- Enrollment
- 1,481
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · El Cajon, CA
Empower
Federal NCES profile for Empower, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060681014179
👥 S:T ratio 72
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Empower earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 98% of California schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in California.
- #6 of 24
- elementary schools in El Cajon · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 7:1
- small classes for California
- 91.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Empower has class sizes smaller than 98% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Empower ranks #6 of 24 elementary schools in El Cajon, CA.
School address
District: Cajon Valley Union · California
NCES ID 060681014179 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Empower held near 24 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 3.3 → 2.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 060681014179 · El Cajon, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
21 enr · 7:1 · 91.3% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Hillsdale Middle (1,481 students)
Empower held near 24 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 3.3 → 2.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Empower in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hillsdale Midd
Hillsdale Middle
1,481 students
- Naranca Elemen
Naranca Elementary
985 students
- Cajon Valley M
Cajon Valley Middle
942 students
- Montgomery Mid
Montgomery Middle
929 students
- Lexington Elem
Lexington Elementary
878 students
- This school 21
Empower
21 students
What this shows Empower reports 21 students on the CCD universe file.
How Empower compares
Empower 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 | 7:1 | ▼ 67% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.3% | ▲ 65% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 21 | top 97% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
7:1
Leaner classes than 97% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
21
Bigger than 3% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
91.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
7:1
students per teacher
- 67% below state mean
Top 2% in California - lower ratio than 98% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
76.2%
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
$17,631
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 + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 38.1%
White 33.3%
African American 19.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 4.8%
Two or More 4.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 38.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.3, Empower is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Cajon Valley Union reports $17,631 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Empower Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Naranca Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cajon Valley Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Montgomery Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lexington Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Empower's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 985
- Students per teacher
- 30.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 942
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 929
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
Similar elementary schools in El Cajon
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Naranca Elementary
Standard public school
985 students 30.8:1 students per teacher
Lexington Elementary
Standard public school
878 students 27.4:1 students per teacher
Johnson Elementary
Standard public school
766 students 28.4:1 students per teacher
Chase Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
757 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Flying Hills School of Arts
Standard public school
742 students 26.5:1 students per teacher
Magnolia Elementary
Standard public school
703 students 29.3:1 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 (~21 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Empower
How many students attend Empower?
Empower has 21 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in El Cajon, CA. CCD year-over-year: 23 (2022-23) → 24 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Empower?
The student-teacher ratio at Empower is 7:1, which is 67% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 55% lower 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 Empower?
91.3% of students at Empower are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Empower?
The largest demographic group at Empower is Hispanic or Latino at 38.1% of enrollment, in El Cajon, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Empower?
Empower has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Empower rank among elementary schools in El Cajon?
By Resource Investment Index, Empower ranks #6 of 24 elementary schools in El Cajon, 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 El Cajon on the city page.
What other schools are in Cajon Valley Union?
Besides Empower, Cajon Valley Union also operates Hillsdale Middle (1,481 students), Naranca Elementary (985 students), and Cajon Valley Middle (942 students). See the Cajon Valley Union district page for the complete list.