- Enrollment
- 1,687
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Palm Springs, CA
Katherine Finchy Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Katherine Finchy Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062955004567
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 9
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Katherine Finchy Elementary earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 85% of California schools.
- #3 of 4
- elementary schools in Palm Springs · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.6:1
- small classes for California
- 90.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Katherine Finchy Elementary has class sizes smaller than 85% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Katherine Finchy Elementary ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Palm Springs, CA.
School address
District: Palm Springs Unified · California
NCES ID 062955004567 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-71 students YoY
Katherine Finchy Elementary shrank from 547 students in 2022-23 to 476 in 2023-24 (-13.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.9 → 26.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-71 students YoY 062955004567 · Palm Springs, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
464 enr · 16.6:1 · 90.7% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Desert Hot Springs High (1,687 students)
Katherine Finchy Elementary shrank from 547 students in 2022-23 to 476 in 2023-24 (-13.0%). Teacher FTE lost 28.9 → 26.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Katherine Finchy Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Desert Hot Spr
Desert Hot Springs High
1,687 students
- Palm Springs H
Palm Springs High
1,497 students
- Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage High
1,401 students
- Cathedral City
Cathedral City High
1,334 students
- James Workman
James Workman Middle
1,020 students
- This school 464
Katherine Finchy Elementary
464 students
What this shows Katherine Finchy Elementary reports 464 students on the CCD universe file.
How Katherine Finchy Elementary compares
Katherine Finchy Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.6:1 | ▼ 23% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 90.7% | ▲ 63% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 464 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.6:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
464
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
90.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% 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
16.6:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 15% in California - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
36.4%
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
$20,808
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 464 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 65.7%
White 16.2%
African American 9.5%
Asian 4.8%
Two or More 3.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 65.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.9, Katherine Finchy Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Palm Springs Unified reports $20,808 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Katherine Finchy Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Hot Springs High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palm Springs High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rancho Mirage High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cathedral City High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| James Workman Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Katherine Finchy Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,497
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,401
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,334
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,020
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Palm Springs
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Cielo Vista Charter
Standard public school
824 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Vista Del Monte Elementary
Standard public school
435 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Cahuilla Elementary
Standard public school
399 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Virtual Pre
Standard public school
3 students
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 (~464 students)
Frequently asked questions about Katherine Finchy Elementary
How many students attend Katherine Finchy Elementary?
Katherine Finchy Elementary has 464 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Palm Springs, CA. CCD year-over-year: 547 (2022-23) → 476 (2023-24), down 71.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Katherine Finchy Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Katherine Finchy Elementary is 16.6:1, which is 23% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 6% 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 Katherine Finchy Elementary?
90.7% of students at Katherine Finchy Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Katherine Finchy Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Katherine Finchy Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 65.7% of enrollment, in Palm Springs, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Katherine Finchy Elementary?
Katherine Finchy Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (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 Katherine Finchy Elementary rank among elementary schools in Palm Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Katherine Finchy Elementary ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Palm Springs, 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 Palm Springs on the city page.
What other schools are in Palm Springs Unified?
Besides Katherine Finchy Elementary, Palm Springs Unified also operates Desert Hot Springs High (1,687 students), Palm Springs High (1,497 students), and Rancho Mirage High (1,401 students). See the Palm Springs Unified district page for the complete list.