- Enrollment
- 1,939
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sacramento, CA
James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary
Federal NCES profile for James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063462005766
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #68 of 124
- elementary schools in Sacramento · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 27.1:1
- large classes for California
- 41.3%
- free-lunch eligible
James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary has class sizes larger than 90% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary ranks #68 of 124 elementary schools in Sacramento, CA.
School address
District: San Juan Unified · California
NCES ID 063462005766 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+19 students YoY
James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary held near 406 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+19 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 15.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+19 students YoY 063462005766 · Sacramento, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
406 enr · 27.1:1 · 41.3% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Bella Vista High (1,939 students)
James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary held near 406 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+19 headcount). Teacher FTE added 15.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Bella Vista Hi
Bella Vista High
1,939 students
- Rio Americano
Rio Americano High
1,891 students
- Mira Loma High
Mira Loma High
1,655 students
- Del Campo High
Del Campo High
1,548 students
- El Camino Fund
El Camino Fundamental High
1,226 students
- This school 406
James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary
406 students
What this shows James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary reports 406 students on the CCD universe file.
How James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary compares
James R. Cowan Fundamental 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 | 27.1:1 | ▲ 26% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.3% | ▼ 26% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 406 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.1:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
406
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
27.1:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 90% in California - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
22.7%
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
$16,227
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints 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: 0.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 49.0%
Hispanic or Latino 22.4%
Two or More 10.8%
Asian 9.6%
African American 6.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 49.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.5, James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for San Juan Unified reports $16,227 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bella Vista High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rio Americano High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mira Loma High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Del Campo High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| El Camino Fundamental High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,891
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,655
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,548
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,226
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar elementary schools in Sacramento
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Smythe Academy of Arts and Sciences
Standard public school
1,091 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Las Palmas Elementary
Standard public school
1,001 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
Mary Tsukamoto Elementary
Standard public school
989 students 26:1 students per teacher
Heron
Standard public school
977 students 23.3:1 students per teacher
Arnold Adreani Elementary
Standard public school
944 students 27:1 students per teacher
Paso Verde
Standard public school
897 students 23.6:1 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 (~406 students)
Frequently asked questions about James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary
How many students attend James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary?
James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary has 406 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sacramento, CA. CCD year-over-year: 387 (2022-23) → 406 (2023-24), nearly flat (+19).
What is the student-teacher ratio at James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary is 27.1:1, which is 26% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 73% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary?
41.3% of students at James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary?
The largest demographic group at James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary is White at 49.0% of enrollment, in Sacramento, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary?
James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary rank among elementary schools in Sacramento?
By Resource Investment Index, James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary ranks #68 of 124 elementary schools in Sacramento, 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 Sacramento on the city page.
What other schools are in San Juan Unified?
Besides James R. Cowan Fundamental Elementary, San Juan Unified also operates Bella Vista High (1,939 students), Rio Americano High (1,891 students), and Mira Loma High (1,655 students). See the San Juan Unified district page for the complete list.