- Enrollment
- 2,505
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Santa Ana, CA
Sierra Preparatory Academy
Federal NCES profile for Sierra Preparatory Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063531006007
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sierra Preparatory Academy earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #26 of 51
- elementary schools in Santa Ana · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17:1
- small classes for California
- 76.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Sierra Preparatory Academy has class sizes smaller than 83% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Preparatory Academy ranks #26 of 51 elementary schools in Santa Ana, CA.
School address
District: Santa Ana Unified · California
NCES ID 063531006007 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+34 students YoY
Sierra Preparatory Academy held near 776 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+34 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 41.5 → 42.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+34 students YoY 063531006007 · Santa Ana, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
697 enr · 17:1 · 76.7% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Santa Ana High (2,505 students)
Sierra Preparatory Academy held near 776 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+34 headcount). Teacher FTE added 41.5 → 42.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Sierra Preparatory Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Santa Ana High
Santa Ana High
2,505 students
- Segerstrom Hig
Segerstrom High
2,376 students
- Valley High
Valley High
1,908 students
- Hector G. Godi
Hector G. Godinez
1,687 students
- Century High
Century High
1,519 students
- This school 697
Sierra Preparatory Academy
697 students
What this shows Sierra Preparatory Academy reports 697 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sierra Preparatory Academy compares
Sierra Preparatory Academy 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 | 17:1 | ▼ 21% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.7% | ▲ 38% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 697 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
697
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
76.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% 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
17:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 17% in California - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
46.1%
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
$22,289
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 349 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 97.7%
African American 0.7%
Asian 0.6%
White 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Two or More 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 97.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 4.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 4.5, Sierra Preparatory Academy is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Santa Ana Unified reports $22,289 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sierra Preparatory Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Segerstrom High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hector G. Godinez | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Century High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sierra Preparatory Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,376
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,908
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,687
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,519
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Santa Ana
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Mcfadden Institute of Technology
Standard public school
1,074 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy
Standard public school
980 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Santiago Elementary
Standard public school
906 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Romero-Cruz Academy
Standard public school
827 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Greenville Fundamental Elementary
Standard public school
817 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
Manuel Esqueda Elementary
Standard public school
811 students 19.8:1 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 (~697 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sierra Preparatory Academy
How many students attend Sierra Preparatory Academy?
Sierra Preparatory Academy has 697 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Santa Ana, CA. CCD year-over-year: 742 (2022-23) → 776 (2023-24), nearly flat (+34).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sierra Preparatory Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Sierra Preparatory Academy is 17:1, 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 Sierra Preparatory Academy?
76.7% of students at Sierra Preparatory Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sierra Preparatory Academy?
The largest demographic group at Sierra Preparatory Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 97.7% of enrollment, in Santa Ana, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sierra Preparatory Academy?
Sierra Preparatory Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Preparatory Academy rank among elementary schools in Santa Ana?
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Preparatory Academy ranks #26 of 51 elementary schools in Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana on the city page.
What other schools are in Santa Ana Unified?
Besides Sierra Preparatory Academy, Santa Ana Unified also operates Santa Ana High (2,505 students), Segerstrom High (2,376 students), and Valley High (1,908 students). See the Santa Ana Unified district page for the complete list.