- Enrollment
- 3,328
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Murrieta, CA
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 8/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060002910354
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary earns 8/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #11 of 13
- elementary schools in Murrieta · Resource Index
- 8
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26.7:1
- large classes for California
- 44.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary has class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary ranks #11 of 13 elementary schools in Murrieta, CA.
School address
District: Murrieta Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 060002910354 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary held near 843 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 31.8 → 33.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 060002910354 · Murrieta, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
828 enr · 26.7:1 · 44.0% lunch · RII 8
Nearest enrollment peer: Vista Murrieta High (3,328 students)
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary held near 843 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 31.8 → 33.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Vista Murrieta
Vista Murrieta High
3,328 students
- Murrieta Valle
Murrieta Valley High
2,104 students
- Murrieta Mesa
Murrieta Mesa High
2,066 students
- Thompson Middl
Thompson Middle
1,565 students
- Dorothy Mcelhi
Dorothy Mcelhinney Middle
1,451 students
- This school 828
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary
828 students
What this shows Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary reports 828 students on the CCD universe file.
How Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary compares
Daniel N. Buchanan 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 | 26.7:1 | ▲ 24% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.0% | ▼ 21% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 828 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.7:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
828
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
26.7:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 88% in California - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
38.9%
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
$15,012
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 828 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 44.0%
White 26.7%
Two or More 12.1%
Asian 10.6%
African American 5.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.6, Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Murrieta Valley Unified reports $15,012 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Murrieta High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Murrieta Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Murrieta Mesa High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Thompson Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dorothy Mcelhinney Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,104
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 2,066
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,565
- Students per teacher
- 27.5:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 1,451
- Students per teacher
- 27.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Similar elementary schools in Murrieta
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Cole Canyon Elementary
Standard public school
1,038 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
Lisa J. Mails Elementary
Standard public school
1,006 students 27.2:1 students per teacher
Murrieta Elementary
Standard public school
893 students 26.3:1 students per teacher
Alta Murrieta Elementary
Standard public school
849 students 25:1 students per teacher
Antelope Hills Elementary
Standard public school
839 students 27.1:1 students per teacher
Oak Meadows Elementary
Standard public school
818 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~828 students)
Frequently asked questions about Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary
How many students attend Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary?
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary has 828 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Murrieta, CA. CCD year-over-year: 857 (2022-23) → 843 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary is 26.7:1, which is 24% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 70% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary?
44.0% of students at Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 44.0% of enrollment, in Murrieta, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary?
Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 8/100 (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 Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary rank among elementary schools in Murrieta?
By Resource Investment Index, Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary ranks #11 of 13 elementary schools in Murrieta, 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 Murrieta on the city page.
What other schools are in Murrieta Valley Unified?
Besides Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary, Murrieta Valley Unified also operates Vista Murrieta High (3,328 students), Murrieta Valley High (2,104 students), and Murrieta Mesa High (2,066 students). See the Murrieta Valley Unified district page for the complete list.