- Enrollment
- 2,300
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Thermal, CA
John Kelley Elementary
Federal NCES profile for John Kelley Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060907000922
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John Kelley Elementary earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 84% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Thermal · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.8:1
- small classes for California
- 89.2%
- free-lunch eligible
John Kelley Elementary has class sizes smaller than 84% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John Kelley Elementary ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Thermal, CA.
School address
District: Coachella Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 060907000922 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
John Kelley Elementary held near 496 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 30.9 → 31.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 060907000922 · Thermal, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
505 enr · 16.8:1 · 89.2% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Coachella Valley High (2,300 students)
John Kelley Elementary held near 496 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE held 30.9 → 31.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
John Kelley Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Coachella Vall
Coachella Valley High
2,300 students
- Desert Mirage
Desert Mirage High
1,875 students
- Toro Canyon Mi
Toro Canyon Middle
989 students
- Saul Martinez
Saul Martinez Elementary
961 students
- Coral Mountain 815
Coral Mountain Academy
815 students
- This school 505
John Kelley Elementary
505 students
What this shows John Kelley Elementary reports 505 students on the CCD universe file.
How John Kelley Elementary compares
John Kelley 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 | 16.8:1 | ▼ 22% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 89.2% | ▲ 61% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 505 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
505
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
89.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 16% in California - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
54.9%
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
$21,412
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 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
Hispanic or Latino 97.6%
Two or More 1.2%
White 1.0%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 97.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 4.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 4.7, John Kelley Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Coachella Valley Unified reports $21,412 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How John Kelley Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coachella Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Mirage High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Toro Canyon Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Saul Martinez Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Coral Mountain Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John Kelley Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,875
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 961
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 815
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Similar elementary schools in Thermal
3 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 (~505 students)
Frequently asked questions about John Kelley Elementary
How many students attend John Kelley Elementary?
John Kelley Elementary has 505 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Thermal, CA. CCD year-over-year: 500 (2022-23) → 496 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Kelley Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at John Kelley Elementary is 16.8:1, which is 22% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 7% 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 John Kelley Elementary?
89.2% of students at John Kelley Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John Kelley Elementary?
The largest demographic group at John Kelley Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 97.6% of enrollment, in Thermal, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John Kelley Elementary?
John Kelley Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (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 John Kelley Elementary rank among elementary schools in Thermal?
By Resource Investment Index, John Kelley Elementary ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Thermal, 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 Thermal on the city page.
What other schools are in Coachella Valley Unified?
Besides John Kelley Elementary, Coachella Valley Unified also operates Coachella Valley High (2,300 students), Desert Mirage High (1,875 students), and Toro Canyon Middle (989 students). See the Coachella Valley Unified district page for the complete list.