Enrollment
651
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Torrance, CA
Edward J. Richardson Middle
Federal NCES profile for Edward J. Richardson Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 063942002214
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 85
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Edward J. Richardson Middle earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 8
- middle schools in Torrance · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.1:1
- large classes for California
- 14.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Edward J. Richardson Middle has class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Edward J. Richardson Middle ranks #3 of 8 middle schools in Torrance, CA.
School address
District: Torrance Unified · California
NCES ID 063942002214 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.1:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
14.4%
vs 55.5% California avg
-74% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Edward J. Richardson Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Edward J. Richardson Middle
Edward J. Richardson Middle is a lower-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Torrance, California, enrolling 651 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.1:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 14.4% free-meal eligibility runs 74% below the California average.
Enrollment of 651 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,098 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #344.
Its student body is led by White (34%) and Asian (34%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 651 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance holds up well here: only 6.1% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Torrance Unified spends $13,194 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Torrance's middle schools, it stands alongside Madrona Middle (678 students): Edward J. Richardson Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.1:1 vs 25.1:1).
Torrance Unified also operates Torrance High (1,879 students) and North High (1,812 students) alongside Edward J. Richardson Middle.
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 Edward J. Richardson Middle compares
Edward J. Richardson Middle on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.1:1 | ▲ 12% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.4% | ▼ 74% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 651 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.1:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
651
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
14.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 74% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
24.1:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 72% in California - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
6.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,194
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 651 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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
White 34.3%
Asian 34.3%
Hispanic or Latino 17.1%
Two or More 12.4%
African American 2.0%
Largest group: Asian at 34.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.0, Edward J. Richardson Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Torrance Unified, which includes Edward J. Richardson Middle.
$13,194
Per student
-20%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.0%
State 52.3%
Federal 9.8%
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 Edward J. Richardson Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Victor Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Edward J. Richardson Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,879
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,812
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,775
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 1,734
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 965
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar middle schools in Torrance
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Madrona Middle
Standard public school
678 students 25.1:1 students per teacher
Jefferson Middle
Standard public school
674 students 25.9:1 students per teacher
Philip Magruder Middle
Standard public school
635 students 26.5:1 students per teacher
Calle Mayor Middle
Standard public school
626 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
J. H. Hull Middle
Standard public school
621 students 22.2:1 students per teacher
Casimir Middle
Standard public school
617 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~651 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Edward J. Richardson Middle's federal record.
- Compare Edward J. Richardson Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Torrance 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 Edward J. Richardson Middle
How many students attend Edward J. Richardson Middle?
Edward J. Richardson Middle has 651 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Torrance, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Edward J. Richardson Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Edward J. Richardson Middle is 24.1:1, which is 12% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 54% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Edward J. Richardson Middle?
14.4% of students at Edward J. Richardson Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Edward J. Richardson Middle?
The largest demographic group at Edward J. Richardson Middle is Asian at 34.3% of enrollment, in Torrance, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Edward J. Richardson Middle?
Edward J. Richardson Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical 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 Edward J. Richardson Middle rank among middle schools in Torrance?
By Resource Investment Index, Edward J. Richardson Middle ranks #3 of 8 middle schools in Torrance, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Torrance on the city page.
Is Edward J. Richardson Middle a good school?
Edward J. Richardson Middle earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Torrance Unified?
Besides Edward J. Richardson Middle, Torrance Unified also operates Torrance High (1,879 students), North High (1,812 students), and West High (1,775 students). See the Torrance 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.