- Enrollment
- 307
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Whittier, CA
Ada S. Nelson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ada S. Nelson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062289003501
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ada S. Nelson Elementary earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #22 of 29
- elementary schools in Whittier · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.9:1
- large classes for California
- 73.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Ada S. Nelson Elementary has class sizes larger than 70% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ada S. Nelson Elementary ranks #22 of 29 elementary schools in Whittier, CA.
School address
District: Los Nietos · California
NCES ID 062289003501 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Ada S. Nelson Elementary held near 378 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 16.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 062289003501 · Whittier, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
358 enr · 23.9:1 · 73.0% lunch · RII 17
Nearest enrollment peer: Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary (307 students)
Ada S. Nelson Elementary held near 378 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 16.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Ada S. Nelson Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Ada S. Nelson Elementary
358 students
- Rancho Santa G
Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary
307 students
- Aeolian Elemen
Aeolian Elementary
283 students
- Los Nietos Mid
Los Nietos Middle
262 students
What this shows Ada S. Nelson Elementary reports 358 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ada S. Nelson Elementary compares
Ada S. Nelson Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.9:1 | ▲ 11% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.0% | ▲ 32% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 358 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.9:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
358
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23.9:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 70% in California - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
33.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$21,383
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 91.6%
Asian 3.6%
African American 2.0%
White 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Two or More 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 91.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.9, Ada S. Nelson Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Los Nietos reports $21,383 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ada S. Nelson Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Aeolian Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Los Nietos Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ada S. Nelson Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 283
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 262
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Whittier
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ocean View Elementary
Standard public school
668 students 26.7:1 students per teacher
Leffingwell Elementary
Standard public school
551 students 24:1 students per teacher
Wallen L. Andrews Elementary
Standard public school
542 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Jordan Elementary
Standard public school
516 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Daniel Phelan Elementary
Standard public school
507 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Longfellow Elementary
Standard public school
499 students 24.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~358 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ada S. Nelson Elementary
How many students attend Ada S. Nelson Elementary?
Ada S. Nelson Elementary has 358 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Whittier, CA. CCD year-over-year: 382 (2022-23) → 378 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ada S. Nelson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ada S. Nelson Elementary is 23.9:1, which is 11% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 52% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ada S. Nelson Elementary?
73.0% of students at Ada S. Nelson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ada S. Nelson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ada S. Nelson Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 91.6% of enrollment, in Whittier, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ada S. Nelson Elementary?
Ada S. Nelson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ada S. Nelson Elementary rank among elementary schools in Whittier?
By Resource Investment Index, Ada S. Nelson Elementary ranks #22 of 29 elementary schools in Whittier, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Whittier on the city page.
What other schools are in Los Nietos?
Besides Ada S. Nelson Elementary, Los Nietos also operates Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary (307 students), Aeolian Elementary (283 students), and Los Nietos Middle (262 students). See the Los Nietos district page for the complete list.