Ortega Elementary

As a mid-sized elementary-level community in Pacifica, California, Ortega Elementary enrolls 404 students from grades K through 5, part of Pacifica.

Ortega Elementary is one of 7 schools operated by Pacifica, a district that enrolls 2,640 students overall.

Demographically, Ortega Elementary reports that the largest single group is White at 51%, but no single group is in the majority. Beyond that, the school records 19% Hispanic, 18% multiracial, 11% Asian. By comparison, San Mateo County as a whole is about 38% White, so the school skews noticeably more White than its surroundings.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Ortega Elementary has 19 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 21.3:1. The state averages around 22.3:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Around 14% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, San Mateo County runs at roughly 34%, so the school's eligibility rate is meaningfully below the surrounding baseline.

With demographic context factored in, Ortega Elementary is in the bottom 10% of California public schools. The BeatsExpectations model predicts schools with this FRL share to land around 71.4%; Ortega Elementary posts 49.2%, -22.2 points below that line.

In the area at large, community-level numbers for San Mateo County indicate the typical household earns roughly $158,855 per year, 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 4%. Across San Mateo County's 176 public schools (combined enrollment of about 82,403 students), Ortega Elementary is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Pacifica Independent Home Study, around 0.0 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. On composite proficiency, Ortega Elementary comes 7th of 8 in the immediate cluster, behind the nearby-schools average of 63.4%.

The campus sits in a suburban setting.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Ortega Elementary has shrank 20%, going from 504 students in 2018 to 404 in 2025. Hispanic enrollment moved from 24% to 19% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio pulled in from 25.7:1 in 2018 to 21.3:1 today.

Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.