- Enrollment
- 2,536
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Encinitas, CA
La Costa Canyon High
Federal NCES profile for La Costa Canyon High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 16/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 063438006516
👥 S:T ratio 3
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Costa Canyon High earns 16/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #3 of 3
- high schools in Encinitas · Resource Index
- 16
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.3:1
- large classes for California
- 11.8%
- free-lunch eligible
La Costa Canyon High has class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Costa Canyon High ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Encinitas, CA.
School address
District: San Dieguito Union High · California
NCES ID 063438006516 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+126 students YoY
La Costa Canyon High grew from 1,642 students in 2022-23 to 1,768 in 2023-24 (+7.7%).
Teacher FTE added 73.0 → 79.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+126 students YoY 063438006516 · Encinitas, CA High · MID · TRAD
1,774 enr · 24.3:1 · 11.8% lunch · RII 16
Nearest enrollment peer: Torrey Pines High (2,536 students)
La Costa Canyon High grew from 1,642 students in 2022-23 to 1,768 in 2023-24 (+7.7%). Teacher FTE added 73.0 → 79.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
La Costa Canyon High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Torrey Pines H
Torrey Pines High
2,536 students
- Canyon Crest A
Canyon Crest Academy
2,147 students
- San Dieguito H
San Dieguito Hs Academy
1,843 students
- This school
La Costa Canyon High
1,774 students
- Pacific Trails 971
Pacific Trails Middle
971 students
- Oak Crest Midd 758
Oak Crest Middle
758 students
What this shows La Costa Canyon High reports 1,774 students on the CCD universe file.
How La Costa Canyon High compares
La Costa Canyon High 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 | 24.3:1 | ▲ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.8% | ▼ 79% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,774 | top 4% | - | - |
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.
1,774
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
11.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 79% 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
32.6%
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
$14,491
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 444 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 39 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 69.5%
Hispanic or Latino 17.9%
Two or More 6.9%
Asian 4.1%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 69.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.8, La Costa Canyon High is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 23
District finance for San Dieguito Union High reports $14,491 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How La Costa Canyon High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrey Pines High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Canyon Crest Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| San Dieguito Hs Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pacific Trails Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Oak Crest Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Costa Canyon High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,147
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,843
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 971
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 758
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar high schools in Encinitas
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~1,774 students)
Frequently asked questions about La Costa Canyon High
How many students attend La Costa Canyon High?
La Costa Canyon High has 1,774 students enrolled. It is a high school in Encinitas, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,642 (2022-23) → 1,768 (2023-24), up 126.
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Costa Canyon High?
The student-teacher ratio at La Costa Canyon 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 Costa Canyon High?
11.8% of students at La Costa Canyon High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Costa Canyon High?
The largest demographic group at La Costa Canyon High is White at 69.5% of enrollment, in Encinitas, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Costa Canyon High?
La Costa Canyon High has a Resource Investment Index of 16/100 (lower 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 La Costa Canyon High rank among high schools in Encinitas?
By Resource Investment Index, La Costa Canyon High ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Encinitas, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Encinitas on the city page.
What other schools are in San Dieguito Union High?
Besides La Costa Canyon High, San Dieguito Union High also operates Torrey Pines High (2,536 students), Canyon Crest Academy (2,147 students), and San Dieguito Hs Academy (1,843 students). See the San Dieguito Union High district page for the complete list.