CaliforniaSchoolsWestlake Elementary

Westlake Elementary

PublicRegular
Santa Cruz, California · Santa Cruz City Elementary
Teachers19.0FTE
Ratio24.8:1students per teacher
Students471enrolled
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students471
Grade Span0–5
Student:Teacher24.8:1
Free/Reduced Lunch25%
Title INo
SectorPublic
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Student : Teacher
20.6:1
16.9%vs prior yrUS avg 15.4:1
Teacher FTE
22
16%vs prior yr
Enrollment
453
3.8%vs prior yr
Years of Data
5
2020–2024
Counselors
1:468
14.6%vs prior yrASCA max 1:250
Nurses
1:1,560
91.5%vs prior yrNASN max 1:750
Psychologists
1:585
58%vs prior yrNASP max 1:500
Social Workers
1:2,340
1.8%vs prior yrSSWAA max 1:250
Trends & 5-year history below

Pupil : Teacher Ratio — 5-Year Trend

14.6:116.8:119.0:121.2:123.4:125.6:12020202120222023202422.3:123.1:122.5:124.8:120.6:1Westlake ElementaryUS public-school avg

Enrollment & Teacher FTE

450458465473480488191920212222202020212022202320244684854724714532121211922EnrollmentTeacher FTE

Year-by-year workforce

Metric20202021202220232024Nat Avg
Enrollment468485472471453
Teacher FTE2121211922
Pupil : Teacher ratio22.3:123.1:122.5:124.8:120.6:115.4:1

What These Numbers Mean

Teacher FTE

Full-Time Equivalent counts part-time teachers proportionally. One full-time teacher = 1.0 FTE; two half-time teachers also = 1.0 FTE. This is the standard federal reporting unit.

Pupil : Teacher ratio

NCES-reported ratio divides total enrollment by teacher FTE. It is NOT the same as average class size — schools with specialists, coaches, and resource teachers will show lower ratios than typical class sizes.

How to read the trend

A falling pupil:teacher ratio (line going down) means more staffing per student — generally a positive signal. A rising line can indicate budget pressure or fast enrollment growth outpacing hiring. Always compare to the US average (dashed grey).

Historical data spans 20202024 from NCES CCD.

Student Support & Wellbeing

Non-teaching staff who support student mental health, physical health, and behavioural needs. Lower pupil-to-staff ratios mean more one-on-one access.

Counselors & Social Workers — staff to pupils (recommended 1:250)

1:01:5921:1,1841:1,7761:2,3671:2,9592015201720201:5481:5481:4681:2,7401:2,3831:2,340Counselor : PupilsSocial Worker : PupilsRecommended 1:250

Nurses & Psychologists — staff to pupils

1:01:3,9461:7,8911:11,8371:15,7821:19,7282015201720201:2,3831:18,2671:1,5601:6851:3701:585Nurse : PupilsNASN 1:750Psychologist : PupilsNASP 1:500

Support staffing & ratios — year by year

Metric201520172020Nat Avg
Counselors (FTE)111
Nurses (FTE)0.200.3
Psychologists (FTE)0.81.50.8
Social Workers (FTE)0.20.20.2
Counselor : Pupils1:5481:5481:4681:250
Nurse : Pupils1:2,3831:18,2671:1,5601:750
Psychologist : Pupils1:6851:3701:5851:500
Social Worker : Pupils1:2,7401:2,3831:2,3401:250

Why these ratios matter

Counselors (ASCA 250:1)

School counselors support academic planning, college & career readiness, and social-emotional wellbeing. The American School Counselor Association recommends no more than 250 students per counselor.

Nurses (NASN 750:1)

School nurses manage chronic conditions, medications, immunisations, and emergencies. The National Association of School Nurses recommends at least 1 full-time nurse per 750 students (more for high-need populations).

Psychologists (NASP 500:1)

School psychologists assess learning & behavioural needs, run mental-health interventions, and coordinate special-education services. NASP recommends 500:1 or lower.

Social workers (SSWAA 250:1)

School social workers bridge home-school relationships, address attendance & trauma, and connect families to community resources. SSWAA recommends 250:1.

Source: US Dept of Education CRDC (20152020) — Civil Rights Data Collection.