Enrollment
559
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chula Vista, CA
Hilltop Drive Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Hilltop Drive Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060861000862
👥 S:T ratio 3
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hilltop Drive Elementary earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of California schools.
- #35 of 42
- elementary schools in Chula Vista · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.3:1
- large classes for California
- 53.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Hilltop Drive Elementary has class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hilltop Drive Elementary ranks #35 of 42 elementary schools in Chula Vista, CA.
School address
District: Chula Vista Elementary · California
NCES ID 060861000862 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.3:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
53.4%
vs 55.5% California avg
-4% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hilltop Drive Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hilltop Drive Elementary
Hilltop Drive Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Chula Vista, California, enrolling 559 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.3:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 53.4% lands close to the California typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 559 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,611 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #878.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (83% of enrollment) (diversity index 30/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 43.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Chula Vista's elementary schools, it stands alongside Feaster (Mae L.) Charter (1,095 students): Hilltop Drive Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (24.3:1 vs 19.6:1).
Chula Vista Elementary also operates Wolf Canyon Elementary (954 students) and Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary (889 students) alongside Hilltop Drive 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 Hilltop Drive Elementary compares
Hilltop Drive 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 | 24.3:1 | ▲ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.4% | ▼ 4% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 559 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.3:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
559
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
53.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% 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
24.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 74% in California - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
43.3%
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
$18,653
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 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 83.0%
White 6.4%
Two or More 5.9%
Asian 2.1%
African American 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 83.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.3, Hilltop Drive Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Chula Vista Elementary, which includes Hilltop Drive Elementary.
$18,653
Per student
+13%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 41.0%
State 47.1%
Federal 12.0%
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 Hilltop Drive Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Canyon Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hedenkamp (Anne and William) Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Salt Creek Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Veterans Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hilltop Drive Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 954
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 889
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 855
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 832
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar elementary schools in Chula Vista
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Feaster (Mae L.) Charter
Standard public school
1,095 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Wolf Canyon Elementary
Standard public school
954 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Discovery Charter
Standard public school
945 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Arroyo Vista Charter
Standard public school
911 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary
Standard public school
889 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Hedenkamp (Anne and William) Elementary
Standard public school
855 students 21.9:1 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 (~559 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hilltop Drive Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Hilltop Drive Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Chula Vista Elementary'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 Hilltop Drive Elementary
How many students attend Hilltop Drive Elementary?
Hilltop Drive Elementary has 559 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chula Vista, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hilltop Drive Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Hilltop Drive Elementary is 24.3:1, which is 13% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 55% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hilltop Drive Elementary?
53.4% of students at Hilltop Drive Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hilltop Drive Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Hilltop Drive Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 83.0% of enrollment, in Chula Vista, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hilltop Drive Elementary?
Hilltop Drive Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (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 Hilltop Drive Elementary rank among elementary schools in Chula Vista?
By Resource Investment Index, Hilltop Drive Elementary ranks #35 of 42 elementary schools in Chula Vista, 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 Chula Vista on the city page.
Is Hilltop Drive Elementary a good school?
Hilltop Drive Elementary earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of 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 Chula Vista Elementary?
Besides Hilltop Drive Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary also operates Wolf Canyon Elementary (954 students), Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary (889 students), and Hedenkamp (Anne and William) Elementary (855 students). See the Chula Vista Elementary 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.