Enrollment
662
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Castro Valley, CA
Independent Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Independent Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060780009342
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 51
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independent Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #4 of 9
- elementary schools in Castro Valley · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.5:1
- large classes for California
- 16.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Independent Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independent Elementary ranks #4 of 9 elementary schools in Castro Valley, CA.
School address
District: Castro Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 060780009342 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.5:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
16.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
-71% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Independent Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Independent Elementary
Independent Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Castro Valley, California, enrolling 662 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.5:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 16.2% free-meal eligibility runs 71% below the California average.
Enrollment of 662 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,169 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #876, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Asian (50%) and Two or More (16%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 19.5% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Castro Valley Unified spends $13,179 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Castro Valley's elementary schools, it stands alongside Proctor Elementary (613 students): Independent Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.5:1 vs 25.5:1).
Castro Valley Unified also operates Castro Valley High (2,874 students) and Canyon Middle (1,418 students) alongside Independent 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 Independent Elementary compares
Independent 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 | 24.5:1 | ▲ 14% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.2% | ▼ 71% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 662 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.5:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
662
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
16.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% 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
24.5:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 76% in California - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
19.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,179
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 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
Asian 49.7%
Two or More 16.0%
White 15.9%
Hispanic or Latino 15.6%
African American 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 49.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.7, Independent Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Castro Valley Unified, which includes Independent Elementary.
$13,179
Per student
-20%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 26.6%
State 62.3%
Federal 11.1%
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 Independent Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castro Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Canyon Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Creekside Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Proctor Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Vannoy Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Independent Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,874
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,418
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 754
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 536
- Students per teacher
- 29.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar elementary schools in Castro Valley
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Proctor Elementary
Standard public school
613 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Vannoy Elementary
Standard public school
536 students 29.8:1 students per teacher
Marshall Elementary
Standard public school
515 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Stanton Elementary
Standard public school
515 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Castro Valley Elementary
Standard public school
502 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Chabot Elementary
Standard public school
496 students 26.1:1 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 (~662 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Independent Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Independent Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Castro Valley 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 Independent Elementary
How many students attend Independent Elementary?
Independent Elementary has 662 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Castro Valley, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independent Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Independent Elementary is 24.5:1, which is 14% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 56% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Independent Elementary?
16.2% of students at Independent Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independent Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Independent Elementary is Asian at 49.7% of enrollment, in Castro Valley, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independent Elementary?
Independent Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Independent Elementary rank among elementary schools in Castro Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Independent Elementary ranks #4 of 9 elementary schools in Castro Valley, 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 Castro Valley on the city page.
Is Independent Elementary a good school?
Independent Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. It is also more 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 Castro Valley Unified?
Besides Independent Elementary, Castro Valley Unified also operates Castro Valley High (2,874 students), Canyon Middle (1,418 students), and Creekside Middle (754 students). See the Castro Valley 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.