Public schools in National City, CA
16 open public schools with an address in National City, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,802
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
23.7:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of National City public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in National City, CA: 11 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,802 students, an average of 720 per school. The largest campus is San Diego Workforce Innovation High (2,722 students), and the largest elementary school is Central Elementary (477).
National Elementary operates the most schools here (11), and 2 regular districts have at least one National City campus, plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 23.7:1, higher than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 83% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving National City
National Elementary
Public school district
11 schools in National City
Sweetwater Union High
Public school district
3 schools in National City · 29 total
Integrity Charter District
Independent charter agency
1 school in National City
San Diego Workforce Innovation High District
Independent charter agency
1 school in National City
Elementary schools in National City
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Elementary National Elementary | KG–06 | 477 | 23.9:1 | |
| El Toyon Elementary National Elementary | KG–06 | 381 | 22.4:1 | |
| Integrity Charter Integrity Charter District · Charter | KG–08 | 393 | 18.9:1 | |
| Ira Harbison National Elementary | KG–06 | 393 | 23.1:1 | |
| John A. Otis Elementary National Elementary | KG–06 | 367 | 22.9:1 | |
| Kimball National Elementary | KG–06 | 322 | 24.8:1 | |
| Las Palmas National Elementary | KG–06 | 458 | 24.1:1 | |
| Lincoln Acres National Elementary | KG–06 | 423 | 24.9:1 | |
| Olivewood National Elementary | KG–06 | 424 | 23.6:1 | |
| Palmer Way National Elementary | KG–06 | 387 | 22.8:1 | |
| Rancho de la Nacion National Elementary | KG–06 | 332 | 23.7:1 |
Middle schools in National City
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granger Junior High Sweetwater Union High | 07–09 | 724 | 21.9:1 | |
| National City Middle Sweetwater Union High | 07–08 | 709 | 25.5:1 |
High schools in National City
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Workforce Innovation High San Diego Workforce Innovation High District · Charter | 09–12 | 2,722 | 26.4:1 | |
| Sweetwater High Sweetwater Union High | 09–12 | 2,290 | 25.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in National City
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National School District Preschool National Elementary | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White6.5%
- Hispanic77.6%
- Black2.6%
- Asian9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial3.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 National City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,802 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in National City
How many public schools are in National City, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in National City: 11 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 10,802 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve National City?
Schools with an address in National City belong to 4 education agencies, led by National Elementary (11 schools), Sweetwater Union High (3 schools), Integrity Charter District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in National City?
San Diego Workforce Innovation High reported the largest high-school enrollment in National City, with 2,722 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in National City?
Yes. 2 of the 16 public schools in National City are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Integrity Charter, San Diego Workforce Innovation High. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in National City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across National City public schools is 23.7:1, higher than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in National City guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities