Enrollment
502
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ramona, CA
James Dukes Elementary
Federal NCES profile for James Dukes Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 16/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063171008943
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Dukes Elementary earns 16/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #4 of 6
- elementary schools in Ramona · Resource Index
- 16
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.9:1
- students per teacher
- 26.4%
- free-lunch eligible
James Dukes Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Dukes Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Ramona, CA.
School address
District: Ramona City Unified · California
NCES ID 063171008943 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.9:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
26.4%
vs 55.5% California avg
-52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James Dukes Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at James Dukes Elementary
James Dukes Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Ramona, California, enrolling 502 students.
At 20.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the California median, within a few percentage points of the 21.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 26.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 502 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,297 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #1,227, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (48%) and Hispanic or Latino (38%) (diversity index 62/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 502 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Ramona's elementary schools, it stands alongside Hanson Elementary (547 students): James Dukes Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20.9:1 vs 27.4:1).
Ramona City Unified also operates Ramona High (1,404 students) and Olive Peirce Middle (680 students) alongside James Dukes 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 James Dukes Elementary compares
James Dukes 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 | 20.9:1 | ▼ 3% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.4% | ▼ 52% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 502 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.9:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
502
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
26.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.9:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 42% in California - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
33.7%
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
$13,417
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 502 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 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
White 47.6%
Hispanic or Latino 38.0%
Two or More 11.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
African American 0.8%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: White at 47.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.6, James Dukes Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Ramona City Unified, which includes James Dukes Elementary.
$13,417
Per student
-19%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.1%
State 45.7%
Federal 7.2%
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 James Dukes Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramona High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Olive Peirce Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hanson Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Barnett Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ramona Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Dukes Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,404
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 680
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 547
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 7/100
- Enrollment
- 465
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 27.1:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar elementary schools in Ramona
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Hanson Elementary
Standard public school
547 students 27.4:1 students per teacher
Barnett Elementary
Standard public school
465 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Ramona Elementary
Standard public school
434 students 27.1:1 students per teacher
Mt. Woodson Elementary
Standard public school
349 students 23.3:1 students per teacher
Ramona Community Montessori
Alternative education program
267 students 26.7:1 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 (~502 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James Dukes Elementary's federal record.
- Compare James Dukes Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Ramona City 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 James Dukes Elementary
How many students attend James Dukes Elementary?
James Dukes Elementary has 502 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ramona, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Dukes Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James Dukes Elementary is 20.9:1, which is 3% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 33% 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 James Dukes Elementary?
26.4% of students at James Dukes Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Dukes Elementary?
The largest demographic group at James Dukes Elementary is White at 47.6% of enrollment, in Ramona, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Dukes Elementary?
James Dukes Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 16/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does James Dukes Elementary rank among elementary schools in Ramona?
By Resource Investment Index, James Dukes Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Ramona, 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 Ramona on the city page.
Is James Dukes Elementary a good school?
James Dukes Elementary earns 16/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. 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 Ramona City Unified?
Besides James Dukes Elementary, Ramona City Unified also operates Ramona High (1,404 students), Olive Peirce Middle (680 students), and Hanson Elementary (547 students). See the Ramona City 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.