Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 174 schools in district

Birney Elementary

4345 Campus Ave., San Diego, CA 92103San Diego Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–05Non-Charter
501
Students
Total enrolled
$26,968
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 88% vs nat'l
23.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 55% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 501 students in grades KG–05 in San Diego, California.
88% above average funding
District spends $26,968 per pupil, 88% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Birney Elementary is a large elementary in San Diego, California, serving grades KG–05 with 501 students. The district invests $26,968 per student — 88% above the national average of $14,347, with a 23.9:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Birney Elementary

501
Total Students
23.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
40%
Free Lunch
21
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution238 male · 263 female
48%
52%
Male 48%Female 52%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility40%
National avg 52% · 199 students
Student Composition
33%
38%
10%
16%
Asian2%
White33%
Hispanic / Latino38%
Black10%
Multiracial16%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 063432005422

Academic Outcomes at Birney Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 61th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 92103

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$26,968Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$26,968
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$11,866
Student Support$5,124
Administration$3,236
Operations$4,045
Other$2,697
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $26,968 spent per student, an estimated $11,947 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
25%
60%
State government
25.1%
Local (property tax)
60.5%
Federal programs
14.4%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $26,968/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 23.9:1 student-teacher ratio — larger classes than the national average of 15.4:1
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Language AcademyZamorano ElementaryScripps ElementaryRosa Parks Elementary
↓
Middle
Marshall MiddleLewis MiddleChallenger MiddleStandley Middle
+5 more
↓
High School
Henry HighHoover HighMira Mesa HighSan Diego High
+12 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 05
Location—
CountySan Diego County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictSan Diego Unified →
Phone: (619)497-3500
NCES ID: 063432005422
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in San Diego seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in San Diego Unified
High
Henry High
2,607 students · 09–12
● 53 opp35% FRL
High
Hoover High
2,265 students · 09–12
● 42 opp81% FRL
High
Mira Mesa High
2,219 students · 09–12
● 49 opp54% FRL
High
San Diego High
2,105 students · 09–12
● 39 opp62% FRL
High
Scripps Ranch High
1,984 students · 09–12
● 49 opp20% FRL
High
Point Loma High
1,714 students · 09–12
● 41 opp39% FRL
High
Morse High
1,675 students · 09–12
● 39 opp72% FRL
High
University City High
1,543 students · 09–12
● 52 opp48% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
4345 Campus Ave., San Diego, CA 92103
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.