- Enrollment
- 1,460
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · El Cerrito, CA
Harding Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Harding Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063255005033
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Harding Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in El Cerrito · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.1:1
- large classes for California
- 22.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Harding Elementary has class sizes larger than 72% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Harding Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in El Cerrito, CA.
School address
District: West Contra Costa Unified · California
NCES ID 063255005033 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-1 students YoY
Harding Elementary held near 474 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 21.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-1 students YoY 063255005033 · El Cerrito, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
481 enr · 24.1:1 · 22.9% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: El Cerrito High (1,460 students)
Harding Elementary held near 474 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 21.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Harding Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- El Cerrito Hig
El Cerrito High
1,460 students
- Richmond High
Richmond High
1,280 students
- Pinole Valley
Pinole Valley High
1,245 students
- De Anza High
De Anza High
1,047 students
- Hercules High
Hercules High
767 students
- This school 481
Harding Elementary
481 students
What this shows Harding Elementary reports 481 students on the CCD universe file.
How Harding Elementary compares
Harding 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 | 24.1:1 | ▲ 12% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.9% | ▼ 59% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 481 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.1:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
481
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% 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
24.1:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 72% in California - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
20.8%
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
$19,122
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
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 + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 31.0%
Hispanic or Latino 24.2%
Asian 21.7%
Two or More 17.7%
African American 5.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 31.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 76.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 76.4, Harding Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for West Contra Costa Unified reports $19,122 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Harding Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Cerrito High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Richmond High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pinole Valley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| De Anza High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hercules High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Harding Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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 El Cerrito
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~481 students)
Frequently asked questions about Harding Elementary
How many students attend Harding Elementary?
Harding Elementary has 481 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in El Cerrito, CA. CCD year-over-year: 475 (2022-23) → 474 (2023-24), nearly flat (-1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harding Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Harding Elementary is 24.1:1, which is 12% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 54% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Harding Elementary?
22.9% of students at Harding Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Harding Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Harding Elementary is White at 31.0% of enrollment, in El Cerrito, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 76.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Harding Elementary?
Harding Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Harding Elementary rank among elementary schools in El Cerrito?
By Resource Investment Index, Harding Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in El Cerrito, 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 El Cerrito on the city page.
What other schools are in West Contra Costa Unified?
Besides Harding 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.