Enrollment
716
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Merced, CA
Luther Burbank Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Luther Burbank Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062460003693
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Luther Burbank Elementary earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of California schools.
- #4 of 19
- elementary schools in Merced · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 28.6:1
- large classes for California
- 59.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Luther Burbank Elementary has class sizes larger than 94% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Luther Burbank Elementary ranks #4 of 19 elementary schools in Merced, CA.
School address
District: Merced City Elementary · California
NCES ID 062460003693 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
28.6:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+33% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
59.3%
vs 55.5% California avg
+7% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Luther Burbank Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Luther Burbank Elementary
Luther Burbank Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Merced, California, enrolling 716 students.
Class loads run heavy: 28.6:1 is larger than about 94% of California schools and 33% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 59.3% lands close to the California typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 716 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,549 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #850.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (60%) and White (18%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 716 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Merced's elementary schools, it stands alongside Pioneer Elementary (1,055 students): Luther Burbank Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (28.6:1 vs 19.9:1).
Merced City Elementary also operates Rudolph Rivera Elementary (917 students) and Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary (722 students) alongside Luther Burbank Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Luther Burbank Elementary compares
Luther Burbank Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 28.6:1 | ▲ 33% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.3% | ▲ 7% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 716 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
28.6:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
716
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
59.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% 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
28.6:1
students per teacher
- 33% above state mean
Top 94% in California - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
31.6%
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
$13,984
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 716 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 60.1%
White 18.2%
Asian 10.5%
Two or More 7.5%
African American 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 60.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.8, Luther Burbank Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Merced City Elementary, which includes Luther Burbank Elementary.
$13,984
Per student
-15%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 11.4%
State 74.4%
Federal 14.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Luther Burbank Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rudolph Rivera Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Allan Peterson Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Joe Stefani | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Herbert Hoover Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Luther Burbank Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 917
- Students per teacher
- 29.6:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 722
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 690
- Students per teacher
- 28.8:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 641
- Students per teacher
- 27.9:1
- 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
Allan Peterson Elementary
Standard public school
690 students 28.8:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~716 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~28.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Luther Burbank Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Luther Burbank Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Merced City Elementary's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Luther Burbank Elementary
How many students attend Luther Burbank Elementary?
Luther Burbank Elementary has 716 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Merced, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Luther Burbank Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Luther Burbank Elementary is 28.6:1, which is 33% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 82% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Luther Burbank Elementary?
59.3% of students at Luther Burbank Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Luther Burbank Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Luther Burbank Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 60.1% of enrollment, in Merced, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Luther Burbank Elementary?
Luther Burbank Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Luther Burbank Elementary rank among elementary schools in Merced?
By Resource Investment Index, Luther Burbank Elementary ranks #4 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.
Is Luther Burbank Elementary a good school?
Luther Burbank Elementary earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of California schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Merced City Elementary?
Besides Luther Burbank Elementary, Merced City Elementary also operates Rudolph Rivera Elementary (917 students), Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary (722 students), and Allan Peterson Elementary (690 students). See the Merced City Elementary district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.