- Enrollment
- 1,079
- Students per teacher
- 25.7:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Diego, CA
Howard Pence Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Howard Pence Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 15/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063738006324
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Howard Pence Elementary earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #173 of 179
- elementary schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 15
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.9:1
- students per teacher
- 66.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Howard Pence Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Pence Elementary ranks #173 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: South Bay Union · California
NCES ID 063738006324 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-33 students YoY
Howard Pence Elementary shrank from 495 students in 2022-23 to 462 in 2023-24 (-6.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 20.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-33 students YoY 063738006324 · San Diego, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
419 enr · 20.9:1 · 66.3% lunch · RII 15
Nearest enrollment peer: Nestor Language Academy Charter (1,079 students)
Howard Pence Elementary shrank from 495 students in 2022-23 to 462 in 2023-24 (-6.7%). Teacher FTE lost 20.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Howard Pence Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Nestor Languag
Nestor Language Academy Charter
1,079 students
- Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach Charter
724 students
- George Nicolof
George Nicoloff Elementary
616 students
- Teofilo Mendoz
Teofilo Mendoza
468 students
- Oneonta Elemen
Oneonta Elementary
434 students
- This school 419
Howard Pence Elementary
419 students
What this shows Howard Pence Elementary reports 419 students on the CCD universe file.
How Howard Pence Elementary compares
Howard Pence Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.9:1 | ▼ 3% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.3% | ▲ 19% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 419 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.9:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
419
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
66.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.9:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 42% in California - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
63.7%
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
$22,191
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 90.5%
Asian 3.6%
White 2.6%
Two or More 2.4%
African American 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 90.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.8, Howard Pence Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for South Bay Union reports $22,191 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Howard Pence Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nestor Language Academy Charter | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Imperial Beach Charter | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Nicoloff Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Teofilo Mendoza | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oneonta Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Howard Pence Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 724
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 616
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 11/100
- Enrollment
- 468
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 27.1:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
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 (~419 students)
Frequently asked questions about Howard Pence Elementary
How many students attend Howard Pence Elementary?
Howard Pence Elementary has 419 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Diego, CA. CCD year-over-year: 495 (2022-23) → 462 (2023-24), down 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard Pence Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard Pence Elementary is 20.9:1, which is 3% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 33% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Howard Pence Elementary?
66.3% of students at Howard Pence Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Howard Pence Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Howard Pence Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 90.5% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Howard Pence Elementary?
Howard Pence Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 15/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Howard Pence Elementary rank among elementary schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Pence Elementary ranks #173 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 South Bay Union?
Besides Howard Pence Elementary, South Bay Union also operates Nestor Language Academy Charter (1,079 students), Imperial Beach Charter (724 students), and George Nicoloff Elementary (616 students). See the South Bay Union district page for the complete list.