- Enrollment
- 485
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Grass Valley, CA
Alta Sierra Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Alta Sierra Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063093008942
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Alta Sierra Elementary earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #8 of 12
- elementary schools in Grass Valley · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.5:1
- students per teacher
- 32.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Alta Sierra Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Alta Sierra Elementary ranks #8 of 12 elementary schools in Grass Valley, CA.
School address
District: Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 063093008942 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Alta Sierra Elementary held near 331 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 15.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 063093008942 · Grass Valley, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
338 enr · 22.5:1 · 32.3% lunch · RII 19
Nearest enrollment peer: Cottage Hill Elementary (485 students)
Alta Sierra Elementary held near 331 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE held 15.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Alta Sierra Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cottage Hill E
Cottage Hill Elementary
485 students
- Magnolia Inter
Magnolia Intermediate
410 students
- This school
Alta Sierra Elementary
338 students
- Arete Charter
Arete Charter Academy
207 students
What this shows Alta Sierra Elementary reports 338 students on the CCD universe file.
How Alta Sierra Elementary compares
Alta Sierra Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.5:1 | ▲ 5% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.3% | ▼ 42% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 338 | top 69% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.5:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
338
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
22.5:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 58% in California - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
26.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,552
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 70.4%
Hispanic or Latino 16.6%
Two or More 11.2%
African American 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 70.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.4, Alta Sierra Elementary is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary reports $13,552 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Alta Sierra Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottage Hill Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Magnolia Intermediate | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Arete Charter Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Alta Sierra Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 410
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 207
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar elementary schools in Grass Valley
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Grass Valley Charter
Standard public school
546 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Union Hill Elementary
Standard public school
542 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Cottage Hill Elementary
Standard public school
485 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Lyman Gilmore Middle
Standard public school
464 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Margaret G. Scotten Elementary
Standard public school
357 students 19.8:1 students per teacher
Yuba River Charter
Standard public school
323 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~338 students)
Frequently asked questions about Alta Sierra Elementary
How many students attend Alta Sierra Elementary?
Alta Sierra Elementary has 338 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Grass Valley, CA. CCD year-over-year: 319 (2022-23) → 331 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alta Sierra Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Alta Sierra Elementary is 22.5:1, which is 5% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Alta Sierra Elementary?
32.3% of students at Alta Sierra Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Alta Sierra Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Alta Sierra Elementary is White at 70.4% of enrollment, in Grass Valley, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Alta Sierra Elementary?
Alta Sierra Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Alta Sierra Elementary rank among elementary schools in Grass Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Alta Sierra Elementary ranks #8 of 12 elementary schools in Grass Valley, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Grass Valley on the city page.
What other schools are in Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary?
Besides Alta Sierra Elementary, Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary also operates Cottage Hill Elementary (485 students), Magnolia Intermediate (410 students), and Arete Charter Academy (207 students). See the Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary district page for the complete list.