Enrollment
297
Elementary
DISTRICT 368 · STATE 465
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·SIERRA SANDS UNIFIED·NCES 063680006239
Pierce Elementary
674 North Gold Canyon, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 · (760) 499-1670 · Kern County
GRADES KG–05ELEMENTARY41-RURALTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL297 STUDENTS
Student : Teacher
19.0:1
16 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 22.1:1 · STATE 22.3:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
82%
244 students
DISTRICT 64% · STATE 65%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 53 | 18% |
| Grade 1 | 35 | 12% |
| Grade 2 | 52 | 18% |
| Grade 3 | 43 | 14% |
| Grade 4 | 54 | 18% |
| Grade 5 | 59 | 20% |
| Grade 6 | 1 | 0% |
Student demographics
69%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 66% · STATE 62% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
CAASPP 2024-25 . % met or exceeded standardEnglish Language Arts
29.5%
CA avg 49.1% . -16.5pp since 2014
Math
30.0%
CA avg 37.7% . -18.0pp since 2014
What this means: On the CAASPP, California's statewide test, about 30 of every 100 students at this school read and write at grade level and about 30 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all California schools, those numbers are about 49 and 38. Reading and writing scores are down about 16 points since 2014, while math scores are down about 18 points.
Performance levels, 2024-25
| Subject | Standard Exceeded | Standard Met | Standard Nearly Met | Standard Not Met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | 12.8% | 16.8% | 22.8% | 47.6% |
| Math | 10.0% | 20.0% | 21.3% | 48.7% |
Share of tested students at each CAASPP level. Each student counts in one level, so a row adds to about 100%.
CAASPP results by year
| School year | English Language Arts | Math |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 29.5% | 30.0% |
| 2023-24 | 19.3% | 15.9% |
| 2022-23 | 20.2% | 18.4% |
| 2021-22 | 24.4% | 13.1% |
| 2020-21 | 23.0% | 15.2% |
| 2018-19 | 36.1% | 31.6% |
| 2017-18 | 36.3% | 33.8% |
| 2016-17 | 38.0% | 39.3% |
| 2015-16 | 51.0% | 49.0% |
| 2014-15 | 46.0% | 48.0% |
% met or exceeded standard, all students and all tested grades.
Source: CAASPP. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
BeatsExpectations
Demographically-adjusted score · methodologyTier
AS EXPECTED
Performing as predicted given the school's student profile
Actual proficiency
24.0%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
31.4%
based on CA schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
-7.4pp
below demographic expectation
What this means: About 24% of students here test proficient in math and reading, compared with the roughly 31% typical for California schools with a similar share of low-income students. BeatsExpectations measures results against demographically similar schools rather than by raw scores, and this school falls within the typical range, neither among California's top nor bottom 10%.
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →
Schools most like Pierce Elementary
Pierce Elementary's state test result (24.0% proficient) is higher than 2 of the 5 schools below with a result.
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce Elementary this school | 297 | 82.2% | 24.0% |
| Cordova Gardens Academy of Arts and Sciences Rancho Cordova | 293 | 78.5% | 28.2% |
| West Boron Elementary Boron | 276 | 75.4% | 14.6% |
| Garfield Elementary San Diego | 308 | 77.6% | 60.0% |
| Westminster Avenue Elementary Venice | 367 | 77.7% | 51.8% |
| Lenwood Elementary Lenwood | 351 | 85.5% | 13.5% |
Matched among California elementary schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where Pierce Elementary ranks
Among elementary schools| Measure | This school | In California | In Kern County |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 24.0% | #4,193 of 5,151 | #94 of 148 |
| Math proficiency ranked highest first | 30.0% | #3,224 of 5,172 ▲ 1,372 | #61 of 150 ▲ 52 |
| Reading proficiency ranked highest first | 29.5% | #4,035 of 5,172 ▲ 761 | #95 of 150 ▲ 38 |
| 3-year test score change ranked biggest gain first | +11.0pp | #490 of 5,116 | #17 of 147 |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 297 | #4,794 of 5,915 | #135 of 163 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 19.0:1 | #541 of 5,352 | #17 of 145 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 69.4% | #707 of 5,354 | #5 of 145 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 82.2% | #1,959 of 5,625 | #92 of 153 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked steepest decline first | -17.7% | #1,687 of 3,837 | #31 of 95 |
Ranked against other public elementary schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
297
-35 (-11%) vs 2020
-49% since 1990-91, when it was 584
Student : Teacher
19.0:1
was 20.8:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 297 | 15.6 | 19.0:1 | 82% (244) |
| 2023-24 | 318 | 16.2 | 19.7:1 | 81% (258) |
| 2022-23 | 315 | 15.2 | 20.8:1 | 70% (222) |
| 2020-21 | 332 | 16 | 20.8:1 | 77% (254) |
| 2017-18 | 361 | 16 | 22.6:1 | 83% (298) |
| 2015-16 | 309 | 12 | 25.8:1 | 75% (232) |
| 2010-11 | 335 | N/A | N/A | 70% (233) |
| 2000-01 | 483 | 25 | 19.3:1 | 75% (360) |
| 1990-91 | 584 | 23 | 25.4:1 | N/A |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for Pierce Elementary.
