- Enrollment
- 1,151
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Bakersfield, CA
Buena Vista Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Buena Vista Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060639000561
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buena Vista Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of California schools.
- #42 of 97
- elementary schools in Bakersfield · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.6:1
- large classes for California
- 49.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Buena Vista Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buena Vista Elementary ranks #42 of 97 elementary schools in Bakersfield, CA.
School address
District: Panama-Buena Vista Union · California
NCES ID 060639000561 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Buena Vista Elementary held near 720 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 29.5 → 28.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 060639000561 · Bakersfield, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
713 enr · 24.6:1 · 49.6% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8 (1,151 students)
Buena Vista Elementary held near 720 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 29.5 → 28.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Buena Vista Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dolores S. Whi
Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8
1,151 students
- Douglas J. Mil
Douglas J. Miller Elementary
994 students
- Stonecreek Jun
Stonecreek Junior High
986 students
- Earl Warren Ju
Earl Warren Junior High
965 students
- Berkshire Elem
Berkshire Elementary
932 students
- This school
Buena Vista Elementary
713 students
What this shows Buena Vista Elementary reports 713 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buena Vista Elementary compares
Buena Vista 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 | 24.6:1 | ▲ 14% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.6% | ▼ 11% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 713 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.6:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
713
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% 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
24.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 76% in California - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
34.4%
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
$15,641
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.8%
White 18.2%
Asian 17.4%
African American 9.0%
Two or More 3.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.9, Buena Vista Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Panama-Buena Vista Union reports $15,641 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Buena Vista Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8 | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Douglas J. Miller Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stonecreek Junior High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Earl Warren Junior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Berkshire Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buena Vista Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 994
- Students per teacher
- 29.2:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 986
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 965
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 932
- Students per teacher
- 28.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar elementary schools in Bakersfield
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8
Standard public school
1,151 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Veterans Elementary
Standard public school
1,002 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Douglas J. Miller Elementary
Standard public school
994 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary
Standard public school
960 students 24:1 students per teacher
Berkshire Elementary
Standard public school
932 students 28.2:1 students per teacher
Patriot Elementary
Standard public school
931 students 23.3:1 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 (~713 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buena Vista Elementary
How many students attend Buena Vista Elementary?
Buena Vista Elementary has 713 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Bakersfield, CA. CCD year-over-year: 718 (2022-23) → 720 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buena Vista Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Buena Vista Elementary is 24.6:1, which is 14% 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 Buena Vista Elementary?
49.6% of students at Buena Vista Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buena Vista Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Buena Vista Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 51.8% of enrollment, in Bakersfield, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buena Vista Elementary?
Buena Vista Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (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 Buena Vista Elementary rank among elementary schools in Bakersfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Buena Vista Elementary ranks #42 of 97 elementary schools in Bakersfield, 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 Bakersfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Panama-Buena Vista Union?
Besides Buena Vista Elementary, Panama-Buena Vista Union also operates Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8 (1,151 students), Douglas J. Miller Elementary (994 students), and Stonecreek Junior High (986 students). See the Panama-Buena Vista Union district page for the complete list.