An equity score of 71/100 ranks South Whittier Elementary #258 of 1526 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $22,722 per pupil, South Whittier Elementary ranks #256 of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
2,317
Total Enrollment
6
Schools
$22,722
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Middle
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
South Whittier Elementary operates 6 public schools serving 2,317 students, placing it among the smallest districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 elementary, 1 middle 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 Los Angeles County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $22,722 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 25.3% local, 59.9% state, and 14.8% 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 71/100, ranked #258 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 242:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 37.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 94.2% Hispanic or Latino, 3.0% White, 1.3% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Lake Marie Elementary, with a diversity index of 13.3/100.
Its largest campus is Richard L. Graves Middle, enrolling 484 students (21% of the district's total enrollment).
Richard L. Graves Middle accounts for 20.9% of all South Whittier Elementary student enrollment
That concentration means South Whittier Elementary-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: middle. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.
South Whittier Elementary school enrollment varies 2.6× across entities
South Whittier Elementary school enrollment ranges from 186 students (lowest) to 484 students (highest), a spread of 298 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
South Whittier Elementary reports 77.3% free-lunch eligibility
The reported share is at least 75%, indicating a high concentration of measured economic need. 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.
South Whittier Elementary student-counselor ratio is 242:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)
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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.
South Whittier Elementary chronic absenteeism rate is 37.4% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)
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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.
How many schools are in South Whittier Elementary?
South Whittier Elementary has 6 schools, including 1 middle, 5 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,317 students.
How much does South Whittier Elementary spend per student?
South Whittier Elementary spends $22,722 per student. The district has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #258 in California.
What is the demographic composition of South Whittier Elementary?
South Whittier Elementary students are 94.2% Hispanic or Latino, 3.0% White, 1.3% Asian, 0.7% African American, averaged across 6 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for South Whittier Elementary?
South Whittier Elementary has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #258 out of 1526 districts in California.