Enrollment
455
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chula Vista, CA
Otay Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Otay Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060861007680
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Otay Elementary earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #39 of 42
- elementary schools in Chula Vista · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.8:1
- students per teacher
- 68.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Otay Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Otay Elementary ranks #39 of 42 elementary schools in Chula Vista, CA.
School address
District: Chula Vista Elementary · California
NCES ID 060861007680 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.8:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.9%
vs 55.5% California avg
+24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Otay Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Otay Elementary
Otay Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Chula Vista, California, enrolling 455 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 19.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 455 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 2,071 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #1,178.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (91% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 17/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 771 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 60.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Chula Vista's elementary schools, it stands alongside Feaster (Mae L.) Charter (1,095 students): Otay Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.8:1 vs 19.6:1).
Chula Vista Elementary also operates Wolf Canyon Elementary (954 students) and Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary (889 students) alongside Otay 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 Otay Elementary compares
Otay 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 | 19.8:1 | ▼ 8% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.9% | ▲ 24% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 455 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.8:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
455
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% 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
19.8:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 33% in California - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
60.2%
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
$18,653
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
Counselors0.6 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 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 91.0%
Asian 3.7%
Two or More 2.6%
White 1.5%
African American 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 91.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.0, Otay Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Chula Vista Elementary, which includes Otay Elementary.
$18,653
Per student
+13%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 41.0%
State 47.1%
Federal 12.0%
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 Otay Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Canyon Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hedenkamp (Anne and William) Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Salt Creek Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Veterans Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Otay Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 954
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 889
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 855
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 832
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar elementary schools in Chula Vista
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Feaster (Mae L.) Charter
Standard public school
1,095 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Wolf Canyon Elementary
Standard public school
954 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Discovery Charter
Standard public school
945 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Arroyo Vista Charter
Standard public school
911 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary
Standard public school
889 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Hedenkamp (Anne and William) Elementary
Standard public school
855 students 21.9:1 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 (~455 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Otay Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Otay Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Chula Vista 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 Otay Elementary
How many students attend Otay Elementary?
Otay Elementary has 455 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chula Vista, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Otay Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Otay Elementary is 19.8:1, which is 8% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 26% 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 Otay Elementary?
68.9% of students at Otay Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Otay Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Otay Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 91.0% of enrollment, in Chula Vista, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Otay Elementary?
Otay Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Otay Elementary rank among elementary schools in Chula Vista?
By Resource Investment Index, Otay Elementary ranks #39 of 42 elementary schools in Chula Vista, 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 Chula Vista on the city page.
Is Otay Elementary a good school?
Otay Elementary earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Chula Vista Elementary?
Besides Otay Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary also operates Wolf Canyon Elementary (954 students), Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary (889 students), and Hedenkamp (Anne and William) Elementary (855 students). See the Chula Vista 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.