Enrollment
373
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Santee, CA
Sycamore Canyon Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sycamore Canyon Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063588006146
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sycamore Canyon Elementary earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of California schools.
- #9 of 10
- elementary schools in Santee · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.9:1
- large classes for California
- 19.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Sycamore Canyon Elementary has class sizes larger than 79% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sycamore Canyon Elementary ranks #9 of 10 elementary schools in Santee, CA.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
15.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.9:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
19.4%
vs 55.5% California avg
-65% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sycamore Canyon Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sycamore Canyon Elementary
Sycamore Canyon Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Santee, California, enrolling 373 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.9:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 19.4% free-meal eligibility runs 65% below the California average.
With 373 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 842 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #696, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (30%) (diversity index 63/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 466 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
15.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Santee spends $13,289 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Santee's elementary schools, it stands alongside Rio Seco Elementary (913 students): Sycamore Canyon Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (24.9:1 vs 23.4:1).
Santee also operates Rio Seco Elementary (913 students) and Cajon Park Elementary (830 students) alongside Sycamore Canyon 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 Sycamore Canyon Elementary compares
Sycamore Canyon 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 | 24.9:1 | ▲ 16% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.4% | ▼ 65% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 373 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.9:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
373
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
19.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
24.9:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 79% in California - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
15.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,289
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
Counselors0.8 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
White 51.5%
Hispanic or Latino 30.0%
Two or More 12.9%
Asian 3.5%
African American 2.1%
Largest group: White at 51.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.6, Sycamore Canyon Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Santee, which includes Sycamore Canyon Elementary.
$13,289
Per student
-20%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.8%
State 54.5%
Federal 9.7%
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 Sycamore Canyon Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Seco Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cajon Park Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Carlton Oaks Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hill Creek Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pepper Drive Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sycamore Canyon Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 913
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 830
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 823
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 695
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar elementary schools in Santee
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Rio Seco Elementary
Standard public school
913 students 23.4:1 students per teacher
Cajon Park Elementary
Standard public school
830 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Carlton Oaks Elementary
Standard public school
823 students 22.2:1 students per teacher
Hill Creek Elementary
Standard public school
695 students 24:1 students per teacher
Chet F. Harritt Elementary
Standard public school
606 students 24.2:1 students per teacher
Carlton Hills Elementary
Standard public school
601 students 23.1:1 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 (~373 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sycamore Canyon Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Sycamore Canyon Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Santee'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 Sycamore Canyon Elementary
How many students attend Sycamore Canyon Elementary?
Sycamore Canyon Elementary has 373 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Santee, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sycamore Canyon Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sycamore Canyon Elementary is 24.9:1, which is 16% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 59% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sycamore Canyon Elementary?
19.4% of students at Sycamore Canyon Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sycamore Canyon Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sycamore Canyon Elementary is White at 51.5% of enrollment, in Santee, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sycamore Canyon Elementary?
Sycamore Canyon Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sycamore Canyon Elementary rank among elementary schools in Santee?
By Resource Investment Index, Sycamore Canyon Elementary ranks #9 of 10 elementary schools in Santee, 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 Santee on the city page.
Is Sycamore Canyon Elementary a good school?
Sycamore Canyon Elementary earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of 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 Santee?
Besides Sycamore Canyon Elementary, Santee also operates Rio Seco Elementary (913 students), Cajon Park Elementary (830 students), and Carlton Oaks Elementary (823 students). See the Santee 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.