Enrollment
528
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · American Canyon, CA
Donaldson Way Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Donaldson Way Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062664004017
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Donaldson Way Elementary earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in American Canyon · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 27.8:1
- large classes for California
- 46.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Donaldson Way Elementary has class sizes larger than 92% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Donaldson Way Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in American Canyon, CA.
School address
District: Napa Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 062664004017 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
27.8:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+29% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
46.5%
vs 55.5% California avg
-16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Donaldson Way Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Donaldson Way Elementary
Donaldson Way Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in American Canyon, California, enrolling 528 students.
Class loads run heavy: 27.8:1 is larger than about 92% of California schools and 29% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 46.5% of students eligible for free meals.
With 528 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,423 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #854.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (45%) and White (20%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 1056 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Napa Valley Unified spends $13,207 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among American Canyon's elementary schools, it stands alongside Canyon Oaks Elementary (696 students): Donaldson Way Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (27.8:1 vs 26.8:1).
Napa Valley Unified also operates American Canyon High (1,720 students) and Napa High (1,642 students) alongside Donaldson Way 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 Donaldson Way Elementary compares
Donaldson Way 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 | 27.8:1 | ▲ 29% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.5% | ▼ 16% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 528 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.8:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
528
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
46.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
27.8:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 92% in California - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
29.4%
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
$13,207
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 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 44.7%
White 19.5%
Asian 19.1%
Two or More 11.7%
African American 4.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.0, Donaldson Way Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Napa Valley Unified, which includes Donaldson Way Elementary.
$13,207
Per student
-20%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 57.7%
State 34.5%
Federal 7.8%
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 Donaldson Way Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Canyon High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Napa High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Vintage High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| American Canyon Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Redwood Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Donaldson Way Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,642
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,622
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,074
- Students per teacher
- 26.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 868
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar elementary schools in American Canyon
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~528 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Donaldson Way Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Donaldson Way Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Napa Valley 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 Donaldson Way Elementary
How many students attend Donaldson Way Elementary?
Donaldson Way Elementary has 528 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in American Canyon, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Donaldson Way Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Donaldson Way Elementary is 27.8:1, which is 29% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 77% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Donaldson Way Elementary?
46.5% of students at Donaldson Way Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Donaldson Way Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Donaldson Way Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 44.7% of enrollment, in American Canyon, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Donaldson Way Elementary?
Donaldson Way Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Donaldson Way Elementary rank among elementary schools in American Canyon?
By Resource Investment Index, Donaldson Way Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in American Canyon, 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 American Canyon on the city page.
Is Donaldson Way Elementary a good school?
Donaldson Way Elementary earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of California schools. 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 Napa Valley Unified?
Besides Donaldson Way Elementary, Napa Valley Unified also operates American Canyon High (1,720 students), Napa High (1,642 students), and Vintage High (1,622 students). See the Napa Valley 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.