Since 2017-18: students down 18% (361 to 297); teachers down 2% (16 to 15.6).
About Pierce Elementary
Pierce Elementary is a low-enrollment elementary school in Ridgecrest, California, administered by Sierra Sands Unified. The student body numbers 297 students, from kindergarten through 5. Average enrollment for elementary schools in California is about 465, so this school runs 36% smaller than that.
Federal data list 10 schools in Sierra Sands Unified, with 4,974 students enrolled.
No single group makes up more than half of enrollment at Pierce Elementary. The largest is Hispanic students, at 40%. Next come 33% White, 19% Black, and 7% multiracial. That compares with about 57% Hispanic among all Kern County residents. Pierce Elementary's diversity index is 69%, against a US figure of 70%.
Federal staffing data show 15.6 full-time-equivalent teachers at Pierce Elementary and a ratio of 19.0:1. This ratio sits 3.3 below the 22.3:1 average for elementary schools in California. Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility covers 82% of students.
In California, Pierce Elementary is in the middle band of BeatsExpectations: 24.0% actual against a predicted 31.4%.
According to the American Community Survey, in Kern County, the median household income is $70,210, the share of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher is 19%, and roughly 15% of residents are in poverty. Pierce Elementary is one of 279 public schools in the county.
Nearest public school: Burroughs High, about 0.4 miles away. A five-mile radius around the school includes at least 8 other public schools. Local comparison: Pierce Elementary ranks 7th of 7 nearby schools, at 24.0% versus a 37.4% average.
NCES describes the area around Pierce Elementary as Rural: Fringe, meaning in rural territory close to an urban area.
Enrollment dropped 11% from its 2020-21 level of 332. Its ratio of students to teachers was 20.8:1 in 2020-21, and 19.0:1 in 2024-25.
Families, students, and staff can use this page to discuss enrollment questions, class placement, and PTA news at Pierce Elementary. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.
Kern County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
915,075
Census ACS
Median income
$70,210
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
19%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
15%
Below federal line
Schools in county
279
197,431 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Sierra Sands Unified
- Burroughs HighHigh · 1,536 students
- Murray MiddleMiddle · 643 students
- Las Flores ElementaryElementary · 526 students
- Faller ElementaryElementary · 516 students
- James Monroe MiddleMiddle · 490 students
- Richmond ElementaryElementary · 364 students
Other schools in Ridgecrest
- Burroughs HighHigh · 1,536 students
- Murray MiddleMiddle · 643 students
- Las Flores ElementaryElementary · 526 students
- Faller ElementaryElementary · 516 students
- James Monroe MiddleMiddle · 490 students
- Richmond ElementaryElementary · 364 students
Other Pierce Elementary schools
5 other US public schools in 6 states are named Pierce Elementary. Pierce Elementary is the 5th largest of the 6.
- Pierce Elementary SchoolLAREDO, TX · 662 students
- Pierce Elementary SchoolBIRMINGHAM, MI · 556 students
- PIERCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLPIERCE, NE · 338 students
- Pierce Elementary SchoolCedar Rapids, IA · 334 students
- Pierce Elementary SchoolBennington, NH · 55 students
Nearby schools
- Burroughs High0.4 mi · 1,536
- Murray Middle0.5 mi · 643
- Richmond Elementary0.8 mi · 364
- Mesquite Continuation High1.0 mi · 95
- Gateway Elementary1.1 mi · 346
- James Monroe Middle1.3 mi · 490
Frequently asked questions
About Pierce ElementaryWhat is the total enrollment at Pierce Elementary?
Pierce Elementary enrolls approximately 297 students in grades KG-05.
What grades does Pierce Elementary serve?
Pierce Elementary serves grades KG-05.
How many students per teacher at Pierce Elementary?
Approximately 19.0:1 students per teacher at Pierce Elementary.
What is the racial breakdown of students at Pierce Elementary?
At Pierce Elementary, the student body is approximately 33% White, 40% Hispanic, 19% Black, 1% Asian, 7% Two or more.
What district is Pierce Elementary in?
Pierce Elementary is part of Sierra Sands Unified.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.