- Enrollment
- 1,978
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Chico, CA
Bidwell Junior High
Federal NCES profile for Bidwell Junior High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 060837000812
👥 S:T ratio 1
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bidwell Junior High earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of California schools.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Chico · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.7:1
- large classes for California
- 43.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Bidwell Junior High has class sizes larger than 77% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bidwell Junior High ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Chico, CA.
School address
District: Chico Unified · California
NCES ID 060837000812 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+20 students YoY
Bidwell Junior High held near 1,010 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 41.9 → 39.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+20 students YoY 060837000812 · Chico, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
1,012 enr · 24.7:1 · 43.1% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Pleasant Valley High (1,978 students)
Bidwell Junior High held near 1,010 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 41.9 → 39.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Bidwell Junior High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pleasant Valle
Pleasant Valley High
1,978 students
- Chico High
Chico High
1,804 students
- This school
Bidwell Junior High
1,012 students
- Chico Junior H
Chico Junior High
861 students
- Marsh (Harry M 716
Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High
716 students
- Shasta Element 621
Shasta Elementary
621 students
What this shows Bidwell Junior High reports 1,012 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bidwell Junior High compares
Bidwell Junior High 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 | 24.7:1 | ▲ 15% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.1% | ▼ 22% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,012 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.7:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,012
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
24.7:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 77% in California - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
32.6%
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
$16,422
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 506 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 34 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 55.6%
Hispanic or Latino 28.9%
Two or More 7.9%
Asian 4.8%
African American 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 55.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.9, Bidwell Junior High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Chico Unified reports $16,422 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bidwell Junior High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chico High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Chico Junior High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Shasta Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bidwell Junior High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,804
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 861
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 716
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 621
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar middle schools in Chico
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~1,012 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Bidwell Junior High
How many students attend Bidwell Junior High?
Bidwell Junior High has 1,012 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Chico, CA. CCD year-over-year: 990 (2022-23) → 1,010 (2023-24), nearly flat (+20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bidwell Junior High?
The student-teacher ratio at Bidwell Junior High is 24.7:1, which is 15% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 57% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bidwell Junior High?
43.1% of students at Bidwell Junior High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bidwell Junior High?
The largest demographic group at Bidwell Junior High is White at 55.6% of enrollment, in Chico, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bidwell Junior High?
Bidwell Junior High has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bidwell Junior High rank among middle schools in Chico?
By Resource Investment Index, Bidwell Junior High ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Chico, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Chico on the city page.
What other schools are in Chico Unified?
Besides Bidwell Junior High, Chico Unified also operates Pleasant Valley High (1,978 students), Chico High (1,804 students), and Chico Junior High (861 students). See the Chico Unified district page for the complete list.