Public schools in Ridgecrest, CA
13 open public schools with an address in Ridgecrest, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
13
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,562
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
20.4:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Ridgecrest public schools
The federal directory lists 13 public schools in Ridgecrest, CA: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,562 students, an average of 507 per school. The largest campus is Sherman E. Burroughs High (1,536 students), and the largest elementary school is Las Flores Elementary (526).
Sierra Sands Unified operates the most schools here (11), 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 20.4:1, lower 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, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 58% 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 Ridgecrest
Elementary schools in Ridgecrest
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faller Elementary Sierra Sands Unified | KG–06 | 516 | 23.9:1 | |
| Gateway Elementary Sierra Sands Unified | KG–06 | 346 | 24.6:1 | |
| Las Flores Elementary Sierra Sands Unified | KG–06 | 526 | 25.5:1 | |
| Pierce Academy of the Arts Sierra Sands Unified | KG–06 | 297 | 19:1 | |
| Richmond Elementary Sierra Sands Unified | KG–06 | 364 | 16.5:1 | |
| Ridgecrest Elem Acad for Language Music and Sci Ridgecrest Elem Acad for Language Music and Sci District · Charter | KG–06 | 239 | 19.1:1 | |
| Vieweg STEM Academy Sierra Sands Unified | KG–08 | — | — |
Middle schools in Ridgecrest
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China Lake Junior High Sierra Sands Unified | 07–08 | 643 | 21.7:1 |
High schools in Ridgecrest
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Desert Sierra Sands Unified · Alternative School | 07–12 | — | — | |
| Mesquite Continuation High Sierra Sands Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 95 | 13.8:1 | |
| Opportunities for Learning - Ridgecrest Opportunities for Learning - Ridgecrest District · Charter | 07–12 | — | — | |
| Sherman E. Burroughs High Sierra Sands Unified | 09–12 | 1,536 | 20.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Ridgecrest
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista Education Center Sierra Sands Unified | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White44.8%
- Hispanic35.8%
- Black7.8%
- Asian3.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.9%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.6%
- Multiracial6.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Ridgecrest schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,562 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Ridgecrest
How many public schools are in Ridgecrest, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 13 open public schools with a location address in Ridgecrest: 7 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 4,562 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Ridgecrest?
Schools with an address in Ridgecrest belong to 3 education agencies, led by Sierra Sands Unified (11 schools), Opportunities for Learning - Ridgecrest District (1 school), Ridgecrest Elem Acad for Language Music and Sci 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 Ridgecrest?
Sherman E. Burroughs High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Ridgecrest, with 1,536 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Ridgecrest?
Yes. 2 of the 13 public schools in Ridgecrest are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Opportunities for Learning - Ridgecrest, Ridgecrest Elem Acad for Language Music and Sci. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Ridgecrest schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Ridgecrest public schools is 20.4:1, lower 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 Ridgecrest 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