Enrollment
442
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Anaheim, CA
Esther L. Walter
Federal NCES profile for Esther L. Walter, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062343003565
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Esther L. Walter earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of California schools.
- #6 of 48
- elementary schools in Anaheim · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.2:1
- small classes for California
- 85.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Esther L. Walter has class sizes smaller than 71% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Esther L. Walter ranks #6 of 48 elementary schools in Anaheim, CA.
School address
District: Magnolia Elementary · California
NCES ID 062343003565 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.2:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
85.6%
vs 55.5% California avg
+54% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Esther L. Walter compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Esther L. Walter
Esther L. Walter is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Anaheim, California, enrolling 442 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 19.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 85.6% of students qualify for free meals, 54% above the California average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 442 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,719 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #150, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (82% of enrollment) (diversity index 32/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Anaheim's elementary schools, it stands alongside Crescent Elementary (805 students): Esther L. Walter is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.2:1 vs 31:1).
Magnolia Elementary also operates Dr. Peter Marshall (714 students) and Dr. Jonas E. Salk (627 students) alongside Esther L. Walter.
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 Esther L. Walter compares
Esther L. Walter on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▼ 11% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 85.6% | ▲ 54% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 442 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
442
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
85.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 29% in California - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
32.1%
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
$16,544
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 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 81.7%
Asian 6.8%
White 4.8%
Two or More 3.2%
African American 2.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 81.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.4, Esther L. Walter is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Magnolia Elementary, which includes Esther L. Walter.
$16,544
Per student
+0%
vs California
Avg $16,509
0%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.4%
State 60.5%
Federal 15.1%
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 Esther L. Walter Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Peter Marshall | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dr. Jonas E. Salk | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Robert M. Pyles Stem Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mattie Lou Maxwell | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walt Disney | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Esther L. Walter's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 714
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 627
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 601
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 577
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 560
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar elementary schools in Anaheim
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Crescent Elementary
Standard public school
805 students 31:1 students per teacher
Ponderosa Elementary
Standard public school
785 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Lincoln (Abraham) Elementary
Standard public school
740 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Ross (Betsy) Elementary
Standard public school
731 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Dr. Peter Marshall
Standard public school
714 students 21:1 students per teacher
Edison (Thomas) Elementary
Standard public school
705 students 22:1 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 (~442 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Esther L. Walter's federal record.
- Compare Esther L. Walter against another school. Compare schools
- Magnolia Elementary'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 Esther L. Walter
How many students attend Esther L. Walter?
Esther L. Walter has 442 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Anaheim, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Esther L. Walter?
The student-teacher ratio at Esther L. Walter is 19.2:1, which is 11% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 22% 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 Esther L. Walter?
85.6% of students at Esther L. Walter are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Esther L. Walter?
The largest demographic group at Esther L. Walter is Hispanic or Latino at 81.7% of enrollment, in Anaheim, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Esther L. Walter?
Esther L. Walter has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical 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 Esther L. Walter rank among elementary schools in Anaheim?
By Resource Investment Index, Esther L. Walter ranks #6 of 48 elementary schools in Anaheim, 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 Anaheim on the city page.
Is Esther L. Walter a good school?
Esther L. Walter earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of 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 Magnolia Elementary?
Besides Esther L. Walter, Magnolia Elementary also operates Dr. Peter Marshall (714 students), Dr. Jonas E. Salk (627 students), and Robert M. Pyles Stem Academy (601 students). See the Magnolia Elementary 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.