- Enrollment
- 2,215
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Watsonville, CA
Starlight Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Starlight Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062949009601
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Starlight Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 16
- elementary schools in Watsonville · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.4:1
- small classes for California
- 80.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Starlight Elementary has class sizes smaller than 82% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Starlight Elementary ranks #3 of 16 elementary schools in Watsonville, CA.
School address
District: Pajaro Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 062949009601 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-33 students YoY
Starlight Elementary shrank from 447 students in 2022-23 to 414 in 2023-24 (-7.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 22.5 → 20.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-33 students YoY 062949009601 · Watsonville, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
383 enr · 17.4:1 · 80.1% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Watsonville High (2,215 students)
Starlight Elementary shrank from 447 students in 2022-23 to 414 in 2023-24 (-7.4%). Teacher FTE lost 22.5 → 20.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Starlight Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Watsonville Hi
Watsonville High
2,215 students
- Pajaro Valley
Pajaro Valley High
1,293 students
- Aptos High
Aptos High
1,274 students
- Alianza Charte 626
Alianza Charter
626 students
- Rolling Hills 588
Rolling Hills Middle
588 students
- This school 383
Starlight Elementary
383 students
What this shows Starlight Elementary reports 383 students on the CCD universe file.
How Starlight Elementary compares
Starlight Elementary 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 | 17.4:1 | ▼ 19% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.1% | ▲ 44% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 383 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
383
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
80.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% 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
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 18% in California - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
65.8%
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
$20,320
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 97.7%
White 1.6%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 97.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 4.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 4.5, Starlight Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pajaro Valley Unified reports $20,320 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Starlight Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pajaro Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Aptos High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alianza Charter | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rolling Hills Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Starlight Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,293
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,274
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 626
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 588
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar elementary schools in Watsonville
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Alianza Charter
Standard public school
626 students 22.4:1 students per teacher
Bradley Elementary
Standard public school
520 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Calabasas Elementary
Standard public school
512 students 20.5:1 students per teacher
Mintie White Elementary
Standard public school
493 students 20.5:1 students per teacher
Watsonville Prep
Standard public school
488 students 37.5:1 students per teacher
H. a. Hyde Elementary
Standard public school
476 students 19:1 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 (~383 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Starlight Elementary
How many students attend Starlight Elementary?
Starlight Elementary has 383 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Watsonville, CA. CCD year-over-year: 447 (2022-23) → 414 (2023-24), down 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Starlight Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Starlight Elementary is 17.4:1, which is 19% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 11% 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 Starlight Elementary?
80.1% of students at Starlight Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Starlight Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Starlight Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 97.7% of enrollment, in Watsonville, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Starlight Elementary?
Starlight Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Starlight Elementary rank among elementary schools in Watsonville?
By Resource Investment Index, Starlight Elementary ranks #3 of 16 elementary schools in Watsonville, 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 Watsonville on the city page.
What other schools are in Pajaro Valley Unified?
Besides Starlight Elementary, Pajaro Valley Unified also operates Watsonville High (2,215 students), Pajaro Valley High (1,293 students), and Aptos High (1,274 students). See the Pajaro Valley Unified district page for the complete list.