Enrollment
1,989
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · La Canada, CA
La Canada High
Federal NCES profile for La Canada High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 062013002408
👥 S:T ratio 3
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 80
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Canada High earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in La Canada · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 24.3:1
- large classes for California
- 5.3%
- free-lunch eligible
La Canada High has class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Canada High ranks #1 of 4 public schools in La Canada, CA.
School address
District: La Canada Unified · California
NCES ID 062013002408 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
82.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.3:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
5.3%
vs 55.5% California avg
-90% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How La Canada High compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at La Canada High
La Canada High is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in La Canada, California, enrolling 1,989 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.3:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 5.3% free-meal eligibility runs 90% below the California average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 97% of state schools at 1,989 students.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 93% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 111 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #2, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (44%) and Asian (31%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 249 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.0% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
La Canada Unified also operates Paradise Canyon Elementary (715 students) and Palm Crest Elementary (642 students) alongside La Canada High.
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 La Canada High compares
La Canada High 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 | 5.3% | ▼ 90% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,989 | top 3% | - | - |
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.
1,989
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
5.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 90% 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
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
8.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$14,462
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 249 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 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
White 44.1%
Asian 31.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.4%
Two or More 11.0%
African American 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 44.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.8, La Canada High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 19
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for La Canada Unified, which includes La Canada High.
$14,462
Per student
-12%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-13%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 58.5%
State 36.0%
Federal 5.5%
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 La Canada High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise Canyon Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palm Crest Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| La Canada Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Canada High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 715
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 642
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 633
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other 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 (~1,989 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on La Canada High's federal record.
- Compare La Canada High against another school. Compare schools
- La Canada Unified'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 La Canada High
How many students attend La Canada High?
La Canada High has 1,989 students enrolled. It is a public school in La Canada, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Canada High?
The student-teacher ratio at La Canada High 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 La Canada High?
5.3% of students at La Canada High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Canada High?
The largest demographic group at La Canada High is White at 44.1% of enrollment, in La Canada, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Canada High?
La Canada High has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does La Canada High rank among public schools in La Canada?
By Resource Investment Index, La Canada High ranks #1 of 4 public schools in La Canada, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in La Canada on the city page.
Is La Canada High a good school?
La Canada High earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California. 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 La Canada Unified?
Besides La Canada High, La Canada Unified also operates Paradise Canyon Elementary (715 students), Palm Crest Elementary (642 students), and La Canada Elementary (633 students). See the La Canada Unified 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.