- Enrollment
- 524
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Pacifica, CA
Ortega Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ortega Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062046011430
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ortega Elementary earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #4 of 6
- elementary schools in Pacifica · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.3:1
- students per teacher
- 11.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Ortega Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ortega Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Pacifica, CA.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-25 students YoY
Ortega Elementary shrank from 427 students in 2022-23 to 402 in 2023-24 (-5.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-25 students YoY 062046011430 · Pacifica, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
404 enr · 21.3:1 · 11.5% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Cabrillo Elementary (524 students)
Ortega Elementary shrank from 427 students in 2022-23 to 402 in 2023-24 (-5.9%). Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Ortega Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cabrillo Eleme
Cabrillo Elementary
524 students
- Vallemar Eleme
Vallemar Elementary
500 students
- Ingrid B. Lacy
Ingrid B. Lacy Middle
484 students
- This school
Ortega Elementary
404 students
- Ocean Shore El
Ocean Shore Elementary
368 students
- Sunset Ridge E
Sunset Ridge Elementary
348 students
What this shows Ortega Elementary reports 404 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ortega Elementary compares
Ortega 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 | 21.3:1 | ▼ 1% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.5% | ▼ 79% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 404 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.3:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
404
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
11.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 79% 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
21.3:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 46% in California - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
21.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,380
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
Counselors1.2 FTE
Per 337 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 50.5%
Hispanic or Latino 19.1%
Two or More 18.1%
Asian 10.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
African American 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 50.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.4, Ortega Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Pacifica reports $15,380 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ortega Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrillo Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vallemar Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ingrid B. Lacy Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ocean Shore Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sunset Ridge Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ortega Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 500
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 368
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 348
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Similar elementary schools in Pacifica
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Cabrillo Elementary
Standard public school
524 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Vallemar Elementary
Standard public school
500 students 23.8:1 students per teacher
Ocean Shore Elementary
Standard public school
368 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Sunset Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
348 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Pacifica Independent Home Study
Alternative education program
12 students 6:1 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 (~404 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ortega Elementary
How many students attend Ortega Elementary?
Ortega Elementary has 404 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Pacifica, CA. CCD year-over-year: 427 (2022-23) → 402 (2023-24), down 25.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ortega Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ortega Elementary is 21.3:1, which is 1% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 36% 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 Ortega Elementary?
11.5% of students at Ortega Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ortega Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ortega Elementary is White at 50.5% of enrollment, in Pacifica, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ortega Elementary?
Ortega Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ortega Elementary rank among elementary schools in Pacifica?
By Resource Investment Index, Ortega Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Pacifica, 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 Pacifica on the city page.
What other schools are in Pacifica?
Besides Ortega Elementary, Pacifica also operates Cabrillo Elementary (524 students), Vallemar Elementary (500 students), and Ingrid B. Lacy Middle (484 students). See the Pacifica district page for the complete list.