- Enrollment
- 917
- Students per teacher
- 29.6:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Merced, CA
Don Stowell Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Don Stowell Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 10/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062460007539
👥 S:T ratio 9
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Don Stowell Elementary earns 10/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #16 of 19
- elementary schools in Merced · Resource Index
- 10
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.8:1
- students per teacher
- 95.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Don Stowell Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Don Stowell Elementary ranks #16 of 19 elementary schools in Merced, CA.
School address
District: Merced City Elementary · California
NCES ID 062460007539 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Don Stowell Elementary held near 527 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 22.0 → 22.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 062460007539 · Merced, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
501 enr · 22.8:1 · 95.2% lunch · RII 10
Nearest enrollment peer: Rudolph Rivera Elementary (917 students)
Don Stowell Elementary held near 527 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE held 22.0 → 22.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Don Stowell Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Rudolph Rivera
Rudolph Rivera Elementary
917 students
- Donn B. Chenow
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary
722 students
- Luther Burbank
Luther Burbank Elementary
716 students
- Allan Peterson
Allan Peterson Elementary
690 students
- Joe Stefani
Joe Stefani
641 students
- This school
Don Stowell Elementary
501 students
What this shows Don Stowell Elementary reports 501 students on the CCD universe file.
How Don Stowell Elementary compares
Don Stowell 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 | 22.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 95.2% | ▲ 72% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 501 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.8:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
501
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
95.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 61% in California - lower ratio than 39% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
40.7%
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
$15,186
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 501 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 87.2%
African American 5.0%
White 3.4%
Asian 2.4%
Two or More 2.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 87.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 23.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 23.5, Don Stowell Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Merced City Elementary reports $15,186 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Don Stowell Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rudolph Rivera Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Luther Burbank Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Allan Peterson Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joe Stefani | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Don Stowell Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 722
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 716
- Students per teacher
- 28.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 690
- Students per teacher
- 28.8:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 641
- Students per teacher
- 27.9:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar elementary schools in Merced
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Pioneer Elementary
Standard public school
1,055 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Farmdale Elementary
Standard public school
919 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Rudolph Rivera Elementary
Standard public school
917 students 29.6:1 students per teacher
Mcswain Elementary
Standard public school
912 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary
Standard public school
722 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Luther Burbank Elementary
Standard public school
716 students 28.6:1 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 (~501 students)
Frequently asked questions about Don Stowell Elementary
How many students attend Don Stowell Elementary?
Don Stowell Elementary has 501 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Merced, CA. CCD year-over-year: 517 (2022-23) → 527 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Don Stowell Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Don Stowell Elementary is 22.8:1, which is 6% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 45% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Don Stowell Elementary?
95.2% of students at Don Stowell Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Don Stowell Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Don Stowell Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 87.2% of enrollment, in Merced, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Don Stowell Elementary?
Don Stowell Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 10/100 (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 Don Stowell Elementary rank among elementary schools in Merced?
By Resource Investment Index, Don Stowell Elementary ranks #16 of 19 elementary schools in Merced, 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 Merced on the city page.
What other schools are in Merced City Elementary?
Besides Don Stowell Elementary, Merced City Elementary also operates Rudolph Rivera Elementary (917 students), Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary (722 students), and Luther Burbank Elementary (716 students). See the Merced City Elementary district page for the complete list.