- Enrollment
- 1,879
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Torrance, CA
Howard Wood Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Howard Wood Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063942006581
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Howard Wood Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #1 of 20
- elementary schools in Torrance · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.2:1
- students per teacher
- 31.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Howard Wood Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Wood Elementary ranks #1 of 20 elementary schools in Torrance, CA.
School address
District: Torrance Unified · California
NCES ID 063942006581 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+36 students YoY
Howard Wood Elementary grew from 343 students in 2022-23 to 379 in 2023-24 (+10.5%).
Teacher FTE held 17.5 → 17.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+36 students YoY 063942006581 · Torrance, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
344 enr · 20.2:1 · 31.2% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Torrance High (1,879 students)
Howard Wood Elementary grew from 343 students in 2022-23 to 379 in 2023-24 (+10.5%). Teacher FTE held 17.5 → 17.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Howard Wood Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Torrance High
Torrance High
1,879 students
- North High
North High
1,812 students
- West High
West High
1,775 students
- South High
South High
1,734 students
- Victor Element
Victor Elementary
965 students
- This school 344
Howard Wood Elementary
344 students
What this shows Howard Wood Elementary reports 344 students on the CCD universe file.
How Howard Wood Elementary compares
Howard Wood Elementary is a growing 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 | 20.2:1 | ▼ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.2% | ▼ 44% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 344 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.2:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
344
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
31.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% 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
20.2:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 36% in California - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
16.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,037
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 344 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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 52.6%
Asian 19.8%
White 14.5%
Two or More 9.9%
African American 2.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 52.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.3, Howard Wood Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Torrance Unified reports $15,037 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Howard Wood Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Victor Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Howard Wood Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,812
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,775
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 1,734
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 965
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Torrance
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Victor Elementary
Standard public school
965 students 24.7:1 students per teacher
Hickory Elementary
Standard public school
847 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
Walteria Elementary
Standard public school
650 students 26:1 students per teacher
Joseph Arnold Elementary
Standard public school
628 students 25.1:1 students per teacher
Anza Elementary
Standard public school
613 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Riviera Elementary
Standard public school
611 students 24.4:1 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 (~344 students)
Frequently asked questions about Howard Wood Elementary
How many students attend Howard Wood Elementary?
Howard Wood Elementary has 344 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Torrance, CA. CCD year-over-year: 343 (2022-23) → 379 (2023-24), up 36.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard Wood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard Wood Elementary is 20.2:1, which is 6% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 29% 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 Wood Elementary?
31.2% of students at Howard Wood Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Howard Wood Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Howard Wood Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 52.6% of enrollment, in Torrance, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Howard Wood Elementary?
Howard Wood Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical 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 Howard Wood Elementary rank among elementary schools in Torrance?
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Wood Elementary ranks #1 of 20 elementary schools in Torrance, 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 Torrance on the city page.
What other schools are in Torrance Unified?
Besides Howard Wood Elementary, Torrance Unified also operates Torrance High (1,879 students), North High (1,812 students), and West High (1,775 students). See the Torrance Unified district page for the complete list.