- Enrollment
- 344
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chester, CA
Chester Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Chester Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063117004818
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Chester Elementary earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 73% of California schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Chester · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19:1
- small classes for California
- 42.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Chester Elementary has class sizes smaller than 73% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Chester, CA.
School address
District: Plumas Unified · California
NCES ID 063117004818 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
Chester Elementary shrank from 164 students in 2022-23 to 155 in 2023-24 (-5.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 9.3 → 9.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-9 students YoY 063117004818 · Chester, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
171 enr · 19:1 · 42.1% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: C. Roy Carmichael Elementary (344 students)
Chester Elementary shrank from 164 students in 2022-23 to 155 in 2023-24 (-5.5%). Teacher FTE lost 9.3 → 9.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Chester Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- C. Roy Carmich
C. Roy Carmichael Elementary
344 students
- Quincy Element
Quincy Elementary
342 students
- Quincy Junior/
Quincy Junior/Senior High
310 students
- Portola Junior
Portola Junior/Senior High
256 students
- This school
Chester Elementary
171 students
- Chester Junior 124
Chester Junior/Senior High
124 students
What this shows Chester Elementary reports 171 students on the CCD universe file.
How Chester Elementary compares
Chester Elementary 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 | 19:1 | ▼ 12% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.1% | ▼ 24% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 171 | top 85% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
171
Bigger than 17% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% 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
19:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 27% in California - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
70.8%
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
$20,051
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.7%
Hispanic or Latino 17.0%
Two or More 12.3%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
Largest group: White at 66.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.0, Chester Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Plumas Unified reports $20,051 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Chester Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| C. Roy Carmichael Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Quincy Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Quincy Junior/Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Portola Junior/Senior High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Chester Junior/Senior High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Chester Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 342
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 310
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 256
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 124
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
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 (~171 students)
Frequently asked questions about Chester Elementary
How many students attend Chester Elementary?
Chester Elementary has 171 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chester, CA. CCD year-over-year: 164 (2022-23) → 155 (2023-24), down 9.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Chester Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Chester Elementary is 19:1, which is 12% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 21% 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 Chester Elementary?
42.1% of students at Chester Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Chester Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Chester Elementary is White at 66.7% of enrollment, in Chester, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Chester Elementary?
Chester Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 Chester Elementary rank among public schools in Chester?
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Elementary ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Chester, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Plumas Unified?
Besides Chester Elementary, Plumas Unified also operates C. Roy Carmichael Elementary (344 students), Quincy Elementary (342 students), and Quincy Junior/Senior High (310 students). See the Plumas Unified district page for the complete list.