- Enrollment
- 2,557
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Chula Vista, CA
Palomar High
Federal NCES profile for Palomar High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 063864006490
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 87
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palomar High earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of California schools.
- #2 of 10
- schools in Chula Vista · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.4:1
- small classes for California
- 75.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Palomar High has class sizes smaller than 92% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palomar High ranks #2 of 10 schools in Chula Vista, CA.
School address
District: Sweetwater Union High · California
NCES ID 063864006490 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+65 students YoY
Palomar High grew from 234 students in 2022-23 to 299 in 2023-24 (+27.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 20.7 → 19.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+65 students YoY 063864006490 · Chula Vista, CA Other · SMALL · TRAD
269 enr · 13.4:1 · 75.2% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Eastlake High (2,557 students)
Palomar High grew from 234 students in 2022-23 to 299 in 2023-24 (+27.8%). Teacher FTE lost 20.7 → 19.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Palomar High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Eastlake High
Eastlake High
2,557 students
- Otay Ranch Sen
Otay Ranch Senior High
2,440 students
- Sweetwater Hig
Sweetwater High
2,290 students
- Olympian High
Olympian High
2,289 students
- Bonita Vista S
Bonita Vista Senior High
1,960 students
- This school 269
Palomar High
269 students
What this shows Palomar High reports 269 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palomar High compares
Palomar High 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 | 13.4:1 | ▼ 38% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.2% | ▲ 35% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 269 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
269
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
75.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% 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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 38% below state mean
Top 8% in California - lower ratio than 92% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$15,327
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 67 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 77.3%
White 12.6%
African American 4.1%
Two or More 3.0%
Asian 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 77.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.4, Palomar High is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Sweetwater Union High reports $15,327 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Palomar High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastlake High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Otay Ranch Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sweetwater High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Olympian High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bonita Vista Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palomar High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,440
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,290
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,289
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,960
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in Chula Vista
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Mueller Charter (Robert L.)
Standard public school
1,542 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Chula Vista Learning Community Charter
Standard public school
1,397 students 20.5:1 students per teacher
Hawking S.T.E.a.M. Charter
Standard public school
1,321 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Pacific Springs Charter
Standard public school
489 students 28.8:1 students per teacher
Learning Choice Academy - Chula Vista
Standard public school
437 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Sweetwater Secondary
Standard public school
372 students 37.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~269 students)
Frequently asked questions about Palomar High
How many students attend Palomar High?
Palomar High has 269 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Chula Vista, CA. CCD year-over-year: 234 (2022-23) → 299 (2023-24), up 65.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palomar High?
The student-teacher ratio at Palomar High is 13.4:1, which is 38% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 15% 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 Palomar High?
75.2% of students at Palomar High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palomar High?
The largest demographic group at Palomar High is Hispanic or Latino at 77.3% of enrollment, in Chula Vista, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palomar High?
Palomar High has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (higher 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 Palomar High rank among schools in Chula Vista?
By Resource Investment Index, Palomar High ranks #2 of 10 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 schools in Chula Vista on the city page.
What other schools are in Sweetwater Union High?
Besides Palomar High, Sweetwater Union High also operates Eastlake High (2,557 students), Otay Ranch Senior High (2,440 students), and Sweetwater High (2,290 students). See the Sweetwater Union High district page for the complete list.