Enrollment
1,775
California · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Torrance, CA
West High
Federal NCES profile for West High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 063942006580
👥 S:T ratio 3
📚 AP courses 95
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 77
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West High earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #1 of 5
- high schools in Torrance · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 24.3:1
- large classes for California
- 21.2%
- free-lunch eligible
West High has class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West High ranks #1 of 5 high schools in Torrance, CA.
School address
District: Torrance Unified · California
NCES ID 063942006580 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
73.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.3:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
21.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
-62% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West High compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at West High
West High is a large high school in Torrance, California, enrolling 1,775 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.3:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 21.2% free-meal eligibility runs 62% below the California average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,775 students.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 296 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #11, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Asian (37%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 74/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 19 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 296 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance holds up well here: only 9.3% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Torrance Unified spends $13,194 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Torrance's high schools, it stands alongside Torrance High (1,879 students): West High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (24.3:1 vs 22.1:1).
Torrance Unified also operates Torrance High (1,879 students) and North High (1,812 students) alongside West High.
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 West High compares
West High on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.3:1 | ▲ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.2% | ▼ 62% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,775 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.3:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,775
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
21.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 62% 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
24.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 74% in California - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
9.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,194
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 296 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 36 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
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
Asian 36.9%
Hispanic or Latino 25.8%
White 20.6%
Two or More 10.6%
African American 5.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Asian at 36.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.1, West High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 19
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Torrance Unified, which includes West High.
$13,194
Per student
-20%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.0%
State 52.3%
Federal 9.8%
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 West High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Victor Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hickory Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,879
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,812
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,734
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 965
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 847
- Students per teacher
- 27.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar high schools in Torrance
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Torrance High
Standard public school
1,879 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
North High
Standard public school
1,812 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
South High
Standard public school
1,734 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Shery (Kurt T.) High (Continuation)
Alternative education program
119 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~1,775 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West High's federal record.
- Compare West High against another school. Compare schools
- Torrance Unified'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 West High
How many students attend West High?
West High has 1,775 students enrolled. It is a high school in Torrance, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West High?
The student-teacher ratio at West High is 24.3:1, which is 13% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 55% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West High?
21.2% of students at West High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West High?
The largest demographic group at West High is Asian at 36.9% of enrollment, in Torrance, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West High?
West High has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West High rank among high schools in Torrance?
By Resource Investment Index, West High ranks #1 of 5 high schools in Torrance, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Torrance on the city page.
Is West High a good school?
West High earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California. 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 Torrance Unified?
Besides West High, Torrance Unified also operates Torrance High (1,879 students), North High (1,812 students), and South High (1,734 students). See the Torrance Unified 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.