Enrollment
670
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Gardena, CA
Denker Avenue Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Denker Avenue Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062271002955
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Denker Avenue Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #1 of 10
- elementary schools in Gardena · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.3:1
- students per teacher
- 69.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Denker Avenue Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Denker Avenue Elementary ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Gardena, CA.
School address
District: Los Angeles Unified · California
NCES ID 062271002955 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.3:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
69.9%
vs 55.5% California avg
+26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Denker Avenue Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Denker Avenue Elementary
Denker Avenue Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Gardena, California, enrolling 670 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 20.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 69.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 670 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.
Among 1,960 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #80, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (62%) and Asian (16%) (diversity index 57/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Los Angeles Unified spends $21,940 per pupil, 33% above the California average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Gardena's elementary schools, it stands alongside Amestoy Elementary (623 students): Denker Avenue Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.3:1 vs 18.9:1).
Los Angeles Unified also operates Grover Cleveland Charter High (2,719 students) and North Hollywood Senior High (2,444 students) alongside Denker Avenue 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 Denker Avenue Elementary compares
Denker Avenue 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 | 20.3:1 | ▼ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.9% | ▲ 26% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 670 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.3:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
670
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
69.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
20.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 37% in California - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
25.7%
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
$21,940
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 62.2%
Asian 16.3%
Two or More 12.2%
African American 6.9%
White 1.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 62.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.7, Denker Avenue Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Los Angeles Unified, which includes Denker Avenue Elementary.
$21,940
Per student
+33%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+32%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 26.3%
State 54.5%
Federal 19.2%
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 Denker Avenue Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grover Cleveland Charter High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Hollywood Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Phineas Banning Senior High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| San Pedro Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Venice Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Denker Avenue Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,719
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,444
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,422
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,398
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,293
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar elementary schools in Gardena
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Amestoy Elementary
Standard public school
623 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
One Hundred Eighty-Sixth Street Elementary
Standard public school
579 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
One Hundred Thirty-Fifth Street Elementary
Standard public school
554 students 19.8:1 students per teacher
Chapman Elementary
Standard public school
406 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Gardena Elementary
Standard public school
398 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Purche Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
373 students 17:1 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 (~670 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Denker Avenue Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Denker Avenue Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Los Angeles Unified'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 Denker Avenue Elementary
How many students attend Denker Avenue Elementary?
Denker Avenue Elementary has 670 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Gardena, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Denker Avenue Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Denker Avenue Elementary is 20.3:1, which is 6% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 29% 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 Denker Avenue Elementary?
69.9% of students at Denker Avenue Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Denker Avenue Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Denker Avenue Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 62.2% of enrollment, in Gardena, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Denker Avenue Elementary?
Denker Avenue Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Denker Avenue Elementary rank among elementary schools in Gardena?
By Resource Investment Index, Denker Avenue Elementary ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Gardena, 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 Gardena on the city page.
Is Denker Avenue Elementary a good school?
Denker Avenue Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. 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 Los Angeles Unified?
Besides Denker Avenue Elementary, Los Angeles Unified also operates Grover Cleveland Charter High (2,719 students), North Hollywood Senior High (2,444 students), and Phineas Banning Senior High (2,422 students). See the Los Angeles Unified 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.