At a glance
Reported students
600
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
28.5
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
21.1:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
KG–08
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
California elementary enrollment
76th percentile
Compared with 5,927 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
365
Lawton Alternative: 600 reported students.
State peer staffing position
34th percentile
21.1:1 reported; state peer median 22.4:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 552
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23.31
- Student–teacher ratio
- 23.7:1
What the reported data says about Lawton Alternative
Lawton Alternative is a public elementary school serving grades KG–08 in San Francisco. It is one of 113 current school records connected to San Francisco Unified. NCES reports 600 students for 2024–25.
Among 5,927 elementary schools in California with comparable records, this school is larger than the reported median of 455 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 76th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 21.1:1, close to the California median of 22.4:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are Asian (75.7%) and multiracial (12.3%). Students served under IDEA represent 10.7%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Lawton Alternative
- 1How do the reported 21.1:1 student–teacher ratio and 28.5 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 0.04 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- Students with disabilities
- 10.7%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 57.8%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 0.04
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0.1
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0.1
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0.1
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White4.7%
- Hispanic4.7%
- Black1.8%
- Asian75.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.5%
- Multiracial12.3%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in San Francisco Unified
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Yu (Alice Fong) Elementary
Elementary · Grades KG–08
594 reported students
West Portal Elementary
Elementary · Grades KG–05
588 reported students
Buena Vista/ Horace Mann K-8
Elementary · Grades KG–08
586 reported students
Rooftop Elementary
Elementary · Grades KG–08
575 reported students
Taylor (Edward R.) Elementary
Elementary · Grades KG–05
564 reported students
Carmichael (Bessie)/FEC
Elementary · Grades KG–08
555 reported students
Public schools near Lawton Alternative
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevenson (Robert Louis) Elementary Elementary · San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 442 | 0.7 mi |
| Key (Francis Scott) Elementary Elementary · San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 552 | 0.7 mi |
| Sunset Elementary Elementary · San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 402 | 0.8 mi |
| Jefferson Elementary Elementary · San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 511 | 0.8 mi |
| Yu (Alice Fong) Elementary Elementary · San Francisco Unified | KG–08 | 594 | 1.1 mi |
| Feinstein (Dianne) Elementary Elementary · San Francisco Unified | KG–05 | 356 | 1.3 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Lawton Alternative
What grades does Lawton Alternative serve?
Lawton Alternative reports grades KG–08 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as an elementary school in San Francisco Unified.
How many students attend Lawton Alternative?
Lawton Alternative reported 600 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 76th percentile among 5,927 California elementary schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 552 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Lawton Alternative?
The calculated ratio is 21.1:1, based on 600 students and 28.5 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The California median for the same school level is 22.4:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Lawton Alternative a public, charter, or magnet school?
Lawton Alternative is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on San Francisco Unified attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Lawton Alternative students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
57.8% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Lawton Alternative in?
Lawton Alternative is part of San Francisco Unified, based in San Francisco, CA, which operates 113 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Lawton Alternative?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Stevenson (Robert Louis) Elementary (0.7 mi), Key (Francis Scott) Elementary (0.7 mi), Sunset Elementary (0.8 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.