Enrollment
627
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Buena Park, CA
Buena Terra Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Buena Terra Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060807000773
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buena Terra Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 10
- elementary schools in Buena Park · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.1:1
- large classes for California
- 40.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Buena Terra Elementary has class sizes larger than 80% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buena Terra Elementary ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Buena Park, CA.
School address
District: Centralia Elementary · California
NCES ID 060807000773 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
25.1:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
40.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
-28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Buena Terra Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Buena Terra Elementary
Buena Terra Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Buena Park, California, enrolling 627 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 25.1:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 40.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 627 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,390 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #72, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (39%) and Asian (34%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
13.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Buena Park's elementary schools, it stands alongside Charles G. Emery Elementary (646 students): Buena Terra Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (25.1:1 vs 24.8:1).
Centralia Elementary also operates Los Coyotes Elementary (568 students) and George B. Miller Elementary (502 students) alongside Buena Terra 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 Buena Terra Elementary compares
Buena Terra Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.1:1 | ▲ 17% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.2% | ▼ 28% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 627 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.1:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
627
Bigger than 75% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
40.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
25.1:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 80% in California - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
13.1%
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
$14,874
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
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.
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 38.6%
Asian 34.1%
White 16.7%
Two or More 7.5%
African American 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 38.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.1, Buena Terra Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Centralia Elementary, which includes Buena Terra Elementary.
$14,874
Per student
-10%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 41.3%
State 46.6%
Federal 12.1%
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 Buena Terra Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Coyotes Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| George B. Miller Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Centralia Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Glen H. Dysinger Sr. Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Marino Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buena Terra Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 568
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 502
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 496
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 468
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 465
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar elementary schools in Buena Park
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Charles G. Emery Elementary
Standard public school
646 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
James a. Whitaker Elementary
Standard public school
559 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Carl E. Gilbert Elementary
Standard public school
490 students 23.3:1 students per teacher
Glen H. Dysinger Sr. Elementary
Standard public school
468 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
San Marino Elementary
Standard public school
465 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Holder Elementary
Standard public school
445 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~627 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~25.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Buena Terra Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Buena Terra Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Centralia Elementary'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 Buena Terra Elementary
How many students attend Buena Terra Elementary?
Buena Terra Elementary has 627 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Buena Park, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buena Terra Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Buena Terra Elementary is 25.1:1, which is 17% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 60% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Buena Terra Elementary?
40.2% of students at Buena Terra Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buena Terra Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Buena Terra Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 38.6% of enrollment, in Buena Park, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buena Terra Elementary?
Buena Terra Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Buena Terra Elementary rank among elementary schools in Buena Park?
By Resource Investment Index, Buena Terra Elementary ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Buena Park, 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 Buena Park on the city page.
Is Buena Terra Elementary a good school?
Buena Terra Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California 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 Centralia Elementary?
Besides Buena Terra Elementary, Centralia Elementary also operates Los Coyotes Elementary (568 students), George B. Miller Elementary (502 students), and Centralia Elementary (496 students). See the Centralia Elementary 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.