Enrollment
527
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Northridge, CA
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy
Federal NCES profile for Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062271002951Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of California schools.
- #7 of 10
- elementary schools in Northridge · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24:1
- large classes for California
- 52.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy has class sizes larger than 71% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Northridge, CA.
School address
District: Los Angeles Unified · California
NCES ID 062271002951 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
52.5%
vs 55.5% California avg
-5% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized charter elementary school in Northridge, California, enrolling 527 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 52.5% lands close to the California typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 527 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,598 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #325.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (58%) and White (17%) (diversity index 61/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Los Angeles Unified spends $21,940 per pupil, 33% above the California average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Northridge's elementary schools, it stands alongside Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary (650 students): Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24:1 vs 24.1:1).
Los Angeles Unified also operates Grover Cleveland Charter High (2,719 students) and North Hollywood Senior High (2,444 students) alongside Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy.
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 Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy compares
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24:1 | ▲ 12% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.5% | ▼ 5% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 527 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
527
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
52.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
24:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 71% in California - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
27.3%
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
$21,940
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 58.4%
White 17.3%
Two or More 11.6%
Asian 8.5%
African American 4.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 58.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.7, Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Los Angeles Unified, which includes Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy.
$21,940
Per student
+33%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+32%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 26.3%
State 54.5%
Federal 19.2%
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 Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grover Cleveland Charter High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Hollywood Senior High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Phineas Banning Senior High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Pedro Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Venice Senior High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,719
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,444
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,422
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,398
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,293
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar elementary schools in Northridge
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary
Alternative education program
650 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Topeka Charter School for Advanced Studies
Standard public school
610 students 25.4:1 students per teacher
Beckford Charter for Enriched Studies
Standard public school
588 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Calahan Street Elementary
Standard public school
474 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Darby Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
412 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Andasol Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
411 students 21.6:1 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 (~527 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy's federal record.
- Compare Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Los Angeles 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 Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy
How many students attend Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy?
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy has 527 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Northridge, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy is 24:1, which is 12% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 53% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy?
52.5% of students at Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy?
The largest demographic group at Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 58.4% of enrollment, in Northridge, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy?
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy rank among elementary schools in Northridge?
By Resource Investment Index, Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Northridge, 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 Northridge on the city page.
Is Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy a good school?
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% 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 Los Angeles Unified?
Besides Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy, Los Angeles Unified also operates Grover Cleveland Charter High (2,719 students), North Hollywood Senior High (2,444 students), and Phineas Banning Senior High (2,422 students). See the Los Angeles 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.