Enrollment
524
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Valencia, CA
Charles Helmers Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Charles Helmers Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063597009193
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 85
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Charles Helmers Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 9
- elementary schools in Valencia · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 27.6:1
- large classes for California
- 19.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Charles Helmers Elementary has class sizes larger than 91% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Charles Helmers Elementary ranks #1 of 9 elementary schools in Valencia, CA.
School address
District: Saugus Union · California
NCES ID 063597009193 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
27.6:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
19.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
-65% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Charles Helmers Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Charles Helmers Elementary
Charles Helmers Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Valencia, California, enrolling 524 students.
Class loads run heavy: 27.6:1 is larger than about 91% of California schools and 28% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 19.2% free-meal eligibility runs 65% below the California average.
With 524 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 94% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 1,271 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #36, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (41%) and Hispanic or Latino (35%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 6.1% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Saugus Union spends $12,536 per pupil, 24% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Valencia's elementary schools, it stands alongside West Creek Academy (983 students): Charles Helmers Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (27.6:1 vs 27.3:1).
Saugus Union also operates West Creek Academy (983 students) and Mountainview Elementary (917 students) alongside Charles Helmers 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 Charles Helmers Elementary compares
Charles Helmers 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 | 27.6:1 | ▲ 28% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.2% | ▼ 65% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 524 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.6:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
524
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
19.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% 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
27.6:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 91% in California - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
6.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$12,536
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that 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
White 41.0%
Hispanic or Latino 34.7%
Asian 11.3%
Two or More 10.7%
African American 2.3%
Largest group: White at 41.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.7, Charles Helmers Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Saugus Union, which includes Charles Helmers Elementary.
$12,536
Per student
-24%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.9%
State 46.9%
Federal 6.2%
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 Charles Helmers Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Creek Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountainview Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Plum Canyon Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bridgeport Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Emblem Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Charles Helmers Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 983
- Students per teacher
- 27.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 917
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 876
- Students per teacher
- 29.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 866
- Students per teacher
- 28.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 810
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Valencia
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
West Creek Academy
Standard public school
983 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
Bridgeport Elementary
Standard public school
866 students 28.9:1 students per teacher
Valencia Valley Elementary
Standard public school
738 students 25.4:1 students per teacher
Meadows Elementary
Standard public school
729 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Oak Hills Elementary
Standard public school
660 students 31.4:1 students per teacher
Old Orchard Elementary
Standard public school
520 students 23.6:1 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 (~524 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~27.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Charles Helmers Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Charles Helmers Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Saugus Union'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 Charles Helmers Elementary
How many students attend Charles Helmers Elementary?
Charles Helmers Elementary has 524 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Valencia, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Charles Helmers Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Charles Helmers Elementary is 27.6:1, which is 28% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 76% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Charles Helmers Elementary?
19.2% of students at Charles Helmers Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Charles Helmers Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Charles Helmers Elementary is White at 41.0% of enrollment, in Valencia, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Charles Helmers Elementary?
Charles Helmers Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Charles Helmers Elementary rank among elementary schools in Valencia?
By Resource Investment Index, Charles Helmers Elementary ranks #1 of 9 elementary schools in Valencia, 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 Valencia on the city page.
Is Charles Helmers Elementary a good school?
Charles Helmers Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% 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 Saugus Union?
Besides Charles Helmers Elementary, Saugus Union also operates West Creek Academy (983 students), Mountainview Elementary (917 students), and Plum Canyon Elementary (876 students). See the Saugus Union 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.