- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Carlsbad, CA
La Costa Heights Elementary
Federal NCES profile for La Costa Heights Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 061275008830
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Costa Heights Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #9 of 15
- elementary schools in Carlsbad · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.7:1
- students per teacher
- 9.6%
- free-lunch eligible
La Costa Heights Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Costa Heights Elementary ranks #9 of 15 elementary schools in Carlsbad, CA.
School address
District: Encinitas Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 061275008830 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-41 students YoY
La Costa Heights Elementary shrank from 634 students in 2022-23 to 593 in 2023-24 (-6.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 25.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-41 students YoY 061275008830 · Carlsbad, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
552 enr · 19.7:1 · 9.6% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Capri Elementary (613 students)
La Costa Heights Elementary shrank from 634 students in 2022-23 to 593 in 2023-24 (-6.5%). Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 25.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
La Costa Heights Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Capri Elementa
Capri Elementary
613 students
- Paul Ecke-Cent
Paul Ecke-Central Elementary
569 students
- This school
La Costa Heights Elementary
552 students
- Olivenhain Pio
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary
520 students
- Ocean Knoll El
Ocean Knoll Elementary
479 students
- Park Dale Lane
Park Dale Lane Elementary
424 students
What this shows La Costa Heights Elementary reports 552 students on the CCD universe file.
How La Costa Heights Elementary compares
La Costa Heights 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 | 19.7:1 | ▼ 8% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 9.6% | ▼ 83% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 552 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.7:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
552
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
9.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 83% 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
19.7:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 33% in California - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,128
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.2 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.8%
Hispanic or Latino 14.9%
Two or More 14.1%
Asian 3.8%
African American 0.4%
Largest group: White at 66.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.0, La Costa Heights Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Encinitas Union Elementary reports $17,128 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How La Costa Heights Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capri Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paul Ecke-Central Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ocean Knoll Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Park Dale Lane Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Costa Heights Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 569
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 520
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 479
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar elementary schools in Carlsbad
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Carrillo Elementary
Standard public school
725 students 25:1 students per teacher
La Costa Meadows Elementary
Standard public school
725 students 25:1 students per teacher
Hope Elementary
Standard public school
659 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Pacific Rim Elementary
Standard public school
642 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Aviara Oaks Elementary
Standard public school
612 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary
Standard public school
520 students 20.8:1 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 (~552 students)
Frequently asked questions about La Costa Heights Elementary
How many students attend La Costa Heights Elementary?
La Costa Heights Elementary has 552 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Carlsbad, CA. CCD year-over-year: 634 (2022-23) → 593 (2023-24), down 41.
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Costa Heights Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at La Costa Heights Elementary is 19.7:1, which is 8% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 25% 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 La Costa Heights Elementary?
9.6% of students at La Costa Heights Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Costa Heights Elementary?
The largest demographic group at La Costa Heights Elementary is White at 66.8% of enrollment, in Carlsbad, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Costa Heights Elementary?
La Costa Heights Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical 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 La Costa Heights Elementary rank among elementary schools in Carlsbad?
By Resource Investment Index, La Costa Heights Elementary ranks #9 of 15 elementary schools in Carlsbad, 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 Carlsbad on the city page.
What other schools are in Encinitas Union Elementary?
Besides La Costa Heights Elementary, Encinitas Union Elementary also operates Capri Elementary (613 students), Paul Ecke-Central Elementary (569 students), and Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary (520 students). See the Encinitas Union Elementary district page for the complete list.