- Enrollment
- 2,317
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ceres, CA
Lucas Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Lucas Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060813013637
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lucas Elementary earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 11
- elementary schools in Ceres · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26.7:1
- large classes for California
- 65.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Lucas Elementary has class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lucas Elementary ranks #6 of 11 elementary schools in Ceres, CA.
School address
District: Ceres Unified · California
NCES ID 060813013637 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Lucas Elementary held near 658 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 25.0 → 25.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 060813013637 · Ceres, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
668 enr · 26.7:1 · 65.5% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: Central Valley High (2,317 students)
Lucas Elementary held near 658 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE held 25.0 → 25.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Lucas Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central Valley
Central Valley High
2,317 students
- Ceres High
Ceres High
1,660 students
- Cesar Chavez J 685
Cesar Chavez Junior High
685 students
- This school 668
Lucas Elementary
668 students
- Caswell Elemen 653
Caswell Elementary
653 students
- Virginia Parks 643
Virginia Parks Elementary
643 students
What this shows Lucas Elementary reports 668 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lucas Elementary compares
Lucas 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 | 26.7:1 | ▲ 24% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.5% | ▲ 18% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 668 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.7:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
668
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% 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
26.7:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 88% in California - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
30.4%
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
$18,030
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
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: 0.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 96.4%
White 2.1%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Two or More 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 96.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 7.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 7.0, Lucas Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Ceres Unified reports $18,030 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lucas Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ceres High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cesar Chavez Junior High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Caswell Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Virginia Parks Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lucas Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,660
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 685
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 653
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 643
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
Similar elementary schools in Ceres
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Caswell Elementary
Standard public school
653 students 26.1:1 students per teacher
Sinclear Elementary
Standard public school
581 students 23.2:1 students per teacher
Samuel Vaughn Elementary
Standard public school
570 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Walter White Elementary
Standard public school
526 students 25:1 students per teacher
Carroll Fowler Elementary
Standard public school
522 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
La Rosa Elementary
Standard public school
516 students 21.5:1 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 (~668 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lucas Elementary
How many students attend Lucas Elementary?
Lucas Elementary has 668 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ceres, CA. CCD year-over-year: 653 (2022-23) → 658 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lucas Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Lucas Elementary is 26.7:1, which is 24% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 70% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lucas Elementary?
65.5% of students at Lucas Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lucas Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Lucas Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 96.4% of enrollment, in Ceres, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lucas Elementary?
Lucas Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 Lucas Elementary rank among elementary schools in Ceres?
By Resource Investment Index, Lucas Elementary ranks #6 of 11 elementary schools in Ceres, 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 Ceres on the city page.
What other schools are in Ceres Unified?
Besides Lucas Elementary, Ceres Unified also operates Central Valley High (2,317 students), Ceres High (1,660 students), and Cesar Chavez Junior High (685 students). See the Ceres Unified district page for the complete list.