Enrollment
388
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Pablo, CA
Edward M. Downer Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Edward M. Downer Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 13/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063255009184
👥 S:T ratio 9
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Edward M. Downer Elementary earns 13/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 7
- elementary schools in San Pablo · Resource Index
- 13
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.8:1
- students per teacher
- 69.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Edward M. Downer Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Edward M. Downer Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in San Pablo, CA.
School address
District: West Contra Costa Unified · California
NCES ID 063255009184 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
17.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.8:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
69.4%
vs 55.5% California avg
+25% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Edward M. Downer Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Edward M. Downer Elementary
Edward M. Downer Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in San Pablo, California, enrolling 388 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 22.8:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 69.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 388 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 94% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 1,779 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #1,580, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (89% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 21/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 74.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among San Pablo's elementary schools, it stands alongside Caliber: Beta Academy (971 students): Edward M. Downer Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (22.8:1 vs 24.9:1).
West Contra Costa Unified also operates El Cerrito High (1,460 students) and Richmond High (1,280 students) alongside Edward M. Downer 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 Edward M. Downer Elementary compares
Edward M. Downer 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 | 22.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.4% | ▲ 25% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 388 | top 62% | - | - |
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.
388
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
69.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.8:1
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
74.5%
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
$17,537
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
0
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 88.7%
African American 5.9%
Asian 3.1%
Two or More 1.3%
White 1.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 88.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 20.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 20.9, Edward M. Downer Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Contra Costa Unified, which includes Edward M. Downer Elementary.
$17,537
Per student
+6%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.1%
State 46.9%
Federal 11.0%
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 Edward M. Downer Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Cerrito High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Richmond High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pinole Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| De Anza High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hercules High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Edward M. Downer Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,460
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,280
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,245
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,047
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 767
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in San Pablo
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Caliber: Beta Academy
Standard public school
971 students 24.9:1 students per teacher
Montalvin Manor Elementary
Standard public school
474 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Dover Elementary
Standard public school
458 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Lake Elementary
Standard public school
350 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Bayview Elementary
Standard public school
335 students 22.3:1 students per teacher
Tara Hills Elementary
Standard public school
317 students 17.6:1 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 (~388 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Edward M. Downer Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Edward M. Downer Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- West Contra Costa 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 Edward M. Downer Elementary
How many students attend Edward M. Downer Elementary?
Edward M. Downer Elementary has 388 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Pablo, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Edward M. Downer Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Edward M. Downer 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 Edward M. Downer Elementary?
69.4% of students at Edward M. Downer Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Edward M. Downer Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Edward M. Downer Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 88.7% of enrollment, in San Pablo, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Edward M. Downer Elementary?
Edward M. Downer Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 13/100 (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 Edward M. Downer Elementary rank among elementary schools in San Pablo?
By Resource Investment Index, Edward M. Downer Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in San Pablo, 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 San Pablo on the city page.
Is Edward M. Downer Elementary a good school?
Edward M. Downer Elementary earns 13/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less 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 West Contra Costa Unified?
Besides Edward M. Downer Elementary, West Contra Costa Unified also operates El Cerrito High (1,460 students), Richmond High (1,280 students), and Pinole Valley High (1,245 students). See the West Contra Costa 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.