California's staff-per-pupil ratios in 2002-03 are well below the national average
September 2004

In 2002-03, California’s ratios of staff to students were well below the U.S. average. These ratios indicate that California’s public schools across the board have fewer teachers, principals, counselors, librarians and staff per child than most other states. These low ratios are the combined result of California’s lower than average K-12 per capita spending and expenditures per pupil, growing student population and high salary costs. For a more in-depth look at California’s staffing ratios and other indicators of the state’s investment in K-12 education download EdSource’s publication How California Ranks: A look at the state’s investment in K-12 education over the past decade.

Staff per 1000 pupils	California	U.S. Average	CA as a % of U.S. Avg.
Total Staff	93.2	124.2	75%
District office staff**	5.3	6.0	88%
Teachers	49.3	63.3	78%
Principals/Asst. principals	2.2	3.4	65%
Guidance counselors	1.1	2.1	52%
Librarians	0.2	1.1	18%

**District office staff includes Officials and Administrators, Administrative Support Staff and Instructional Coordinators

Data: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
(Data is preliminary)