- Enrollment
- 1,879
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Torrance, CA
Fern Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Fern Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063942006558
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fern Elementary earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #11 of 20
- elementary schools in Torrance · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 26.3:1
- large classes for California
- 24.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Fern Elementary has class sizes larger than 86% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fern Elementary ranks #11 of 20 elementary schools in Torrance, CA.
School address
District: Torrance Unified · California
NCES ID 063942006558 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+17 students YoY
Fern Elementary held near 482 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 18.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+17 students YoY 063942006558 · Torrance, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
473 enr · 26.3:1 · 24.9% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Torrance High (1,879 students)
Fern Elementary held near 482 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount). Teacher FTE held 18.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Fern Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Torrance High
Torrance High
1,879 students
- North High
North High
1,812 students
- West High
West High
1,775 students
- South High
South High
1,734 students
- Victor Element
Victor Elementary
965 students
- This school 473
Fern Elementary
473 students
What this shows Fern Elementary reports 473 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fern Elementary compares
Fern Elementary 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 | 26.3:1 | ▲ 22% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.9% | ▼ 55% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 473 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.3:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
473
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% 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
26.3:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 86% in California - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
14.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$15,037
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 473 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 40.8%
White 24.3%
Asian 21.8%
Two or More 9.5%
African American 2.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.7, Fern Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Torrance Unified reports $15,037 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fern Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Victor Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fern Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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 elementary schools in Torrance
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Victor Elementary
Standard public school
965 students 24.7:1 students per teacher
Hickory Elementary
Standard public school
847 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
Walteria Elementary
Standard public school
650 students 26:1 students per teacher
Joseph Arnold Elementary
Standard public school
628 students 25.1:1 students per teacher
Anza Elementary
Standard public school
613 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Riviera Elementary
Standard public school
611 students 24.4:1 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 (~473 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fern Elementary
How many students attend Fern Elementary?
Fern Elementary has 473 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Torrance, CA. CCD year-over-year: 465 (2022-23) → 482 (2023-24), nearly flat (+17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fern Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Fern Elementary is 26.3:1, which is 22% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 68% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fern Elementary?
24.9% of students at Fern Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fern Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Fern Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 40.8% of enrollment, in Torrance, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fern Elementary?
Fern Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Fern Elementary rank among elementary schools in Torrance?
By Resource Investment Index, Fern Elementary ranks #11 of 20 elementary 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 elementary schools in Torrance on the city page.
What other schools are in Torrance Unified?
Besides Fern Elementary, 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.