- Enrollment
- 1,027
- Students per teacher
- 28.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Palmdale, CA
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy
Federal NCES profile for Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 062958014085
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #4 of 6
- middle schools in Palmdale · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.2:1
- students per teacher
- 91.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy ranks #4 of 6 middle schools in Palmdale, CA.
School address
District: Palmdale Elementary · California
NCES ID 062958014085 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy held near 786 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.9 → 30.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-16 students YoY 062958014085 · Palmdale, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
747 enr · 20.2:1 · 91.6% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Los Amigos - Dual Immersion (1,027 students)
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy held near 786 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.9 → 30.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Los Amigos - D
Los Amigos - Dual Immersion
1,027 students
- Palmdale Acade
Palmdale Academy Charter
989 students
- David G. Mille
David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy
952 students
- Desert Willow
Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad
948 students
- Dos Caminos Du
Dos Caminos Dual Immersion
945 students
- This school
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy
747 students
What this shows Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy reports 747 students on the CCD universe file.
How Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy compares
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet 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 | 20.2:1 | ▼ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.6% | ▲ 65% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 747 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.2:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
747
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
91.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% 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
20.2:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 36% in California - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
30.9%
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
$17,861
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 747 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 162 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 75.2%
African American 17.4%
White 3.3%
Two or More 2.4%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 75.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.2, Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Palmdale Elementary reports $17,861 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Amigos - Dual Immersion | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palmdale Academy Charter | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dos Caminos Dual Immersion | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 39.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 948
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 945
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar middle schools in Palmdale
5 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Hillview Middle
Standard public school
1,100 students 27.5:1 students per teacher
David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy
Standard public school
952 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad
Standard public school
948 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
Cactus Medical Health and Technology Magnet Academy
Standard public school
822 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Shadow Hills Engineering and Design Magnet Academy
Standard public school
813 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle 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 (~747 students)
Frequently asked questions about Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy
How many students attend Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy?
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy has 747 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Palmdale, CA. CCD year-over-year: 802 (2022-23) → 786 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy is 20.2:1, which is 6% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 29% 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 Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy?
91.6% of students at Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy?
The largest demographic group at Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 75.2% of enrollment, in Palmdale, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy?
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy rank among middle schools in Palmdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy ranks #4 of 6 middle schools in Palmdale, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Palmdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Palmdale Elementary?
Besides Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy, Palmdale Elementary also operates Los Amigos - Dual Immersion (1,027 students), Palmdale Academy Charter (989 students), and David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy (952 students). See the Palmdale Elementary district page for the complete list.