- Enrollment
- 2,029
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Atwater, CA
Buhach Colony High
Federal NCES profile for Buhach Colony High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 062466008741
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 12
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buhach Colony High earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #9 of 13
- public schools in Atwater · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.3:1
- students per teacher
- 61.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Buhach Colony High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buhach Colony High ranks #9 of 13 public schools in Atwater, CA.
School address
District: Merced Union High · California
NCES ID 062466008741 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-88 students YoY
Buhach Colony High shrank from 1,746 students in 2022-23 to 1,658 in 2023-24 (-5.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 84.6 → 83.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-88 students YoY 062466008741 · Atwater, CA High · MID · TRAD
1,704 enr · 20.3:1 · 61.2% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Atwater High (2,029 students)
Buhach Colony High shrank from 1,746 students in 2022-23 to 1,658 in 2023-24 (-5.0%). Teacher FTE lost 84.6 → 83.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Buhach Colony High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Atwater High
Atwater High
2,029 students
- Merced High
Merced High
1,943 students
- Golden Valley
Golden Valley High
1,917 students
- El Capitan Hig
El Capitan High
1,793 students
- This school
Buhach Colony High
1,704 students
- Livingston Hig
Livingston High
1,169 students
What this shows Buhach Colony High reports 1,704 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buhach Colony High compares
Buhach Colony High is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.3:1 | ▼ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.2% | ▲ 10% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,704 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.3:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,704
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
61.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 37% in California - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
35.2%
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
$16,578
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 426 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 41 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 69.7%
White 15.3%
Asian 9.9%
African American 2.1%
Two or More 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 69.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.0, Buhach Colony High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Merced Union High reports $16,578 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Buhach Colony High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atwater High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Merced High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Golden Valley High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| El Capitan High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Livingston High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buhach Colony High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,943
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,917
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 1,793
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,169
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar high schools in Atwater
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~1,704 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buhach Colony High
How many students attend Buhach Colony High?
Buhach Colony High has 1,704 students enrolled. It is a high school in Atwater, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,746 (2022-23) → 1,658 (2023-24), down 88.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buhach Colony High?
The student-teacher ratio at Buhach Colony High is 20.3:1, which is 6% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 29% higher 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 Buhach Colony High?
61.2% of students at Buhach Colony High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buhach Colony High?
The largest demographic group at Buhach Colony High is Hispanic or Latino at 69.7% of enrollment, in Atwater, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buhach Colony High?
Buhach Colony High has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (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 Buhach Colony High rank among public schools in Atwater?
By Resource Investment Index, Buhach Colony High ranks #9 of 13 public schools in Atwater, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Atwater on the city page.
What other schools are in Merced Union High?
Besides Buhach Colony High, Merced Union High also operates Atwater High (2,029 students), Merced High (1,943 students), and Golden Valley High (1,917 students). See the Merced Union High district page for the complete list.