/pupil
Compare vs Design Tech High District →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $18,665/pupil
Compare vs Design Tech High District →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $18,783/pupil
Compare vs Design Tech High District →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $16,028/pupil
Compare vs Design Tech High District →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $14,134/pupil
Compare vs Design Tech High District →

Compare Design Tech High District

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 Design Tech High District?

Design Tech High District has 1 school, including 1 high. Total enrollment is 545 students.

How much does Design Tech High District spend per student?

Design Tech High District spends $18,226 per student. The district has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #1146 in California.

What is the demographic composition of Design Tech High District?

Design Tech High District students are 41.2% White, 24.9% Asian, 14.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Design Tech High District?

Design Tech High District has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #1146 out of 1517 districts in California.