Enrollment
507
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Whittier, CA
Daniel Phelan Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Daniel Phelan Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064245006946
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Daniel Phelan Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 29
- elementary schools in Whittier · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.1:1
- large classes for California
- 39.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Daniel Phelan Elementary has class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Daniel Phelan Elementary ranks #6 of 29 elementary schools in Whittier, CA.
School address
District: Whittier City Elementary · California
NCES ID 064245006946 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
21.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.1:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
39.5%
vs 55.5% California avg
-29% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Daniel Phelan Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Daniel Phelan Elementary
Daniel Phelan Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Whittier, California, enrolling 507 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.1:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 39.5% of students eligible for free meals.
With 507 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,353 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #428.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (96% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 7/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Whittier's elementary schools, it stands alongside Ocean View Elementary (668 students): Daniel Phelan Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.1:1 vs 26.7:1).
Whittier City Elementary also operates Katherine Edwards Middle (894 students) and Walter F. Dexter Middle (610 students) alongside Daniel Phelan 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 Daniel Phelan Elementary compares
Daniel Phelan 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 | 24.1:1 | ▲ 12% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.5% | ▼ 29% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 507 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.1:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
507
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
39.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% 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
24.1:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 72% in California - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
28.6%
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
$15,897
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 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
Hispanic or Latino 96.3%
White 2.0%
Two or More 0.8%
Asian 0.6%
African American 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 96.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 7.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 7.2, Daniel Phelan Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Whittier City Elementary, which includes Daniel Phelan Elementary.
$15,897
Per student
-4%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 23.5%
State 65.2%
Federal 11.3%
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 Daniel Phelan Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Edwards Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Walter F. Dexter Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wallen L. Andrews Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Longfellow Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Christian Sorensen Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Daniel Phelan Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 894
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 610
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 542
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 499
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 446
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar elementary schools in Whittier
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ocean View Elementary
Standard public school
668 students 26.7:1 students per teacher
Leffingwell Elementary
Standard public school
551 students 24:1 students per teacher
Wallen L. Andrews Elementary
Standard public school
542 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Jordan Elementary
Standard public school
516 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Longfellow Elementary
Standard public school
499 students 24.9:1 students per teacher
Scott Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
494 students 23.5:1 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 (~507 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Daniel Phelan Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Daniel Phelan Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Whittier City 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 Daniel Phelan Elementary
How many students attend Daniel Phelan Elementary?
Daniel Phelan Elementary has 507 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Whittier, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Daniel Phelan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Daniel Phelan Elementary is 24.1:1, which is 12% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 54% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Daniel Phelan Elementary?
39.5% of students at Daniel Phelan Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Daniel Phelan Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Daniel Phelan Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 96.3% of enrollment, in Whittier, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Daniel Phelan Elementary?
Daniel Phelan Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Daniel Phelan Elementary rank among elementary schools in Whittier?
By Resource Investment Index, Daniel Phelan Elementary ranks #6 of 29 elementary schools in Whittier, 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 Whittier on the city page.
Is Daniel Phelan Elementary a good school?
Daniel Phelan Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. It is also less 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 Whittier City Elementary?
Besides Daniel Phelan Elementary, Whittier City Elementary also operates Katherine Edwards Middle (894 students), Walter F. Dexter Middle (610 students), and Wallen L. Andrews Elementary (542 students). See the Whittier City 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.