- Enrollment
- 859
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Lancaster, CA
Sierra Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sierra Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062088002513
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sierra Elementary earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of California schools.
- #9 of 28
- elementary schools in Lancaster · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 25.3:1
- large classes for California
- 84.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Sierra Elementary has class sizes larger than 81% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Elementary ranks #9 of 28 elementary schools in Lancaster, CA.
School address
District: Lancaster Elementary · California
NCES ID 062088002513 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+20 students YoY
Sierra Elementary held near 711 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 25.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+20 students YoY 062088002513 · Lancaster, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
707 enr · 25.3:1 · 84.2% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Amargosa Creek Middle (859 students)
Sierra Elementary held near 711 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 25.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Sierra Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Amargosa Creek
Amargosa Creek Middle
859 students
- New Vista Midd
New Vista Middle
835 students
- Endeavour Midd
Endeavour Middle
805 students
- Monte Vista El
Monte Vista Elementary
788 students
- El Dorado Elem
El Dorado Elementary
766 students
- This school
Sierra Elementary
707 students
What this shows Sierra Elementary reports 707 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sierra Elementary compares
Sierra 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 | 25.3:1 | ▲ 18% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.2% | ▲ 52% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 707 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.3:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
707
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
84.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
25.3:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 81% in California - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
60.4%
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
$17,702
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.9 FTE
Per 370 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: 4.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 57.0%
African American 29.4%
White 6.2%
Two or More 5.5%
Asian 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 57.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.2, Sierra Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lancaster Elementary reports $17,702 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sierra Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amargosa Creek Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| New Vista Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Endeavour Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Monte Vista Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| El Dorado Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sierra Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 788
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 26.4:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar elementary schools in Lancaster
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Sundown Elementary
Standard public school
941 students 29.4:1 students per teacher
Monte Vista Elementary
Standard public school
788 students 26.3:1 students per teacher
Ilead Lancaster Charter
Standard public school
771 students 26.6:1 students per teacher
El Dorado Elementary
Standard public school
766 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Del Sur Senior Elementary
Standard public school
763 students 28.3:1 students per teacher
West Wind Elementary
Standard public school
757 students 29.1:1 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 (~707 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sierra Elementary
How many students attend Sierra Elementary?
Sierra Elementary has 707 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Lancaster, CA. CCD year-over-year: 691 (2022-23) → 711 (2023-24), nearly flat (+20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sierra Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sierra Elementary is 25.3:1, which is 18% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 61% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sierra Elementary?
84.2% of students at Sierra Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sierra Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sierra Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 57.0% of enrollment, in Lancaster, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sierra Elementary?
Sierra Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (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 Sierra Elementary rank among elementary schools in Lancaster?
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Elementary ranks #9 of 28 elementary schools in Lancaster, 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 Lancaster on the city page.
What other schools are in Lancaster Elementary?
Besides Sierra Elementary, Lancaster Elementary also operates Amargosa Creek Middle (859 students), New Vista Middle (835 students), and Endeavour Middle (805 students). See the Lancaster Elementary district page for the complete list.