- Enrollment
- 1,891
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Palo Alto, CA
El Carmelo Elementary
Federal NCES profile for El Carmelo Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062961004583
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 76
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
El Carmelo Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 10
- elementary schools in Palo Alto · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- small classes for California
- 15.8%
- free-lunch eligible
El Carmelo Elementary has class sizes smaller than 81% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, El Carmelo Elementary ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Palo Alto, CA.
School address
District: Palo Alto Unified · California
NCES ID 062961004583 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
El Carmelo Elementary held near 314 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 16.6 → 15.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 062961004583 · Palo Alto, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
282 enr · 17.6:1 · 15.8% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Palo Alto High (1,891 students)
El Carmelo Elementary held near 314 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 16.6 → 15.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
El Carmelo Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Palo Alto High
Palo Alto High
1,891 students
- Henry M. Gunn
Henry M. Gunn High
1,643 students
- Jane Lathrop S
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle
1,002 students
- Frank S. Green 732
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle
732 students
- Ellen Fletcher 572
Ellen Fletcher Middle
572 students
- This school 282
El Carmelo Elementary
282 students
What this shows El Carmelo Elementary reports 282 students on the CCD universe file.
How El Carmelo Elementary compares
El Carmelo 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 | 17.6:1 | ▼ 18% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.8% | ▼ 72% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 282 | top 76% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
282
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
15.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 19% in California - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
9.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$28,442
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially 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 + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 35.8%
Hispanic or Latino 24.8%
White 23.0%
Two or More 12.8%
African American 3.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Asian at 35.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.0, El Carmelo Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Palo Alto Unified reports $28,442 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How El Carmelo Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Henry M. Gunn High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ellen Fletcher Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to El Carmelo Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,643
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,002
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 732
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 572
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar elementary schools in Palo Alto
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ohlone Elementary
Standard public school
464 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Fairmeadow Elementary
Standard public school
425 students 22.4:1 students per teacher
Herbert Hoover Elementary
Standard public school
389 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Duveneck Elementary
Standard public school
376 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Addison Elementary
Standard public school
366 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
Palo Verde Elementary
Standard public school
334 students 17.6:1 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 (~282 students)
Frequently asked questions about El Carmelo Elementary
How many students attend El Carmelo Elementary?
El Carmelo Elementary has 282 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Palo Alto, CA. CCD year-over-year: 317 (2022-23) → 314 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at El Carmelo Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at El Carmelo Elementary is 17.6:1, which is 18% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at El Carmelo Elementary?
15.8% of students at El Carmelo Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of El Carmelo Elementary?
The largest demographic group at El Carmelo Elementary is Asian at 35.8% of enrollment, in Palo Alto, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for El Carmelo Elementary?
El Carmelo Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does El Carmelo Elementary rank among elementary schools in Palo Alto?
By Resource Investment Index, El Carmelo Elementary ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Palo Alto, 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 Palo Alto on the city page.
What other schools are in Palo Alto Unified?
Besides El Carmelo Elementary, Palo Alto Unified also operates Palo Alto High (1,891 students), Henry M. Gunn High (1,643 students), and Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle (1,002 students). See the Palo Alto Unified district page for the complete list.