Enrollment
403
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · La Palma, CA
Steve Luther Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Steve Luther Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 061044001170
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Steve Luther Elementary earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in La Palma · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.2:1
- students per teacher
- 39.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Steve Luther Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Steve Luther Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in La Palma, CA.
School address
District: Cypress Elementary · California
NCES ID 061044001170 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.2:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
39.1%
vs 55.5% California avg
-30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Steve Luther Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Steve Luther Elementary
Steve Luther Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in La Palma, California, enrolling 403 students.
At 21.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the California median, within a few percentage points of the 21.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 39.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 403 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,162 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #56, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (40%) and Asian (31%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
17.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among La Palma's elementary schools, it stands alongside Los Coyotes Elementary (568 students): Steve Luther Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (21.2:1 vs 25.8:1).
Cypress Elementary also operates Margaret Landell Elementary (662 students) and Frank Vessels Elementary (650 students) alongside Steve Luther Elementary.
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 Steve Luther Elementary compares
Steve Luther Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.2:1 | ▼ 1% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.1% | ▼ 30% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 403 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.2:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
403
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
39.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.2:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 45% in California - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
17.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,303
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 40.0%
Asian 31.3%
White 12.4%
Two or More 11.7%
African American 4.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.1, Steve Luther Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cypress Elementary, which includes Steve Luther Elementary.
$14,303
Per student
-13%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 57.8%
State 33.7%
Federal 8.4%
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 Steve Luther Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Landell Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Frank Vessels Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Juliet Morris Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| A. E. Arnold Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clara J. King Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Steve Luther Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 662
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 650
- Students per teacher
- 26:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 562
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 560
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 431
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar elementary schools in La Palma
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary 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 (~403 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Steve Luther Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Steve Luther Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Cypress Elementary'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 Steve Luther Elementary
How many students attend Steve Luther Elementary?
Steve Luther Elementary has 403 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in La Palma, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Steve Luther Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Steve Luther Elementary is 21.2:1, which is 1% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 35% 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 Steve Luther Elementary?
39.1% of students at Steve Luther Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Steve Luther Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Steve Luther Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 40.0% of enrollment, in La Palma, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Steve Luther Elementary?
Steve Luther Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Steve Luther Elementary rank among elementary schools in La Palma?
By Resource Investment Index, Steve Luther Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in La Palma, 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 La Palma on the city page.
Is Steve Luther Elementary a good school?
Steve Luther Elementary earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Cypress Elementary?
Besides Steve Luther Elementary, Cypress Elementary also operates Margaret Landell Elementary (662 students), Frank Vessels Elementary (650 students), and Juliet Morris Elementary (562 students). See the Cypress Elementary 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.