- Enrollment
- 941
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Dona Merced Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Dona Merced Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060795000763
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dona Merced Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of California schools.
- #7 of 9
- elementary schools in Rancho Cucamonga · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.9:1
- large classes for California
- 48.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Dona Merced Elementary has class sizes larger than 79% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dona Merced Elementary ranks #7 of 9 elementary schools in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
School address
District: Central Elementary · California
NCES ID 060795000763 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Dona Merced Elementary held near 549 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 22.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 060795000763 · Rancho Cucamonga, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
547 enr · 24.9:1 · 48.3% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Ruth Musser Middle (941 students)
Dona Merced Elementary held near 549 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 22.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Dona Merced Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ruth Musser Mi
Ruth Musser Middle
941 students
- Coyote Canyon
Coyote Canyon Elementary
817 students
- Cucamonga Midd
Cucamonga Middle
662 students
- This school
Dona Merced Elementary
547 students
- Valle Vista El
Valle Vista Elementary
471 students
- Bear Gulch Ele
Bear Gulch Elementary
443 students
What this shows Dona Merced Elementary reports 547 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dona Merced Elementary compares
Dona Merced 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 | 24.9:1 | ▲ 16% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.3% | ▼ 13% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 547 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.9:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
547
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% 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
24.9:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 79% in California - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
22.9%
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
$15,077
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 547 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 54.8%
White 17.4%
African American 10.4%
Asian 9.5%
Two or More 7.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 54.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.3, Dona Merced Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Central Elementary reports $15,077 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dona Merced Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth Musser Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Coyote Canyon Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cucamonga Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Valle Vista Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bear Gulch Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dona Merced Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 817
- Students per teacher
- 28.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 662
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 471
- Students per teacher
- 26.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 443
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar elementary schools in Rancho Cucamonga
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ruth Musser Middle
Standard public school
941 students 23:1 students per teacher
Terra Vista Elementary
Standard public school
855 students 23.8:1 students per teacher
Coyote Canyon Elementary
Standard public school
817 students 28.2:1 students per teacher
Los Amigos Elementary
Standard public school
550 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Valle Vista Elementary
Standard public school
471 students 26.2:1 students per teacher
Cucamonga Elementary
Standard public school
452 students 19.7:1 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 (~547 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dona Merced Elementary
How many students attend Dona Merced Elementary?
Dona Merced Elementary has 547 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. CCD year-over-year: 557 (2022-23) → 549 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dona Merced Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Dona Merced Elementary is 24.9:1, which is 16% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 59% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dona Merced Elementary?
48.3% of students at Dona Merced Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dona Merced Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Dona Merced Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 54.8% of enrollment, in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dona Merced Elementary?
Dona Merced Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Dona Merced Elementary rank among elementary schools in Rancho Cucamonga?
By Resource Investment Index, Dona Merced Elementary ranks #7 of 9 elementary schools in Rancho Cucamonga, 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 Rancho Cucamonga on the city page.
What other schools are in Central Elementary?
Besides Dona Merced Elementary, Central Elementary also operates Ruth Musser Middle (941 students), Coyote Canyon Elementary (817 students), and Cucamonga Middle (662 students). See the Central Elementary district page for the complete list.