- Enrollment
- 917
- Students per teacher
- 29.6:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Merced, CA
Joe Stefani
Federal NCES profile for Joe Stefani, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062460011688
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joe Stefani earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of California schools.
- #9 of 19
- elementary schools in Merced · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 27.9:1
- large classes for California
- 81.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Joe Stefani has class sizes larger than 92% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joe Stefani ranks #9 of 19 elementary schools in Merced, CA.
School address
District: Merced City Elementary · California
NCES ID 062460011688 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Joe Stefani held near 608 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 23.3 → 23.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-20 students YoY 062460011688 · Merced, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
641 enr · 27.9:1 · 81.5% lunch · RII 17
Nearest enrollment peer: Rudolph Rivera Elementary (917 students)
Joe Stefani held near 608 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount). Teacher FTE held 23.3 → 23.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Joe Stefani in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Rudolph Rivera
Rudolph Rivera Elementary
917 students
- Donn B. Chenow
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary
722 students
- Luther Burbank
Luther Burbank Elementary
716 students
- Allan Peterson
Allan Peterson Elementary
690 students
- This school
Joe Stefani
641 students
- Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover Middle
629 students
What this shows Joe Stefani reports 641 students on the CCD universe file.
How Joe Stefani compares
Joe Stefani 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 | 27.9:1 | ▲ 30% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.5% | ▲ 47% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 641 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.9:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
641
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
81.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
27.9:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 92% in California - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
54.3%
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
$15,186
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 641 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 63.3%
Asian 18.9%
White 9.2%
Two or More 4.4%
African American 3.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.2, Joe Stefani is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Merced City Elementary reports $15,186 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Joe Stefani Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rudolph Rivera Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Luther Burbank Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Allan Peterson Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Herbert Hoover Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joe Stefani's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 722
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 716
- Students per teacher
- 28.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 690
- Students per teacher
- 28.8:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 629
- Students per teacher
- 28.6:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar elementary schools in Merced
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Pioneer Elementary
Standard public school
1,055 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Farmdale Elementary
Standard public school
919 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Rudolph Rivera Elementary
Standard public school
917 students 29.6:1 students per teacher
Mcswain Elementary
Standard public school
912 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary
Standard public school
722 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Luther Burbank Elementary
Standard public school
716 students 28.6:1 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 (~641 students)
Frequently asked questions about Joe Stefani
How many students attend Joe Stefani?
Joe Stefani has 641 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Merced, CA. CCD year-over-year: 628 (2022-23) → 608 (2023-24), nearly flat (-20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joe Stefani?
The student-teacher ratio at Joe Stefani is 27.9:1, which is 30% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 78% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Joe Stefani?
81.5% of students at Joe Stefani are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joe Stefani?
The largest demographic group at Joe Stefani is Hispanic or Latino at 63.3% of enrollment, in Merced, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joe Stefani?
Joe Stefani has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Joe Stefani rank among elementary schools in Merced?
By Resource Investment Index, Joe Stefani ranks #9 of 19 elementary schools in Merced, 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 Merced on the city page.
What other schools are in Merced City Elementary?
Besides Joe Stefani, Merced City Elementary also operates Rudolph Rivera Elementary (917 students), Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary (722 students), and Luther Burbank Elementary (716 students). See the Merced City Elementary district page for the complete list.