Enrollment
744
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Vista, CA
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology
Federal NCES profile for Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 16/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064119006816
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology earns 16/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of California schools.
- #4 of 15
- elementary schools in Vista · Resource Index
- 16
- Resource Index · Lower
- 29.8:1
- large classes for California
- 26.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology has class sizes larger than 95% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology ranks #4 of 15 elementary schools in Vista, CA.
School address
District: Vista Unified · California
NCES ID 064119006816 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
29.8:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+39% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
26.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
-53% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology is a mid-sized elementary school in Vista, California, enrolling 744 students.
Class loads run heavy: 29.8:1 is larger than about 95% of California schools and 39% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 26.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 744 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,243 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #1,176, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (48%) and White (37%) (diversity index 63/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 744 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Vista's elementary schools, it stands alongside Breeze Hill Elementary (742 students): Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (29.8:1 vs 23.9:1).
Vista Unified also operates Rancho Buena Vista High (1,949 students) and Vista High (1,746 students) alongside Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology compares
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 29.8:1 | ▲ 39% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.2% | ▼ 53% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 744 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
29.8:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
744
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
26.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 53% 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
29.8:1
students per teacher
- 39% above state mean
Top 95% in California - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
25.7%
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
$15,274
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 744 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 47.6%
White 36.8%
Two or More 8.5%
Asian 5.8%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 47.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.7, Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Vista Unified, which includes Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology.
$15,274
Per student
-7%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.1%
State 53.6%
Federal 10.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Buena Vista High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Vista High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mission Vista High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Madison Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,949
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 1,746
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,670
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,158
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 866
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Similar elementary schools in Vista
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Breeze Hill Elementary
Standard public school
742 students 23.9:1 students per teacher
Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Standard public school
740 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Grapevine Elementary
Standard public school
730 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Classical Academy Vista
Standard public school
651 students 25:1 students per teacher
Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary
Standard public school
579 students 22.3:1 students per teacher
Bobier Elementary
Standard public school
563 students 26.8:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~744 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~29.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology's federal record.
- Compare Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology against another school. Compare schools
- Vista Unified's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology
How many students attend Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology?
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology has 744 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Vista, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology?
The student-teacher ratio at Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology is 29.8:1, which is 39% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 90% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology?
26.2% of students at Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology?
The largest demographic group at Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology is Hispanic or Latino at 47.6% of enrollment, in Vista, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology?
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology has a Resource Investment Index of 16/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology rank among elementary schools in Vista?
By Resource Investment Index, Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology ranks #4 of 15 elementary schools in Vista, 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 Vista on the city page.
Is Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology a good school?
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology earns 16/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of California schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Vista Unified?
Besides Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology, Vista Unified also operates Rancho Buena Vista High (1,949 students), Vista High (1,746 students), and Mission Vista High (1,670 students). See the Vista Unified district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.