- Enrollment
- 1,536
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ridgecrest, CA
Faller Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Faller Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063680006242
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Faller Elementary earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of California schools.
- #4 of 6
- elementary schools in Ridgecrest · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.6:1
- large classes for California
- 46.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Faller Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Faller Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Ridgecrest, CA.
School address
District: Sierra Sands Unified · California
NCES ID 063680006242 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-34 students YoY
Faller Elementary shrank from 538 students in 2022-23 to 504 in 2023-24 (-6.3%).
Teacher FTE held 21.7 → 21.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-34 students YoY 063680006242 · Ridgecrest, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
516 enr · 24.6:1 · 46.1% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: Burroughs High (1,536 students)
Faller Elementary shrank from 538 students in 2022-23 to 504 in 2023-24 (-6.3%). Teacher FTE held 21.7 → 21.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Faller Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Burroughs High
Burroughs High
1,536 students
- Murray Middle
Murray Middle
643 students
- Las Flores Ele 526
Las Flores Elementary
526 students
- This school 516
Faller Elementary
516 students
- James Monroe M 490
James Monroe Middle
490 students
- Richmond Eleme 364
Richmond Elementary
364 students
What this shows Faller Elementary reports 516 students on the CCD universe file.
How Faller Elementary compares
Faller Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.6:1 | ▲ 14% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.1% | ▼ 17% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 516 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.6:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
516
Bigger than 64% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
24.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 76% in California - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
31.0%
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
$15,165
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 43.0%
Hispanic or Latino 38.4%
Two or More 7.6%
African American 7.2%
Asian 2.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 43.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.6, Faller Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Sierra Sands Unified reports $15,165 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Faller Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burroughs High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Murray Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Las Flores Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| James Monroe Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Richmond Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Faller Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 643
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 526
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 490
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 364
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar elementary schools in Ridgecrest
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Las Flores Elementary
Standard public school
526 students 25:1 students per teacher
Richmond Elementary
Standard public school
364 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Gateway Elementary
Standard public school
346 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Pierce Elementary
Standard public school
297 students 19.8:1 students per teacher
Ridgecrest Elem Acad for Language Music and Sci
Standard public school
239 students 26.6:1 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 (~516 students)
Frequently asked questions about Faller Elementary
How many students attend Faller Elementary?
Faller Elementary has 516 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ridgecrest, CA. CCD year-over-year: 538 (2022-23) → 504 (2023-24), down 34.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Faller Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Faller Elementary is 24.6:1, which is 14% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 57% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Faller Elementary?
46.1% of students at Faller Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Faller Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Faller Elementary is White at 43.0% of enrollment, in Ridgecrest, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Faller Elementary?
Faller Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (lower 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 Faller Elementary rank among elementary schools in Ridgecrest?
By Resource Investment Index, Faller Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest on the city page.
What other schools are in Sierra Sands Unified?
Besides Faller Elementary, Sierra Sands Unified also operates Burroughs High (1,536 students), Murray Middle (643 students), and Las Flores Elementary (526 students). See the Sierra Sands Unified district page for the complete list.