- Enrollment
- 808
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Redwood City, CA
Orion Alternative
Federal NCES profile for Orion Alternative, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063213008182
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Orion Alternative earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #5 of 13
- elementary schools in Redwood City · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26.9:1
- large classes for California
- 30.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Orion Alternative has class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Orion Alternative ranks #5 of 13 elementary schools in Redwood City, CA.
School address
District: Redwood City Elementary · California
NCES ID 063213008182 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+42 students YoY
Orion Alternative grew from 419 students in 2022-23 to 461 in 2023-24 (+10.0%).
Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 20.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+42 students YoY 063213008182 · Redwood City, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
512 enr · 26.9:1 · 30.1% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: John F. Kennedy Middle (808 students)
Orion Alternative grew from 419 students in 2022-23 to 461 in 2023-24 (+10.0%). Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 20.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Orion Alternative in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- John F. Kenned
John F. Kennedy Middle
808 students
- Clifford Eleme
Clifford Elementary
698 students
- Hoover Element
Hoover Elementary
675 students
- Roy Cloud Elem
Roy Cloud Elementary
636 students
- Adelante Selby
Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion
582 students
- This school
Orion Alternative
512 students
What this shows Orion Alternative reports 512 students on the CCD universe file.
How Orion Alternative compares
Orion Alternative 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 | 26.9:1 | ▲ 25% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.1% | ▼ 46% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 512 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.9:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
512
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
30.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
26.9:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 89% in California - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
16.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$20,855
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 28.7%
Two or More 24.2%
White 22.9%
Asian 21.9%
African American 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 28.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.8, Orion Alternative is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Redwood City Elementary reports $20,855 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Orion Alternative Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Clifford Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hoover Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Roy Cloud Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Orion Alternative's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 698
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 675
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 636
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 582
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
Similar elementary schools in Redwood City
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Kipp Excelencia Community Preparatory
Standard public school
711 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
Clifford Elementary
Standard public school
698 students 23.3:1 students per teacher
Hoover Elementary
Standard public school
675 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Roy Cloud Elementary
Standard public school
636 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Sandpiper Elementary
Standard public school
534 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
North Star Academy
Standard public school
527 students 27.7:1 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 (~512 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~26.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about Orion Alternative
How many students attend Orion Alternative?
Orion Alternative has 512 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Redwood City, CA. CCD year-over-year: 419 (2022-23) → 461 (2023-24), up 42.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Orion Alternative?
The student-teacher ratio at Orion Alternative is 26.9:1, which is 25% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 71% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Orion Alternative?
30.1% of students at Orion Alternative are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Orion Alternative?
The largest demographic group at Orion Alternative is Hispanic or Latino at 28.7% of enrollment, in Redwood City, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Orion Alternative?
Orion Alternative has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 Orion Alternative rank among elementary schools in Redwood City?
By Resource Investment Index, Orion Alternative ranks #5 of 13 elementary schools in Redwood City, 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 Redwood City on the city page.
What other schools are in Redwood City Elementary?
Besides Orion Alternative, Redwood City Elementary also operates John F. Kennedy Middle (808 students), Clifford Elementary (698 students), and Hoover Elementary (675 students). See the Redwood City Elementary district page for the complete list.