Other / mixed grade configuration · San Diego, CA

City Heights Preparatory Charter

Federal NCES profile for City Heights Preparatory Charter, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators — Resource Investment Index 39/100.

2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 060170012961Charter school
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Compiled from official source data by .
0/100100/10039/100
👥 Class size
37
🌟 Gifted program
30
🎓 Counselors
68
📋 Attendance
20
How this works: Each indicator above is scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC data, then averaged into the Resource Investment Index. This measures resource allocation — staffing, programs, and support services — not standardized test scores or academic outcomes. Full methodology →

The verdict

City Heights Preparatory Charter earns an F Resource Investment Index (39/100), even as it posts class sizes smaller than 90% of California schools.

F
Resource Index · 39/100
15.7:1
small classes for California
92.9%
free-lunch eligible
160
students enrolled

City Heights Preparatory Charter has class sizes smaller than 90% of California schools — smaller than 90% of schools in California. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.

School address

San Diego, CA 92115
District: City Heights Preparatory Charter District · California

Public location data per NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) Common Core of Data. Verify the school's current address on the NCES CCD record.

Enrollment

160

California · 2024-25 NCES data

Teachers (FTE)

9.0

Federal CCD staff survey

Students per teacher

15.7:1

vs 21.6:1 California avg

-27% vs state

Free-lunch eligible

92.9%

vs 55.5% California avg

+67% vs state

Student-teacher ratio in context

How City Heights Preparatory Charter compares with California and U.S. medians

Smaller classes than state median
0:135:115.7:1

Source: NCES Common Core of Data As of 2024-25 federal staff survey Total enrollment ÷ full-time-equivalent classroom teachers

The federal record — no proprietary index, no editorial formula. PlainSchools publishes the actual federal measurements — enrollment, staffing, demographics, discipline, and finance — straight from the NCES Common Core of Data, CRDC, and F-33 surveys. No composite rating, no opinion-based score on top. You get the same raw numbers researchers and policymakers use, with benchmarks, spending context, and equity indicators computed from the same federal datasets. Full methodology linked below.

What this school's NCES data tells you

City Heights Preparatory Charter reports 160 enrolled students to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) alongside 9.0 full-time-equivalent teachers, producing a 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio. That figure sits 27% below the California state mean of 21.6:1, signalling more teacher attention per pupil than the state benchmark. Against the national 2024-25 average of 15.7:1, it is 0% higher, a useful calibration for families comparing districts across state lines.

Title I and federal lunch eligibility offer another window into the student body: 92.9% of pupils qualify for free meals, a proxy for household income that federal programs use to direct funding. The free-lunch share is 67% above the California average and 79% above the national baseline. Counselor coverage works out to roughly 160 students per counselor, meeting the American School Counselor Association recommendation of 250:1. Chronic absenteeism — missing 10% or more of school days — stands at 31.9% according to the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.

On the finance side, the surrounding City Heights Preparatory Charter District spends $16,707 per pupil district-wide, above the California average of $16,509 and above the national average of $16,593. Revenue comes 46.2% from local sources (property taxes), 37.6% from the state, and 16.3% from federal programs per the NCES F-33 finance survey. Taken together, these measurements produce a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (F), calculated from 4 distinct NCES and CRDC indicators measuring resource allocation rather than academic outcomes.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25

How City Heights Preparatory Charter compares

Cross-validating school-level NCES values against California state and U.S. national means lets readers see whether this school is an outlier or in line with peers.

Metric This school vs California California avg U.S. avg
Students per teacher 15.7:1 ▼ 27% 21.6:1 15.7:1
Free-lunch eligible 92.9% ▲ 67% 55.5% 51.8%
Enrollment 160 top 14% — —

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25

Class size vs. every US school

Students per teacher (lower means more individual attention)

16 smaller classes than 42% of 92,598 US schools

0–2: 295 US schools (0%). Below this entry. 2–4: 597 US schools (1%). Below this entry. 4–6: 1,033 US schools (1%). Below this entry. 6–8: 1,939 US schools (2%). Below this entry. 8–10: 4,805 US schools (5%). Below this entry. 10–12: 11,082 US schools (12%). Below this entry. 12–14: 16,971 US schools (18%). Below this entry. 14–16: 18,959 US schools (20%). This entry sits in this band. 16–18: 13,660 US schools (15%). Above this entry. 18–20: 8,300 US schools (9%). Above this entry. 20–22: 5,448 US schools (6%). Above this entry. 22–24: 4,007 US schools (4%). Above this entry. 24–26: 2,663 US schools (3%). Above this entry. 26–28: 1,131 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 28–30: 504 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 30–32: 307 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 32–34: 189 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 34–36: 141 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 36–38: 93 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 38–40: 94 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 40–42: 59 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 42–44: 46 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 44–46: 56 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 46–48: 58 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 48–50: 34 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 50–52: 37 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 52–54: 30 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 54–56: 15 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 56–58: 25 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 58–60: 20 US schools (0%). Above this entry. This school 0 60 every US school, by class size, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US schools. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education — NCES Common Core of Data · 2024-25

School size vs. every US school

Total enrollment — where this school sits by size (neither large nor small is 'better')

160 larger than 16% of 95,891 US schools

0–150: 14,035 US schools (15%). Below this entry. 150–300: 16,928 US schools (18%). This entry sits in this band. 300–450: 21,633 US schools (23%). Above this entry. 450–600: 17,006 US schools (18%). Above this entry. 600–750: 10,042 US schools (10%). Above this entry. 750–900: 5,568 US schools (6%). Above this entry. 900–1,050: 3,006 US schools (3%). Above this entry. 1,050–1,200: 1,826 US schools (2%). Above this entry. 1,200–1,350: 1,220 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,350–1,500: 908 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,500–1,650: 692 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,650–1,800: 607 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,800–1,950: 502 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,950–2,100: 432 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,100–2,250: 346 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,250–2,400: 252 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,400–2,550: 203 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,550–2,700: 163 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,700–2,850: 115 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,850–3,000: 85 US schools (0%). Above this entry. This school 0 3,000 every US school, by enrollment, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US schools. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education — NCES Common Core of Data · 2024-25

What the federal data reveals about equity at this school

Federal measurements — not ratings — surface the resource and opportunity picture. Below are the indicators that researchers, civil-rights monitors, and funding formulas use to assess equity.

