Enrollment
384
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Pasadena, CA
Don Benito Fundamental
Federal NCES profile for Don Benito Fundamental, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062994004665
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 2
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Don Benito Fundamental earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 11
- elementary schools in Pasadena · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.6:1
- students per teacher
- 43.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Don Benito Fundamental has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Don Benito Fundamental ranks #6 of 11 elementary schools in Pasadena, CA.
School address
District: Pasadena Unified · California
NCES ID 062994004665 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
17.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.6:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+5% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
43.3%
vs 55.5% California avg
-22% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Don Benito Fundamental compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Don Benito Fundamental
Don Benito Fundamental is a mid-sized elementary school in Pasadena, California, enrolling 384 students.
At 22.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the California median, within a few percentage points of the 21.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 43.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 384 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 1,142 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #632.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (49%) and White (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Pasadena's elementary schools, it stands alongside Longfellow (Henry W.) Elementary (546 students): Don Benito Fundamental is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (22.6:1 vs 23.7:1).
Pasadena Unified also operates Marshall Fundamental (1,689 students) and Pasadena High (1,303 students) alongside Don Benito Fundamental.
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 Don Benito Fundamental compares
Don Benito Fundamental on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.6:1 | ▲ 5% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.3% | ▼ 22% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 384 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.6:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
384
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
43.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
22.6:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 59% in California - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
39.1%
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
$17,889
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 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 48.8%
White 25.3%
Two or More 10.2%
African American 8.9%
Asian 6.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 48.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.5, Don Benito Fundamental is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Pasadena Unified, which includes Don Benito Fundamental.
$17,889
Per student
+8%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 45.4%
State 40.3%
Federal 14.3%
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 Don Benito Fundamental Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall Fundamental | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pasadena High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| John Muir High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blair High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jackson Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Don Benito Fundamental's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,689
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,303
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,206
- Students per teacher
- 25.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,053
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar elementary schools in Pasadena
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Longfellow (Henry W.) Elementary
Standard public school
546 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Mckinley
Standard public school
538 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Hamilton Elementary
Standard public school
510 students 26.8:1 students per teacher
Field (Eugene) Elementary
Standard public school
449 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Washington Elementary
Standard public school
428 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
San Rafael Elementary
Standard public school
412 students 25.8:1 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 (~384 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Don Benito Fundamental's federal record.
- Compare Don Benito Fundamental against another school. Compare schools
- Pasadena 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 Don Benito Fundamental
How many students attend Don Benito Fundamental?
Don Benito Fundamental has 384 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Pasadena, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Don Benito Fundamental?
The student-teacher ratio at Don Benito Fundamental is 22.6:1, which is 5% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 44% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Don Benito Fundamental?
43.3% of students at Don Benito Fundamental are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Don Benito Fundamental?
The largest demographic group at Don Benito Fundamental is Hispanic or Latino at 48.8% of enrollment, in Pasadena, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Don Benito Fundamental?
Don Benito Fundamental has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower 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 Don Benito Fundamental rank among elementary schools in Pasadena?
By Resource Investment Index, Don Benito Fundamental ranks #6 of 11 elementary schools in Pasadena, 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 Pasadena on the city page.
Is Don Benito Fundamental a good school?
Don Benito Fundamental earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. 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 Pasadena Unified?
Besides Don Benito Fundamental, Pasadena Unified also operates Marshall Fundamental (1,689 students), Pasadena High (1,303 students), and John Muir High (1,206 students). See the Pasadena 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.