Enrollment
386
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Diego, CA
High Tech Elementary Explorer
Federal NCES profile for High Tech Elementary Explorer, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 11/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060176808602Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
High Tech Elementary Explorer earns 11/100 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.
- #176 of 179
- elementary schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 11
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.1:1
- large classes for California
- 37.2%
- free-lunch eligible
High Tech Elementary Explorer has class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, High Tech Elementary Explorer ranks #176 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: High Tech Elementary Explorer District · California
NCES ID 060176808602 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
16.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.1:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
37.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
-33% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How High Tech Elementary Explorer compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at High Tech Elementary Explorer
High Tech Elementary Explorer is a mid-sized charter elementary school in San Diego, California, enrolling 386 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.1:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 37.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 386 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 1,070 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #1,038, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (48%) and White (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 48.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding High Tech Elementary Explorer District spends $11,803 per pupil, 29% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among San Diego's elementary schools, it stands alongside Albert Einstein Academies (1,448 students): High Tech Elementary Explorer is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.1:1 vs 24.1:1).
High Tech Elementary Explorer District is a single-school charter district, so High Tech Elementary Explorer operates independently rather than alongside district-mates.
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 High Tech Elementary Explorer compares
High Tech Elementary Explorer 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 | 37.2% | ▼ 33% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 386 | top 63% | - | - |
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.
386
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
37.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; 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
48.4%
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
$11,803
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
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: 0.3 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 47.5%
White 25.5%
Asian 12.5%
African American 8.3%
Two or More 4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 47.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.4, High Tech Elementary Explorer is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for High Tech Elementary Explorer District, which includes High Tech Elementary Explorer.
$11,803
Per student
-29%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 59.5%
State 30.2%
Federal 10.3%
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.
Similar elementary schools in San Diego
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Albert Einstein Academies
Standard public school
1,448 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Design 39 Campus
Standard public school
1,216 students 27:1 students per teacher
Nestor Language Academy Charter
Standard public school
1,079 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
Ocean View Hills
Standard public school
1,020 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Language Academy
Standard public school
1,015 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Del Sur Elementary
Standard public school
891 students 24.1:1 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 (~386 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on High Tech Elementary Explorer's federal record.
- Compare High Tech Elementary Explorer against another school. Compare schools
- High Tech Elementary Explorer District'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 High Tech Elementary Explorer
How many students attend High Tech Elementary Explorer?
High Tech Elementary Explorer has 386 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Diego, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at High Tech Elementary Explorer?
The student-teacher ratio at High Tech Elementary Explorer 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 High Tech Elementary Explorer?
37.2% of students at High Tech Elementary Explorer are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of High Tech Elementary Explorer?
The largest demographic group at High Tech Elementary Explorer is Hispanic or Latino at 47.5% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for High Tech Elementary Explorer?
High Tech Elementary Explorer has a Resource Investment Index of 11/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does High Tech Elementary Explorer rank among elementary schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, High Tech Elementary Explorer ranks #176 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, 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 San Diego on the city page.
Is High Tech Elementary Explorer a good school?
High Tech Elementary Explorer earns 11/100 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 High Tech Elementary Explorer District?
None; High Tech Elementary Explorer District is a single-school charter district, and High Tech Elementary Explorer is its only campus.
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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.