- Enrollment
- 2,485
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Diego, CA
Chesterton Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Chesterton Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063432005432
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Chesterton Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #96 of 179
- elementary schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.3:1
- students per teacher
- 27.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Chesterton Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Chesterton Elementary ranks #96 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: San Diego Unified · California
NCES ID 063432005432 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-30 students YoY
Chesterton Elementary shrank from 433 students in 2022-23 to 403 in 2023-24 (-6.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 18.2 → 17.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-30 students YoY 063432005432 · San Diego, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
365 enr · 20.3:1 · 27.9% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Henry High (2,485 students)
Chesterton Elementary shrank from 433 students in 2022-23 to 403 in 2023-24 (-6.9%). Teacher FTE lost 18.2 → 17.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Chesterton 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 365
Chesterton Elementary
365 students
What this shows Chesterton Elementary reports 365 students on the CCD universe file.
How Chesterton Elementary compares
Chesterton Elementary is a shrinking 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 | 20.3:1 | ▼ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.9% | ▼ 50% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 365 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.3:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
365
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
20.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 37% in California - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
50.1%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 365 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 31.5%
Hispanic or Latino 27.7%
Asian 21.4%
Two or More 14.0%
African American 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 31.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.6, Chesterton 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 Chesterton Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mira Mesa High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Scripps Ranch High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Point Loma High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Chesterton 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 (~365 students)
Frequently asked questions about Chesterton Elementary
How many students attend Chesterton Elementary?
Chesterton Elementary has 365 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Diego, CA. CCD year-over-year: 433 (2022-23) → 403 (2023-24), down 30.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Chesterton Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Chesterton Elementary is 20.3:1, which is 6% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 29% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Chesterton Elementary?
27.9% of students at Chesterton Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Chesterton Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Chesterton Elementary is White at 31.5% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Chesterton Elementary?
Chesterton Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (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 Chesterton Elementary rank among elementary schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, Chesterton Elementary ranks #96 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 Chesterton 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.