- Enrollment
- 2,557
- Students per teacher
- 26.9:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Diego, CA
Turtleback Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Turtleback 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 063153010007
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Turtleback Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #67 of 179
- elementary schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.9:1
- students per teacher
- 17.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Turtleback Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Turtleback Elementary ranks #67 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: Poway Unified · California
NCES ID 063153010007 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Turtleback Elementary held near 500 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 23.7 → 22.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 063153010007 · San Diego, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
458 enr · 19.9:1 · 17.2% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Del Norte High (2,557 students)
Turtleback Elementary held near 500 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 23.7 → 22.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Turtleback Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Del Norte High
Del Norte High
2,557 students
- Rancho Bernard
Rancho Bernardo High
2,210 students
- Westview High
Westview High
2,116 students
- Poway High
Poway High
2,101 students
- Mt. Carmel Hig
Mt. Carmel High
1,800 students
- This school 458
Turtleback Elementary
458 students
What this shows Turtleback Elementary reports 458 students on the CCD universe file.
How Turtleback Elementary compares
Turtleback Elementary 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 | 19.9:1 | ▼ 7% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 17.2% | ▼ 69% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 458 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.9:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
458
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
17.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% 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
19.9:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 34% in California - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.0%
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
$15,127
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
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
1
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 34.5%
Asian 26.9%
Hispanic or Latino 23.1%
Two or More 13.8%
African American 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 34.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.6, Turtleback Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Poway Unified reports $15,127 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Turtleback Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Norte High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rancho Bernardo High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westview High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Poway High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mt. Carmel High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Turtleback Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,210
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 2,116
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,101
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,800
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar elementary schools in San Diego
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Albert Einstein Academies
Standard public school
1,448 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Design 39 Campus
Standard public school
1,216 students 27:1 students per teacher
Nestor Language Academy Charter
Standard public school
1,079 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
Ocean View Hills
Standard public school
1,020 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Language Academy
Standard public school
1,015 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Del Sur Elementary
Standard public school
891 students 24.1:1 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 (~458 students)
Frequently asked questions about Turtleback Elementary
How many students attend Turtleback Elementary?
Turtleback Elementary has 458 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Diego, CA. CCD year-over-year: 506 (2022-23) → 500 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Turtleback Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Turtleback Elementary is 19.9:1, which is 7% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 27% 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 Turtleback Elementary?
17.2% of students at Turtleback Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Turtleback Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Turtleback Elementary is White at 34.5% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Turtleback Elementary?
Turtleback 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 Turtleback Elementary rank among elementary schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, Turtleback Elementary ranks #67 of 179 elementary schools in San Diego, 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 San Diego on the city page.
What other schools are in Poway Unified?
Besides Turtleback Elementary, Poway Unified also operates Del Norte High (2,557 students), Rancho Bernardo High (2,210 students), and Westview High (2,116 students). See the Poway Unified district page for the complete list.