- Enrollment
- 1,287
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Novato, CA
Lu Sutton Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Lu Sutton Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062772004188
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lu Sutton Elementary earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of California schools.
- #9 of 9
- elementary schools in Novato · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.5:1
- large classes for California
- 51.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Lu Sutton Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lu Sutton Elementary ranks #9 of 9 elementary schools in Novato, CA.
School address
District: Novato Unified · California
NCES ID 062772004188 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Lu Sutton Elementary held near 349 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 15.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 062772004188 · Novato, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
367 enr · 24.5:1 · 51.9% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Novato High (1,287 students)
Lu Sutton Elementary held near 349 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE held 15.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Lu Sutton Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Novato High
Novato High
1,287 students
- San Marin High
San Marin High
1,250 students
- Sinaloa Middle
Sinaloa Middle
693 students
- San Jose Inter
San Jose Intermediate
559 students
- Hamilton Meado
Hamilton Meadow Park
544 students
- This school 367
Lu Sutton Elementary
367 students
What this shows Lu Sutton Elementary reports 367 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lu Sutton Elementary compares
Lu Sutton 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 | 24.5:1 | ▲ 14% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.9% | ▼ 6% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 367 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.5:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
367
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% 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
24.5:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 76% in California - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
20.7%
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
$15,969
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 + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 68.4%
White 22.6%
Two or More 5.4%
African American 1.9%
Asian 1.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 68.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.8, Lu Sutton Elementary is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Novato Unified reports $15,969 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lu Sutton Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novato High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Marin High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sinaloa Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Jose Intermediate | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hamilton Meadow Park | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lu Sutton Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,250
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 693
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 559
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 544
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Novato
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Hamilton Meadow Park
Standard public school
544 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
Pleasant Valley Elementary
Standard public school
464 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
San Ramon Elementary
Standard public school
456 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Loma Verde Elementary
Standard public school
426 students 25.1:1 students per teacher
Rancho Elementary
Standard public school
387 students 27.6:1 students per teacher
Olive Elementary
Standard public school
364 students 22.8:1 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 (~367 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lu Sutton Elementary
How many students attend Lu Sutton Elementary?
Lu Sutton Elementary has 367 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Novato, CA. CCD year-over-year: 347 (2022-23) → 349 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lu Sutton Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Lu Sutton Elementary is 24.5:1, which is 14% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 56% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lu Sutton Elementary?
51.9% of students at Lu Sutton Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lu Sutton Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Lu Sutton Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 68.4% of enrollment, in Novato, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lu Sutton Elementary?
Lu Sutton Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (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 Lu Sutton Elementary rank among elementary schools in Novato?
By Resource Investment Index, Lu Sutton Elementary ranks #9 of 9 elementary schools in Novato, 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 Novato on the city page.
What other schools are in Novato Unified?
Besides Lu Sutton Elementary, Novato Unified also operates Novato High (1,287 students), San Marin High (1,250 students), and Sinaloa Middle (693 students). See the Novato Unified district page for the complete list.