Enrollment
2,372
California · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Whittier, CA
La Serna High
Federal NCES profile for La Serna High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 064248006952
👥 S:T ratio 0
📚 AP courses 95
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Serna High earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #4 of 6
- high schools in Whittier · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.5:1
- large classes for California
- 39.6%
- free-lunch eligible
La Serna High has class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Serna High ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Whittier, CA.
School address
District: Whittier Union High · California
NCES ID 064248006952 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
93.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
25.5:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
39.6%
vs 55.5% California avg
-29% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How La Serna High compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at La Serna High
La Serna High is a large high school in Whittier, California, enrolling 2,372 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 25.5:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 39.6% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 98% of state schools at 2,372 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 247 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #183, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (83% of enrollment) (diversity index 30/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 19 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 365 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 19.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Whittier's high schools, it stands alongside California High (2,261 students): La Serna High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (25.5:1 vs 20.9:1).
Whittier Union High also operates California High (2,261 students) and Santa Fe High (1,865 students) alongside La Serna 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 Serna High compares
La Serna 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 | 25.5:1 | ▲ 19% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.6% | ▼ 29% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,372 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.5:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,372
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
39.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% 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
25.5:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 82% in California - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
19.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$18,738
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors6.5 FTE
Per 365 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 93 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
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 83.2%
White 10.0%
Asian 4.2%
African American 1.1%
Two or More 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 83.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.6, La Serna High is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 19
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Whittier Union High, which includes La Serna High.
$18,738
Per student
+14%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+13%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.5%
State 61.9%
Federal 10.5%
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 Serna High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| California High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Santa Fe High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Whittier High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pioneer High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Frontier High (Continuation) | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Serna High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,261
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,865
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,652
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,000
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 364
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar high schools in Whittier
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
California High
Standard public school
2,261 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Whittier High
Standard public school
1,652 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Pioneer High
Standard public school
1,000 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Frontier High (Continuation)
Alternative education program
364 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Sierra Vista High (Alternative)
Alternative education program
284 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~2,372 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~25.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on La Serna High's federal record.
- Compare La Serna High against another school. Compare schools
- Whittier Union High'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 Serna High
How many students attend La Serna High?
La Serna High has 2,372 students enrolled. It is a high school in Whittier, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Serna High?
The student-teacher ratio at La Serna High is 25.5:1, which is 19% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 62% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at La Serna High?
39.6% of students at La Serna High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Serna High?
The largest demographic group at La Serna High is Hispanic or Latino at 83.2% of enrollment, in Whittier, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Serna High?
La Serna High has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 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 Serna High rank among high schools in Whittier?
By Resource Investment Index, La Serna High ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Whittier, 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 Whittier on the city page.
Is La Serna High a good school?
La Serna High earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% 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 Whittier Union High?
Besides La Serna High, Whittier Union High also operates California High (2,261 students), Santa Fe High (1,865 students), and Whittier High (1,652 students). See the Whittier Union High 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.