Enrollment
348
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Pacifica, CA
Sunset Ridge Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sunset Ridge Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 20/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062046002471
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunset Ridge Elementary earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 82% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 6
- elementary schools in Pacifica · Resource Index
- 20
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.4:1
- small classes for California
- 34.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Sunset Ridge Elementary has class sizes smaller than 82% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sunset Ridge Elementary ranks #6 of 6 elementary schools in Pacifica, CA.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.4:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
34.3%
vs 55.5% California avg
-38% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sunset Ridge Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sunset Ridge Elementary
Sunset Ridge Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Pacifica, California, enrolling 348 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 17.4:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 34.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 348 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 901 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #780, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (38%) and Asian (23%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 74/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 44.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Pacifica's elementary schools, it stands alongside Cabrillo Elementary (524 students): Sunset Ridge Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.4:1 vs 22.8:1).
Pacifica also operates Cabrillo Elementary (524 students) and Vallemar Elementary (500 students) alongside Sunset Ridge 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 Sunset Ridge Elementary compares
Sunset Ridge 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 | 17.4:1 | ▼ 19% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.3% | ▼ 38% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 348 | top 68% | - | - |
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.
348
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
34.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% 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
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
44.3%
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
$15,080
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
3
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 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 37.6%
Asian 23.3%
White 19.3%
Two or More 17.0%
African American 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 37.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.8, Sunset Ridge Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Pacifica, which includes Sunset Ridge Elementary.
$15,080
Per student
-9%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.0%
State 67.3%
Federal 5.7%
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 Sunset Ridge Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrillo Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Vallemar Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ingrid B. Lacy Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ortega Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ocean Shore Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sunset Ridge Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 524
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 500
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 404
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 368
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in Pacifica
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Cabrillo Elementary
Standard public school
524 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Vallemar Elementary
Standard public school
500 students 23.8:1 students per teacher
Ortega Elementary
Standard public school
404 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Ocean Shore Elementary
Standard public school
368 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Pacifica Independent Home Study
Alternative education program
12 students 6:1 students per teacher
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 (~348 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sunset Ridge Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Sunset Ridge Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Pacifica'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 Sunset Ridge Elementary
How many students attend Sunset Ridge Elementary?
Sunset Ridge Elementary has 348 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Pacifica, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunset Ridge Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunset Ridge 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 Sunset Ridge Elementary?
34.3% of students at Sunset Ridge Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sunset Ridge Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sunset Ridge Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 37.6% of enrollment, in Pacifica, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunset Ridge Elementary?
Sunset Ridge Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 20/100 (lower 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 Sunset Ridge Elementary rank among elementary schools in Pacifica?
By Resource Investment Index, Sunset Ridge Elementary ranks #6 of 6 elementary schools in Pacifica, 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 Pacifica on the city page.
Is Sunset Ridge Elementary a good school?
Sunset Ridge Elementary earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 82% of California schools. 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 Pacifica?
Besides Sunset Ridge Elementary, Pacifica also operates Cabrillo Elementary (524 students), Vallemar Elementary (500 students), and Ingrid B. Lacy Middle (484 students). See the Pacifica 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.