- Enrollment
- 2,557
- Students per teacher
- 26.9:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Diego, CA
Highland Ranch Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highland Ranch Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063153001204
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Ranch Elementary earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #159 of 179
- elementary schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26.4:1
- large classes for California
- 12.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Ranch Elementary has class sizes larger than 87% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Ranch Elementary ranks #159 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: Poway Unified · California
NCES ID 063153001204 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+31 students YoY
Highland Ranch Elementary held near 661 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 25.7 → 27.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+31 students YoY 063153001204 · San Diego, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
661 enr · 26.4:1 · 12.9% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Del Norte High (2,557 students)
Highland Ranch Elementary held near 661 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount). Teacher FTE added 25.7 → 27.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Highland Ranch Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Del Norte High
Del Norte High
2,557 students
- Rancho Bernard
Rancho Bernardo High
2,210 students
- Westview High
Westview High
2,116 students
- Poway High
Poway High
2,101 students
- Mt. Carmel Hig
Mt. Carmel High
1,800 students
- This school 661
Highland Ranch Elementary
661 students
What this shows Highland Ranch Elementary reports 661 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Ranch Elementary compares
Highland Ranch 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 | 26.4:1 | ▲ 23% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 12.9% | ▼ 77% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 661 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.4:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
661
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
12.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 77% 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
26.4:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 87% in California - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
17.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,127
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 661 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 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.
Student demographics
Asian 39.8%
White 29.4%
Hispanic or Latino 15.5%
Two or More 12.3%
African American 2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 39.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.5, Highland Ranch Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Poway Unified reports $15,127 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highland Ranch Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Norte High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rancho Bernardo High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Westview High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Poway High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mt. Carmel High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland Ranch Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,210
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 2,116
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,101
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,800
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
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
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 (~661 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Ranch Elementary
How many students attend Highland Ranch Elementary?
Highland Ranch Elementary has 661 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Diego, CA. CCD year-over-year: 630 (2022-23) → 661 (2023-24), nearly flat (+31).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Ranch Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Ranch Elementary is 26.4:1, which is 23% 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 Highland Ranch Elementary?
12.9% of students at Highland Ranch Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Ranch Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Highland Ranch Elementary is Asian at 39.8% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Ranch Elementary?
Highland Ranch Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower 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 Highland Ranch Elementary rank among elementary schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Ranch Elementary ranks #159 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.
What other schools are in Poway Unified?
Besides Highland Ranch Elementary, Poway Unified also operates Del Norte High (2,557 students), Rancho Bernardo High (2,210 students), and Westview High (2,116 students). See the Poway Unified district page for the complete list.