- Enrollment
- 2,485
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Diego, CA
Birney Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Birney Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063432005422
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Birney Elementary earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #55 of 179
- elementary schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.5:1
- large classes for California
- 31.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Birney Elementary has class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Birney Elementary ranks #55 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: San Diego Unified · California
NCES ID 063432005422 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+34 students YoY
Birney Elementary grew from 501 students in 2022-23 to 535 in 2023-24 (+6.8%).
Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 22.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+34 students YoY 063432005422 · San Diego, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
535 enr · 25.5:1 · 31.7% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Henry High (2,485 students)
Birney Elementary grew from 501 students in 2022-23 to 535 in 2023-24 (+6.8%). Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 22.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Birney Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Henry High
Henry High
2,485 students
- Mira Mesa High
Mira Mesa High
2,187 students
- Hoover High
Hoover High
2,011 students
- Scripps Ranch
Scripps Ranch High
1,890 students
- Point Loma Hig
Point Loma High
1,724 students
- This school 535
Birney Elementary
535 students
What this shows Birney Elementary reports 535 students on the CCD universe file.
How Birney Elementary compares
Birney Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.5:1 | ▲ 19% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.7% | ▼ 43% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 535 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.5:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
535
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
31.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% 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
25.5:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 82% in California - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
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
$20,783
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 38.1%
Hispanic or Latino 33.3%
Two or More 14.6%
African American 9.3%
Asian 4.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 38.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.2, Birney Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for San Diego Unified reports $20,783 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Birney Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mira Mesa High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hoover High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Scripps Ranch High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Point Loma High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Birney Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,187
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,011
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 1,890
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,724
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar elementary schools in San Diego
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Albert Einstein Academies
Standard public school
1,448 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Design 39 Campus
Standard public school
1,216 students 27:1 students per teacher
Nestor Language Academy Charter
Standard public school
1,079 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
Ocean View Hills
Standard public school
1,020 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Language Academy
Standard public school
1,015 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Del Sur Elementary
Standard public school
891 students 24.1:1 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 (~535 students)
Frequently asked questions about Birney Elementary
How many students attend Birney Elementary?
Birney Elementary has 535 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Diego, CA. CCD year-over-year: 501 (2022-23) → 535 (2023-24), up 34.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Birney Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Birney Elementary is 25.5:1, which is 19% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 62% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Birney Elementary?
31.7% of students at Birney Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Birney Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Birney Elementary is White at 38.1% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Birney Elementary?
Birney Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Birney Elementary rank among elementary schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, Birney Elementary ranks #55 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, 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 San Diego on the city page.
What other schools are in San Diego Unified?
Besides Birney Elementary, San Diego Unified also operates Henry High (2,485 students), Mira Mesa High (2,187 students), and Hoover High (2,011 students). See the San Diego Unified district page for the complete list.