- Enrollment
- 917
- Students per teacher
- 29.6:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Merced, CA
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062460003688
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of California schools.
- #4 of 19
- elementary schools in Merced · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 25.8:1
- large classes for California
- 52.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary has class sizes larger than 84% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary ranks #4 of 19 elementary schools in Merced, CA.
School address
District: Merced City Elementary · California
NCES ID 062460003688 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+7 students YoY
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary held near 732 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 28.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+7 students YoY 062460003688 · Merced, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
722 enr · 25.8:1 · 52.8% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Rudolph Rivera Elementary (917 students)
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary held near 732 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 28.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Rudolph Rivera
Rudolph Rivera Elementary
917 students
- This school
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
- Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover Middle
629 students
What this shows Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary reports 722 students on the CCD universe file.
How Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary compares
Donn B. Chenoweth 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 | 25.8:1 | ▲ 20% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.8% | ▼ 5% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 722 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.8:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
722
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% 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
25.8:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 84% in California - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
30.6%
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 722 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 60.0%
White 19.1%
Asian 9.0%
Two or More 6.4%
African American 4.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 60.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.9, Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Merced City Elementary reports $15,186 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rudolph Rivera Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Luther Burbank Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Allan Peterson Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joe Stefani | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Herbert Hoover Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 629
- Students per teacher
- 28.6:1
- 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
Luther Burbank Elementary
Standard public school
716 students 28.6:1 students per teacher
Allan Peterson Elementary
Standard public school
690 students 28.8:1 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 (~722 students)
Frequently asked questions about Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary
How many students attend Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary?
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary has 722 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Merced, CA. CCD year-over-year: 725 (2022-23) → 732 (2023-24), nearly flat (+7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary is 25.8:1, which is 20% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 64% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary?
52.8% of students at Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 60.0% of enrollment, in Merced, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary?
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (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 Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary rank among elementary schools in Merced?
By Resource Investment Index, Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary ranks #4 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 Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary, Merced City Elementary also operates Rudolph Rivera Elementary (917 students), Luther Burbank Elementary (716 students), and Allan Peterson Elementary (690 students). See the Merced City Elementary district page for the complete list.