- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Arroyo Grande, CA
Branch Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Branch Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062308003517
👥 S:T ratio 5
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 51
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Branch Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in Arroyo Grande · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23.7:1
- students per teacher
- 22.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Branch Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Branch Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Arroyo Grande, CA.
School address
District: Lucia Mar Unified · California
NCES ID 062308003517 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Branch Elementary held near 254 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 11.2 → 12.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 062308003517 · Arroyo Grande, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
261 enr · 23.7:1 · 22.1% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Arroyo Grande High (2,012 students)
Branch Elementary held near 254 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 11.2 → 12.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Branch Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Arroyo Grande
Arroyo Grande High
2,012 students
- Nipomo High
Nipomo High
819 students
- Harloe Element 619
Harloe Elementary
619 students
- Dana Elementar 612
Dana Elementary
612 students
- Lange (Dorothe 577
Lange (Dorothea) Elementary
577 students
- This school 261
Branch Elementary
261 students
What this shows Branch Elementary reports 261 students on the CCD universe file.
How Branch Elementary compares
Branch 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 | 23.7:1 | ▲ 10% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.1% | ▼ 60% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 261 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.7:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
261
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 60% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
23.7:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 69% in California - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
19.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,856
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
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 59.4%
Hispanic or Latino 28.4%
Two or More 11.5%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 59.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.3, Branch Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lucia Mar Unified reports $15,856 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Branch Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Grande High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Nipomo High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harloe Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dana Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lange (Dorothea) Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Branch Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 819
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 619
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 612
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 577
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar elementary schools in Arroyo Grande
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~261 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Branch Elementary
How many students attend Branch Elementary?
Branch Elementary has 261 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Arroyo Grande, CA. CCD year-over-year: 244 (2022-23) → 254 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Branch Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Branch Elementary is 23.7:1, which is 10% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 51% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Branch Elementary?
22.1% of students at Branch Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Branch Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Branch Elementary is White at 59.4% of enrollment, in Arroyo Grande, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Branch Elementary?
Branch Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical 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 Branch Elementary rank among elementary schools in Arroyo Grande?
By Resource Investment Index, Branch Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Arroyo Grande, 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 Arroyo Grande on the city page.
What other schools are in Lucia Mar Unified?
Besides Branch Elementary, Lucia Mar Unified also operates Arroyo Grande High (2,012 students), Nipomo High (819 students), and Harloe Elementary (619 students). See the Lucia Mar Unified district page for the complete list.