Economic need
92.9%
free-lunch eligible — 67% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold — federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher — 27% below state mean
Top 10% in California — lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Between 15:1 and 20:1 — in line with the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
31.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Chronic absenteeism at or above 20% — the CDC threshold for "high" — signals significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$16,707
per pupil, district-wide — above California avg of $16,509
Above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 160 students — the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.

Overview

Enrollment 160 Top 14% in California — larger than 86% of 10,006 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 9.0
Students per teacher 15.7:1 -27% vs state
Free-lunch eligible 92.9% +67% vs state
NCES ID 060170012961

Student demographics

Hispanic or Latino 42.5%
African American 27.5%
White 19.4%
Asian 6.3%
Two or More 4.4%

Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.5% of enrollment.

Programs & staff

Counselors (FTE) 1.0
Students per counselor 160:1

Discipline & special education

Chronically absent 31.9%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 15

Funding & spending

District-wide per-pupil expenditure for City Heights Preparatory Charter District, which includes City Heights Preparatory Charter.

$16,707
Per student
+1%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+1%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.2%
State 37.6%
Federal 16.3%

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.

Similar other schools in San Diego

6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.

The O'farrell Charter
Standard public school
1,862 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Logan Memorial Educational Campus
Standard public school
1,467 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Charter School of San Diego
Standard public school
1,375 students 30.8:1 students per teacher
San Diego Scpa
Standard public school
1,297 students 23.2:1 students per teacher
Gompers Preparatory Academy
Standard public school
1,175 students 31.2:1 students per teacher
Launch Virtual Academy
Alternative education program
578 students 18:1 students per teacher

Educator & family resources

In-depth guides on understanding NCES data, school choice, and education funding.

Understanding NCES data

How CCD, CRDC and EDFacts feed every public-school number you see.

Choose a school district

Eight signals that matter more than the overall ranking number.

How schools are funded

Title I, F-33, state aid formulas and what per-pupil spending really means.

Chronic absenteeism

Why missing 10% of school matters and how it varies by district.

Magnet vs charter vs traditional

Three school types, three funding models, three sets of trade-offs.

School discipline data

What CRDC suspension and expulsion records do and don't reveal.

Before you act on this record

Treat this page as the federal baseline — then verify locally.

  • Compare City Heights Preparatory Charter side-by-side with another school you're considering on the same NCES measures. Compare schools
  • Read the district context — spending per pupil, staffing, and equity ranking are district-level decisions that shape this school. District profile
  • Confirm current enrollment windows, programs, and boundaries with the school directly — federal data lags the current school year. Choosing guide

Figures are the school's reported federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) — coverage varies by entity type, and PlainSchools does not rate or rank schools.

Frequently asked questions about City Heights Preparatory Charter

How many students attend City Heights Preparatory Charter?

City Heights Preparatory Charter has 160 students enrolled. It is a other school in San Diego, CA.

What is the student-teacher ratio at City Heights Preparatory Charter?

The student-teacher ratio at City Heights Preparatory Charter is 15.7:1, which is 27% lower than the California average of 21.6:1 and 0% 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 City Heights Preparatory Charter?

92.9% of students at City Heights Preparatory Charter are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.

What is the racial and ethnic makeup of City Heights Preparatory Charter?

The largest demographic group at City Heights Preparatory Charter is Hispanic or Latino at 42.5%. The school serves a diverse student body in San Diego, CA.

What is the Resource Investment Index for City Heights Preparatory Charter?

City Heights Preparatory Charter has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (F) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. This index measures federal resource allocation — staffing levels, program availability, and support services — not standardized test scores or academic outcomes.

Is City Heights Preparatory Charter a good school?

City Heights Preparatory Charter earns an F Resource Investment Index (39/100), even as it posts class sizes smaller than 90% of California schools. The Resource Investment Index reflects staffing, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance reported to NCES, not test scores or academic outcomes, so treat it as a resource snapshot rather than an overall rating.

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Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) CCD + Public School Universe (2024-25), CRDC (2021-22), F-33 District Finance Survey (FY 2021-22) · 2024-25 Data as of the 2024-25 school year. Coverage from U.S. Department of Education NCES Common Core of Data. Varies by entity type — administrative districts and certain charter networks may report only a subset of fields.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) — universe of U.S. public schools and districts. nces.ed.gov/ccd
  • NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) — discipline, absenteeism, and AP-course participation. ocrdata.ed.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey — per-pupil expenditure and revenue sources. nces.ed.gov/ccd/f33agency
  • USDA National School Lunch Program (NSLP) — free and reduced-price lunch eligibility. fns.usda.gov/nslp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic and socioeconomic context for school catchment areas. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • U.S. Department of Education ESSA Title I — federal Title I program participation. ed.gov
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Compiled from official source data by .