- Enrollment
- 3,175
- Students per teacher
- 27.9:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Palmdale, CA
Palmdale High
Federal NCES profile for Palmdale High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 060282000205
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmdale High earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #2 of 4
- high schools in Palmdale · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21:1
- students per teacher
- 69.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmdale High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmdale High ranks #2 of 4 high schools in Palmdale, CA.
School address
District: Antelope Valley Union High · California
NCES ID 060282000205 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-85 students YoY
Palmdale High held near 2,358 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-85 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 105.2 → 104.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-85 students YoY 060282000205 · Palmdale, CA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,208 enr · 21:1 · 69.1% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Quartz Hill High (3,175 students)
Palmdale High held near 2,358 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-85 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 105.2 → 104.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Palmdale High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Quartz Hill Hi
Quartz Hill High
3,175 students
- Highland High
Highland High
2,706 students
- Lancaster High
Lancaster High
2,688 students
- Eastside High
Eastside High
2,631 students
- William J. (Pe
William J. (Pete) Knight High
2,349 students
- This school
Palmdale High
2,208 students
What this shows Palmdale High reports 2,208 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palmdale High compares
Palmdale High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21:1 | ▼ 2% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.1% | ▲ 25% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,208 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,208
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
69.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% 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
21:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 43% in California - lower ratio than 57% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$15,960
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
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 276 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 260 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 80.0%
African American 14.4%
White 2.9%
Two or More 1.8%
Asian 1.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 80.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.8, Palmdale High is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 19
District finance for Antelope Valley Union High reports $15,960 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Palmdale High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz Hill High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highland High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lancaster High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastside High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William J. (Pete) Knight High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmdale High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,706
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 2,688
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 2,631
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 2,349
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Palmdale
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~2,208 students)
Frequently asked questions about Palmdale High
How many students attend Palmdale High?
Palmdale High has 2,208 students enrolled. It is a high school in Palmdale, CA. CCD year-over-year: 2,443 (2022-23) → 2,358 (2023-24), nearly flat (-85).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmdale High?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmdale High is 21:1, which is 2% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 34% 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 Palmdale High?
69.1% of students at Palmdale High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmdale High?
The largest demographic group at Palmdale High is Hispanic or Latino at 80.0% of enrollment, in Palmdale, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palmdale High?
Palmdale High 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, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Palmdale High rank among high schools in Palmdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmdale High ranks #2 of 4 high schools in Palmdale, 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 Palmdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Antelope Valley Union High?
Besides Palmdale High, Antelope Valley Union High also operates Quartz Hill High (3,175 students), Highland High (2,706 students), and Lancaster High (2,688 students). See the Antelope Valley Union High district page for the complete list.