- Enrollment
- 3,143
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Santa Maria, CA
Delta High
Federal NCES profile for Delta High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 063567006082
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Delta High earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 70% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #4 of 4
- high schools in Santa Maria · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.4:1
- small classes for California
- 76.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Delta High has class sizes smaller than 70% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Delta High ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Santa Maria, CA.
School address
District: Santa Maria Joint Union High · California
NCES ID 063567006082 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
Delta High held near 338 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 15.8 → 13.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 063567006082 · Santa Maria, CA High · SMALL · TRAD
291 enr · 19.4:1 · 76.2% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Santa Maria High (3,143 students)
Delta High held near 338 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 15.8 → 13.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Delta High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Santa Maria Hi
Santa Maria High
3,143 students
- Pioneer Valley
Pioneer Valley High
3,080 students
- Ernest Righett
Ernest Righetti High
2,416 students
- This school 291
Delta High
291 students
What this shows Delta High reports 291 students on the CCD universe file.
How Delta High compares
Delta High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.4:1 | ▼ 10% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.2% | ▲ 37% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 291 | top 75% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.4:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
291
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
76.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% 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
19.4:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 30% in California - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$17,168
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 94.2%
White 3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
African American 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 94.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 11.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 11.1, Delta High is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Santa Maria Joint Union High reports $17,168 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Delta High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pioneer Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ernest Righetti High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Delta High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,080
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 2,416
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar high schools in Santa Maria
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~291 students)
Frequently asked questions about Delta High
How many students attend Delta High?
Delta High has 291 students enrolled. It is a high school in Santa Maria, CA. CCD year-over-year: 341 (2022-23) → 338 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Delta High?
The student-teacher ratio at Delta High is 19.4:1, which is 10% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 24% 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 Delta High?
76.2% of students at Delta High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Delta High?
The largest demographic group at Delta High is Hispanic or Latino at 94.2% of enrollment, in Santa Maria, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Delta High?
Delta High has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Delta High rank among high schools in Santa Maria?
By Resource Investment Index, Delta High ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Santa Maria, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Santa Maria on the city page.
What other schools are in Santa Maria Joint Union High?
Besides Delta High, Santa Maria Joint Union High also operates Santa Maria High (3,143 students), Pioneer Valley High (3,080 students), and Ernest Righetti High (2,416 students). See the Santa Maria Joint Union High district page for the complete list.