- Enrollment
- 812
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Santa Maria, CA
Orcutt School for Independent Study
Federal NCES profile for Orcutt School for Independent Study, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062871014591
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 12
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Orcutt School for Independent Study earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 90% of California schools.
- #11 of 24
- elementary schools in Santa Maria · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.7:1
- small classes for California
- 57.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Orcutt School for Independent Study has class sizes smaller than 90% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Orcutt School for Independent Study ranks #11 of 24 elementary schools in Santa Maria, CA.
School address
District: Orcutt Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 062871014591 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
Orcutt School for Independent Study shrank from 47 students in 2022-23 to 44 in 2023-24 (-6.4%).
Teacher FTE held 3.4 → 3.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-3 students YoY 062871014591 · Santa Maria, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
44 enr · 14.7:1 · 57.4% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Orcutt Academy Charter (812 students)
Orcutt School for Independent Study shrank from 47 students in 2022-23 to 44 in 2023-24 (-6.4%). Teacher FTE held 3.4 → 3.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Orcutt School for Independent Study in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Orcutt Academy
Orcutt Academy Charter
812 students
- Joe Nightingal
Joe Nightingale Elementary
695 students
- Patterson Road
Patterson Road Elementary
662 students
- Pine Grove Ele
Pine Grove Elementary
569 students
- Alice Shaw Ele
Alice Shaw Elementary
530 students
- This school 44
Orcutt School for Independent Study
44 students
What this shows Orcutt School for Independent Study reports 44 students on the CCD universe file.
How Orcutt School for Independent Study compares
Orcutt School for Independent Study 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 | 14.7:1 | ▼ 32% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.4% | ▲ 3% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 44 | top 94% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
44
Bigger than 5% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 32% below state mean
Top 10% in California - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$14,143
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
Counselors0.1 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 56.8%
White 31.8%
Asian 4.5%
Two or More 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 56.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.2, Orcutt School for Independent Study is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Orcutt Union Elementary reports $14,143 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Orcutt School for Independent Study Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orcutt Academy Charter | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joe Nightingale Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Patterson Road Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pine Grove Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alice Shaw Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Orcutt School for Independent Study's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 695
- Students per teacher
- 26.7:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 662
- Students per teacher
- 30.1:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 569
- Students per teacher
- 28.4:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 530
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar elementary schools in Santa Maria
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Jimenez Roberto and Dr. Francisco Elementary
Standard public school
1,177 students 29.4:1 students per teacher
Bruce (Robert) Elementary
Standard public school
1,050 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Alvin Elementary
Standard public school
998 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary
Standard public school
917 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Rice (William) Elementary
Standard public school
887 students 24:1 students per teacher
Miller (Isaac) Elementary
Standard public school
883 students 25.2:1 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 (~44 students)
Frequently asked questions about Orcutt School for Independent Study
How many students attend Orcutt School for Independent Study?
Orcutt School for Independent Study has 44 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Santa Maria, CA. CCD year-over-year: 47 (2022-23) → 44 (2023-24), down 3.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Orcutt School for Independent Study?
The student-teacher ratio at Orcutt School for Independent Study is 14.7:1, which is 32% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 6% lower 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 Orcutt School for Independent Study?
57.4% of students at Orcutt School for Independent Study are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Orcutt School for Independent Study?
The largest demographic group at Orcutt School for Independent Study is Hispanic or Latino at 56.8% of enrollment, in Santa Maria, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Orcutt School for Independent Study?
Orcutt School for Independent Study has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Orcutt School for Independent Study rank among elementary schools in Santa Maria?
By Resource Investment Index, Orcutt School for Independent Study ranks #11 of 24 elementary schools in Santa Maria, 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 Santa Maria on the city page.
What other schools are in Orcutt Union Elementary?
Besides Orcutt School for Independent Study, Orcutt Union Elementary also operates Orcutt Academy Charter (812 students), Joe Nightingale Elementary (695 students), and Patterson Road Elementary (662 students). See the Orcutt Union Elementary district page for the complete list.