- Enrollment
- 1,536
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ridgecrest, CA
Pierce Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Pierce 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 063680006239
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pierce Elementary earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in Ridgecrest · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.8:1
- students per teacher
- 69.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Pierce Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pierce Elementary ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Ridgecrest, CA.
School address
District: Sierra Sands Unified · California
NCES ID 063680006239 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+3 students YoY
Pierce Elementary held near 318 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 15.2 → 16.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+3 students YoY 063680006239 · Ridgecrest, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
297 enr · 19.8:1 · 69.8% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Burroughs High (1,536 students)
Pierce Elementary held near 318 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE added 15.2 → 16.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Pierce Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Burroughs High
Burroughs High
1,536 students
- Murray Middle
Murray Middle
643 students
- Las Flores Ele 526
Las Flores Elementary
526 students
- Faller Element 516
Faller Elementary
516 students
- James Monroe M 490
James Monroe Middle
490 students
- This school 297
Pierce Elementary
297 students
What this shows Pierce Elementary reports 297 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pierce Elementary compares
Pierce Elementary 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 | 19.8:1 | ▼ 8% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.8% | ▲ 26% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 297 | top 74% | - | - |
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.
297
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
69.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
47.1%
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
$15,165
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 297 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 40.1%
White 32.7%
African American 18.5%
Two or More 6.7%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.3, Pierce Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Sierra Sands Unified reports $15,165 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pierce Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burroughs High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Murray Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Las Flores Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Faller Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| James Monroe Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pierce Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 643
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 526
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 490
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar elementary schools in Ridgecrest
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Las Flores Elementary
Standard public school
526 students 25:1 students per teacher
Faller Elementary
Standard public school
516 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
Richmond Elementary
Standard public school
364 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Gateway Elementary
Standard public school
346 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Ridgecrest Elem Acad for Language Music and Sci
Standard public school
239 students 26.6:1 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 (~297 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pierce Elementary
How many students attend Pierce Elementary?
Pierce Elementary has 297 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ridgecrest, CA. CCD year-over-year: 315 (2022-23) → 318 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pierce Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pierce 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 Pierce Elementary?
69.8% of students at Pierce Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pierce Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Pierce Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 40.1% of enrollment, in Ridgecrest, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pierce Elementary?
Pierce Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (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 Pierce Elementary rank among elementary schools in Ridgecrest?
By Resource Investment Index, Pierce Elementary ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest on the city page.
What other schools are in Sierra Sands Unified?
Besides Pierce Elementary, Sierra Sands Unified also operates Burroughs High (1,536 students), Murray Middle (643 students), and Las Flores Elementary (526 students). See the Sierra Sands Unified district page for the complete list.