Enrollment
369
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Goleta, CA
La Patera Elementary
Federal NCES profile for La Patera Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 061551001974
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Patera Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of California schools.
- #2 of 6
- elementary schools in Goleta · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.8:1
- small classes for California
- 41.2%
- free-lunch eligible
La Patera Elementary has class sizes smaller than 84% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Patera Elementary ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Goleta, CA.
School address
District: Goleta Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 061551001974 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.8:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
-26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How La Patera Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at La Patera Elementary
La Patera Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Goleta, California, enrolling 369 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 16.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 41.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 369 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 94% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 1,054 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #15, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (57%) and White (32%) (diversity index 57/100).
17.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Goleta Union Elementary spends $22,500 per pupil, 36% above the California average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Goleta's elementary schools, it stands alongside Brandon Elementary (429 students): La Patera Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.8:1 vs 18.7:1).
Goleta Union Elementary also operates Brandon Elementary (429 students) and Isla Vista Elementary (418 students) alongside La Patera 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 La Patera Elementary compares
La Patera 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 | 16.8:1 | ▼ 22% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.2% | ▼ 26% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 369 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
369
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 16% in California - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$22,500
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 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 56.6%
White 32.2%
Two or More 8.7%
Asian 2.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 56.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.8, La Patera Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Goleta Union Elementary, which includes La Patera Elementary.
$22,500
Per student
+36%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+36%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 70.3%
State 19.6%
Federal 10.1%
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 Patera Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Isla Vista Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Foothill Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hollister Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kellogg Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Patera Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 429
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 418
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 413
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 393
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 369
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
Similar elementary schools in Goleta
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Brandon Elementary
Standard public school
429 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Isla Vista Elementary
Standard public school
418 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Kellogg Elementary
Standard public school
369 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Ellwood Elementary
Standard public school
303 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Santa Barbara Charter
Standard public school
269 students 22.4:1 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 (~369 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on La Patera Elementary's federal record.
- Compare La Patera Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Goleta Union Elementary'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 Patera Elementary
How many students attend La Patera Elementary?
La Patera Elementary has 369 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Goleta, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Patera Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at La Patera Elementary is 16.8:1, which is 22% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 7% 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 Patera Elementary?
41.2% of students at La Patera Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Patera Elementary?
The largest demographic group at La Patera Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 56.6% of enrollment, in Goleta, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Patera Elementary?
La Patera Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 La Patera Elementary rank among elementary schools in Goleta?
By Resource Investment Index, La Patera Elementary ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Goleta, 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 Goleta on the city page.
Is La Patera Elementary a good school?
La Patera Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of 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 Goleta Union Elementary?
Besides La Patera Elementary, Goleta Union Elementary also operates Brandon Elementary (429 students), Isla Vista Elementary (418 students), and Foothill Elementary (413 students). See the Goleta Union Elementary 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.