Enrollment
473
California · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
18.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
26.3:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
24.9%
vs 55.5% California avg
-55% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Fern Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Fern Elementary
Fern Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Torrance, California, enrolling 473 students.
Class loads run heavy: 26.3:1 is larger than about 86% of California schools and 22% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 24.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 473 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,254 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #548.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (41%) and White (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 473 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Torrance Unified spends $13,194 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Torrance's elementary schools, it stands alongside Victor Elementary (965 students): Fern Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (26.3:1 vs 24.7:1).
Torrance Unified also operates Torrance High (1,879 students) and North High (1,812 students) alongside Fern Elementary.
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 Fern Elementary compares
Fern Elementary on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$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 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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Torrance Unified, which includes Fern Elementary.
$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 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
- 1,879
- 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 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
Similar elementary 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 (~473 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~26.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Fern Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Fern Elementary 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 Fern Elementary
How many students attend Fern Elementary?
Fern Elementary has 473 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Torrance, CA.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Fern Elementary a good school?
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. 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 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.
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.