- Enrollment
- 232
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Arcata, CA
Arcata Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Arcata Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060300000237
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Arcata Elementary earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 87% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #5 of 6
- elementary schools in Arcata · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16:1
- small classes for California
- 70.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Arcata Elementary has class sizes smaller than 87% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Arcata Elementary ranks #5 of 6 elementary schools in Arcata, CA.
School address
District: Arcata Elementary · California
NCES ID 060300000237 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
Arcata Elementary held near 253 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 15.5 → 16.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 060300000237 · Arcata, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
240 enr · 16:1 · 70.2% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Sunny Brae Middle (232 students)
Arcata Elementary held near 253 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE added 15.5 → 16.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
How Arcata Elementary compares
Arcata 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 | 16:1 | ▼ 26% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.2% | ▲ 26% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 240 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
240
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
16:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 13% in California - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
46.3%
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
$17,873
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 46.0%
Hispanic or Latino 23.8%
Two or More 17.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.4%
African American 3.8%
Asian 3.8%
Largest group: White at 46.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.6, Arcata Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Arcata Elementary reports $17,873 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Arcata Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Brae Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Arcata Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar elementary schools in Arcata
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Pacific Union Elementary
Standard public school
534 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Coastal Grove Charter
Standard public school
235 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Fuente Nueva Charter
Standard public school
150 students 25:1 students per teacher
Union Street Charter
Standard public school
99 students 19.8:1 students per teacher
Trillium Charter
Standard public school
34 students 17:1 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 (~240 students)
Frequently asked questions about Arcata Elementary
How many students attend Arcata Elementary?
Arcata Elementary has 240 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Arcata, CA. CCD year-over-year: 262 (2022-23) → 253 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Arcata Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Arcata Elementary is 16:1, which is 26% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Arcata Elementary?
70.2% of students at Arcata Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Arcata Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Arcata Elementary is White at 46.0% of enrollment, in Arcata, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Arcata Elementary?
Arcata Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (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 Arcata Elementary rank among elementary schools in Arcata?
By Resource Investment Index, Arcata Elementary ranks #5 of 6 elementary schools in Arcata, 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 Arcata on the city page.
What other schools are in Arcata Elementary?
Besides Arcata Elementary, Arcata Elementary also operates Sunny Brae Middle (232 students). See the Arcata Elementary district page for the complete list.