Enrollment
1,183
California · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Hanford, CA
Sierra Pacific High
Federal NCES profile for Sierra Pacific High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 061650012317
👥 S:T ratio 0
📚 AP courses 45
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sierra Pacific High earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of California schools.
- #3 of 6
- high schools in Hanford · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 28.2:1
- large classes for California
- 43.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Sierra Pacific High has class sizes larger than 93% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Pacific High ranks #3 of 6 high schools in Hanford, CA.
School address
District: Hanford Joint Union High · California
NCES ID 061650012317 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
42.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
28.2:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+31% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
43.8%
vs 55.5% California avg
-21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sierra Pacific High compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sierra Pacific High
Sierra Pacific High is a large high school in Hanford, California, enrolling 1,183 students.
Class loads run heavy: 28.2:1 is larger than about 93% of California schools and 31% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 43.8% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 91% of state schools at 1,183 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 625 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #434.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (63%) and White (24%) (diversity index 54/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 9 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 394 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.7% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Hanford's high schools, it stands alongside Hanford High (1,498 students): Sierra Pacific High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (28.2:1 vs 23.4:1).
Hanford Joint Union High also operates Hanford High (1,498 students) and Hanford West High (1,331 students) alongside Sierra Pacific High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Sierra Pacific High compares
Sierra Pacific High on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 28.2:1 | ▲ 31% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.8% | ▼ 21% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,183 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
28.2:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,183
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
43.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
28.2:1
students per teacher
- 31% above state mean
Top 93% in California - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
22.7%
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
$13,610
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 394 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 52 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 63.4%
White 24.2%
Two or More 4.7%
Asian 4.0%
African American 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.5, Sierra Pacific High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 9
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Hanford Joint Union High, which includes Sierra Pacific High.
$13,610
Per student
-18%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.0%
State 71.2%
Federal 8.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Sierra Pacific High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hanford West High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hanford Online Charter | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Earl F. Johnson High (Continuation) | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hanford Community Day | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sierra Pacific High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,498
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 1,331
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 137
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 50
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 38
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar high schools in Hanford
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Hanford High
Standard public school
1,498 students 23.4:1 students per teacher
Hanford West High
Standard public school
1,331 students 22.2:1 students per teacher
Hanford Online Charter
Standard public school
137 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Earl F. Johnson High (Continuation)
Alternative education program
50 students 10:1 students per teacher
Hanford Community Day
Alternative education program
38 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,183 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sierra Pacific High's federal record.
- Compare Sierra Pacific High against another school. Compare schools
- Hanford Joint Union High's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Sierra Pacific High
How many students attend Sierra Pacific High?
Sierra Pacific High has 1,183 students enrolled. It is a high school in Hanford, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sierra Pacific High?
The student-teacher ratio at Sierra Pacific High is 28.2:1, which is 31% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 80% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sierra Pacific High?
43.8% of students at Sierra Pacific High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sierra Pacific High?
The largest demographic group at Sierra Pacific High is Hispanic or Latino at 63.4% of enrollment, in Hanford, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sierra Pacific High?
Sierra Pacific High has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sierra Pacific High rank among high schools in Hanford?
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Pacific High ranks #3 of 6 high schools in Hanford, 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 Hanford on the city page.
Is Sierra Pacific High a good school?
Sierra Pacific High earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of California schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Hanford Joint Union High?
Besides Sierra Pacific High, Hanford Joint Union High also operates Hanford High (1,498 students), Hanford West High (1,331 students), and Hanford Online Charter (137 students). See the Hanford Joint Union High district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.