- Enrollment
- 2,372
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Whittier, CA
Pioneer High
Federal NCES profile for Pioneer High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 064248006953
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pioneer High earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 84% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #5 of 6
- high schools in Whittier · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.9:1
- small classes for California
- 72.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Pioneer High has class sizes smaller than 84% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer High ranks #5 of 6 high schools in Whittier, CA.
School address
District: Whittier Union High · California
NCES ID 064248006953 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-80 students YoY
Pioneer High shrank from 1,152 students in 2022-23 to 1,072 in 2023-24 (-6.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 59.7 → 57.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-80 students YoY 064248006953 · Whittier, CA High · MID · TRAD
1,000 enr · 16.9:1 · 72.4% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: La Serna High (2,372 students)
Pioneer High shrank from 1,152 students in 2022-23 to 1,072 in 2023-24 (-6.9%). Teacher FTE lost 59.7 → 57.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Pioneer High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- La Serna High
La Serna High
2,372 students
- California Hig
California High
2,261 students
- Santa Fe High
Santa Fe High
1,865 students
- Whittier High
Whittier High
1,652 students
- This school
Pioneer High
1,000 students
- Frontier High 364
Frontier High (Continuation)
364 students
What this shows Pioneer High reports 1,000 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pioneer High compares
Pioneer High 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 | 16.9:1 | ▼ 21% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.4% | ▲ 30% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,000 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,000
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
72.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 16% in California - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
41.1%
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
$21,281
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.5 FTE
Per 286 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 76 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 95.4%
White 2.6%
African American 0.8%
Asian 0.8%
Two or More 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 95.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 8.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 8.9, Pioneer High is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
District finance for Whittier Union High reports $21,281 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pioneer High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Serna High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| California High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Santa Fe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Whittier High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Frontier High (Continuation) | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pioneer High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,261
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,865
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,652
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 364
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar high schools in Whittier
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
La Serna High
Standard public school
2,372 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
California High
Standard public school
2,261 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Whittier High
Standard public school
1,652 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Frontier High (Continuation)
Alternative education program
364 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Sierra Vista High (Alternative)
Alternative education program
284 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
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 (~1,000 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pioneer High
How many students attend Pioneer High?
Pioneer High has 1,000 students enrolled. It is a high school in Whittier, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,152 (2022-23) → 1,072 (2023-24), down 80.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer High?
The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer High is 16.9:1, which is 21% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 8% 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 Pioneer High?
72.4% of students at Pioneer High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pioneer High?
The largest demographic group at Pioneer High is Hispanic or Latino at 95.4% of enrollment, in Whittier, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pioneer High?
Pioneer High has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (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 Pioneer High rank among high schools in Whittier?
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer High ranks #5 of 6 high schools in Whittier, 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 Whittier on the city page.
What other schools are in Whittier Union High?
Besides Pioneer High, Whittier Union High also operates La Serna High (2,372 students), California High (2,261 students), and Santa Fe High (1,865 students). See the Whittier Union High district page for the complete list.