Enrollment
607
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Fountain Valley, CA
Cox (James H.) Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cox (James H.) Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 061422001623
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cox (James H.) Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #4 of 8
- elementary schools in Fountain Valley · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.3:1
- large classes for California
- 28.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Cox (James H.) Elementary has class sizes larger than 81% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cox (James H.) Elementary ranks #4 of 8 elementary schools in Fountain Valley, CA.
School address
District: Fountain Valley Elementary · California
NCES ID 061422001623 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
25.3:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
28.0%
vs 55.5% California avg
-50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cox (James H.) Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cox (James H.) Elementary
Cox (James H.) Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Fountain Valley, California, enrolling 607 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 25.3:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 28.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 607 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.
Against 1,412 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #287.
Its student body is led by Asian (40%) and Hispanic or Latino (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.8% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Fountain Valley Elementary spends $12,548 per pupil, 24% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Fountain Valley's elementary schools, it stands alongside Ethan B. Allen Elementary (637 students): Cox (James H.) Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (25.3:1 vs 24.5:1).
Fountain Valley Elementary also operates Masuda (Kazuo) Middle (768 students) and Fulton (Harry C.) Middle (753 students) alongside Cox (James H.) 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 Cox (James H.) Elementary compares
Cox (James H.) 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 | 25.3:1 | ▲ 18% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.0% | ▼ 50% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 607 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.3:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
607
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
28.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
25.3:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 81% in California - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
18.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,548
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 + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 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
Asian 40.4%
Hispanic or Latino 26.5%
White 20.9%
Two or More 11.0%
African American 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 40.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.1, Cox (James H.) Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fountain Valley Elementary, which includes Cox (James H.) Elementary.
$12,548
Per student
-24%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 55.4%
State 38.8%
Federal 5.8%
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 Cox (James H.) Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masuda (Kazuo) Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fulton (Harry C.) Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Courreges (Roch) Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Newland (William T.) Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cox (James H.) Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 768
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 753
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 690
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 631
- Students per teacher
- 25.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 531
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar elementary schools in Fountain Valley
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ethan B. Allen Elementary
Standard public school
637 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Courreges (Roch) Elementary
Standard public school
631 students 25.2:1 students per teacher
James Monroe Elementary
Standard public school
555 students 25.2:1 students per teacher
Plavan (Urbain H.) Elementary
Standard public school
530 students 27.9:1 students per teacher
Tamura (Hisamatsu) Elementary
Standard public school
526 students 26.3:1 students per teacher
Gisler (Robert) Elementary
Standard public school
470 students 24.7:1 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 (~607 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cox (James H.) Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Cox (James H.) Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Fountain Valley 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 Cox (James H.) Elementary
How many students attend Cox (James H.) Elementary?
Cox (James H.) Elementary has 607 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Fountain Valley, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cox (James H.) Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cox (James H.) Elementary is 25.3:1, which is 18% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 61% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cox (James H.) Elementary?
28.0% of students at Cox (James H.) Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cox (James H.) Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cox (James H.) Elementary is Asian at 40.4% of enrollment, in Fountain Valley, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cox (James H.) Elementary?
Cox (James H.) Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Cox (James H.) Elementary rank among elementary schools in Fountain Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Cox (James H.) Elementary ranks #4 of 8 elementary schools in Fountain Valley, 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 Fountain Valley on the city page.
Is Cox (James H.) Elementary a good school?
Cox (James H.) Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% 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 Fountain Valley Elementary?
Besides Cox (James H.) Elementary, Fountain Valley Elementary also operates Masuda (Kazuo) Middle (768 students), Fulton (Harry C.) Middle (753 students), and Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle (690 students). See the Fountain Valley 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.