- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Nipomo, CA
Dana Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Dana Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062308003518
👥 S:T ratio 6
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dana Elementary earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Nipomo · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.5:1
- students per teacher
- 63.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Dana Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dana Elementary ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Nipomo, CA.
School address
District: Lucia Mar Unified · California
NCES ID 062308003518 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Dana Elementary held near 601 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 26.3 → 31.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 062308003518 · Nipomo, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
612 enr · 23.5:1 · 63.5% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Arroyo Grande High (2,012 students)
Dana Elementary held near 601 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 26.3 → 31.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Dana Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Arroyo Grande
Arroyo Grande High
2,012 students
- Nipomo High
Nipomo High
819 students
- Harloe Element 619
Harloe Elementary
619 students
- This school 612
Dana Elementary
612 students
- Lange (Dorothe 577
Lange (Dorothea) Elementary
577 students
- Ocean View Ele 547
Ocean View Elementary
547 students
What this shows Dana Elementary reports 612 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dana Elementary compares
Dana 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 | 23.5:1 | ▲ 9% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.5% | ▲ 14% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 612 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.5:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
612
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
63.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% 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
23.5:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 67% in California - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
31.7%
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
$15,856
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
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 68.3%
White 26.3%
Two or More 4.2%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
African American 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 68.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.3, Dana Elementary is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lucia Mar Unified reports $15,856 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dana Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Grande High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Nipomo High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harloe Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lange (Dorothea) Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ocean View Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dana Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 819
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 619
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 577
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 547
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Nipomo
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~612 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dana Elementary
How many students attend Dana Elementary?
Dana Elementary has 612 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Nipomo, CA. CCD year-over-year: 600 (2022-23) → 601 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dana Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Dana Elementary is 23.5:1, which is 9% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 50% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dana Elementary?
63.5% of students at Dana Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dana Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Dana Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 68.3% of enrollment, in Nipomo, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dana Elementary?
Dana Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (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 Dana Elementary rank among elementary schools in Nipomo?
By Resource Investment Index, Dana Elementary ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Nipomo, 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 Nipomo on the city page.
What other schools are in Lucia Mar Unified?
Besides Dana Elementary, Lucia Mar Unified also operates Arroyo Grande High (2,012 students), Nipomo High (819 students), and Harloe Elementary (619 students). See the Lucia Mar Unified district page for the complete list.