National 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.

National City, California - 10 schools

An equity score of 74/100 ranks National Elementary #191 of 1526 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $20,866 per pupil, National Elementary ranks #395 of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

4,344
Total Enrollment
10
Schools
$20,866
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

National Elementary operates 10 public schools serving 4,344 students, placing it among the smaller districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 10 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. 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 $20,866 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 20.9% local, 64.8% state, and 14.3% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 74/100, ranked #191 of 1526 in California against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 393.4:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 59.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 82.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 1.5% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Ira Harbison, with a diversity index of 53.2/100.

Its largest campus is Central Elementary, enrolling 477 students (12% of the district's total enrollment).

National Elementary reports 69.9% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share sits between 62.5% and 75%, above a simple majority but below the highest descriptive band used here. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

National Elementary student-counselor ratio is 393:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

National Elementary chronic absenteeism rate is 59.3% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

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 Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

14.3%
Federal
64.8%
State
20.9%
Local

Funding Equity

74
Equity Score
191 / 1526
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 10 schools in National Elementary.

White 1.4%
Hispanic or Latino 82.5%
African American 1.5%
Asian 10.8%
Multiracial 3.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 29.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across National Elementary's schools, below the California average of 46.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Ira Harbison 53.2
  2. 2 Palmer Way 43.6
  3. 3 El Toyon Elementary 35.5
  4. 4 Las Palmas 31.4
  5. 5 Central Elementary 29.0

Programs & Resources

393.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
59.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in National Elementary

School Enrollment
Central Elementary
477
Las Palmas
458
Olivewood
424
Lincoln Acres
423
Ira Harbison
393
Palmer Way
387
El Toyon Elementary
381
John a. Otis Elementary
367
Rancho De La Nacion
332
Kimball
322

How National Elementary Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
La Habra City Elementary Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Benicia Unified Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Banning Unified Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Atascadero Unified Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Santa Cruz City High Similar size No spending data No revenue-mix data

Comparisons are relative to National 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 National Elementary →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $20,783/pupil
Compare vs National Elementary →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,909/pupil
Compare vs National Elementary →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $18,419/pupil
Compare vs National Elementary →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $15,921/pupil
Compare vs National 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 National 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 National Elementary?

National Elementary has 10 schools, including 10 elementary. Total enrollment is 4,344 students.

How much does National Elementary spend per student?

National Elementary spends $20,866 per student. The district has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #191 in California.

What is the demographic composition of National Elementary?

National Elementary students are 82.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 1.5% African American, 1.4% White, averaged across 10 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for National Elementary?

National Elementary has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #191 out of 1526 districts in California.