Enrollment
398
Nevada · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Reno, NV
Bernice Mathews Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bernice Mathews Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 320048000466
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 73
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bernice Mathews Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of Nevada schools.
- #6 of 36
- schools in Reno · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.7:1
- small classes for Nevada
- 96.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Bernice Mathews Elementary has class sizes smaller than 87% of Nevada schools. Computed live against every Nevada school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bernice Mathews Elementary ranks #6 of 36 schools in Reno, NV.
School address
District: Washoe County School District · Nevada
NCES ID 320048000466 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.7:1
vs 20.5:1 Nevada avg
-33% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
96.4%
vs 76.8% Nevada avg
+26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Bernice Mathews Elementary compares with Nevada and U.S. medians
What stands out at Bernice Mathews Elementary
Bernice Mathews Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Reno, Nevada, enrolling 398 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 13.7:1, Bernice Mathews Elementary is leaner than roughly 87% of Nevada schools and 33% under the state's 20.5:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 96.4% lands close to the Nevada typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 398 students, its enrollment sits close to the Nevada median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 92% of the 733 Nevada schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 176 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Nevada schools statewide, it ranks #2, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (67%) and White (8%) (diversity index 53/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 398 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
10.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Washoe County School District spends $10,957 per pupil, 33% below the Nevada average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Reno's public schools, it stands alongside Davidson Academy (169 students): Bernice Mathews Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.7:1 vs 15.4:1).
Washoe County School District also operates North Valleys High School (2,307 students) and Spanish Springs High School (2,131 students) alongside Bernice Mathews Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Bernice Mathews Elementary compares
Bernice Mathews Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Nevada and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nevada | Nevada avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 33% | 20.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.4% | ▲ 26% | 76.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 398 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
398
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
96.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% above the Nevada average of 76.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 33% below state mean
Top 13% in Nevada - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
10.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$10,957
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nevada avg of $16,454
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 398 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
18
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 67.3%
White 8.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 6.8%
African American 6.0%
Asian 5.5%
Two or More 4.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 67.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.6, Bernice Mathews Elementary is less mixed than the Nevada school average of 56.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Washoe County School District, which includes Bernice Mathews Elementary.
$10,957
Per student
-33%
vs Nevada
Avg $16,454
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 19.8%
State 68.2%
Federal 12.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Bernice Mathews Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Valleys High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanish Springs High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edward C. Reed High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Procter R. Hug High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Reno High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bernice Mathews Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,307
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,131
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 2,092
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,008
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Reno
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Nevada, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~398 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Bernice Mathews Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Bernice Mathews Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Washoe County School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Bernice Mathews Elementary
How many students attend Bernice Mathews Elementary?
Bernice Mathews Elementary has 398 students enrolled. It is a public school in Reno, NV.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bernice Mathews Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bernice Mathews Elementary is 13.7:1, which is 33% lower than the Nevada average of 20.5:1 and 13% lower 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 Bernice Mathews Elementary?
96.4% of students at Bernice Mathews Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nevada average of 76.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bernice Mathews Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bernice Mathews Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 67.3% of enrollment, in Reno, NV. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bernice Mathews Elementary?
Bernice Mathews Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bernice Mathews Elementary rank among schools in Reno?
By Resource Investment Index, Bernice Mathews Elementary ranks #6 of 36 schools in Reno, NV. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Reno on the city page.
Is Bernice Mathews Elementary a good school?
Bernice Mathews Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of Nevada schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Washoe County School District?
Besides Bernice Mathews Elementary, Washoe County School District also operates North Valleys High School (2,307 students), Spanish Springs High School (2,131 students), and Edward C. Reed High School (2,092 students). See the Washoe County School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.