Enrollment
419
California · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.9:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.3%
vs 55.5% California avg
+19% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Howard Pence Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Howard Pence Elementary
Howard Pence Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in San Diego, California, enrolling 419 students.
At 20.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the California median, within a few percentage points of the 21.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 66.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 419 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 91% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 1,860 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #1,539, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (91% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 18/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 63.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 16.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among San Diego's elementary schools, it stands alongside Albert Einstein Academies (1,448 students): Howard Pence Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20.9:1 vs 24.1:1).
South Bay Union also operates Nestor Language Academy Charter (1,079 students) and Imperial Beach Charter (724 students) alongside Howard Pence 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 Howard Pence Elementary compares
Howard Pence 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$18,310
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
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for South Bay Union, which includes Howard Pence Elementary.
$18,310
Per student
+11%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.7%
State 55.4%
Federal 16.9%
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 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
- 1,079
- Students per teacher
- 25.7:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- 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
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 (~419 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Howard Pence Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Howard Pence Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- South Bay Union'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 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.
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, attendance rates. 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.
Is Howard Pence Elementary a good school?
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. 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 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.
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.