- Enrollment
- 1,978
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chico, CA
Marigold Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Marigold 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 060837000821
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Marigold Elementary earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of California schools.
- #17 of 19
- elementary schools in Chico · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 27.2:1
- large classes for California
- 34.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Marigold Elementary has class sizes larger than 90% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Marigold Elementary ranks #17 of 19 elementary schools in Chico, CA.
School address
District: Chico Unified · California
NCES ID 060837000821 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-30 students YoY
Marigold Elementary shrank from 568 students in 2022-23 to 538 in 2023-24 (-5.3%).
Teacher FTE added 21.8 → 24.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-30 students YoY 060837000821 · Chico, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
571 enr · 27.2:1 · 34.0% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: Pleasant Valley High (1,978 students)
Marigold Elementary shrank from 568 students in 2022-23 to 538 in 2023-24 (-5.3%). Teacher FTE added 21.8 → 24.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Marigold Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pleasant Valle
Pleasant Valley High
1,978 students
- Chico High
Chico High
1,804 students
- Bidwell Junior
Bidwell Junior High
1,012 students
- Chico Junior H
Chico Junior High
861 students
- Marsh (Harry M 716
Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High
716 students
- This school 571
Marigold Elementary
571 students
What this shows Marigold Elementary reports 571 students on the CCD universe file.
How Marigold Elementary compares
Marigold 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 | 27.2:1 | ▲ 27% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.0% | ▼ 39% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 571 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.2:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
571
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
34.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
27.2:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 90% in California - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
22.9%
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
$16,422
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 571 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 58.7%
Hispanic or Latino 22.9%
Two or More 12.3%
Asian 4.0%
African American 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 58.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.6, Marigold Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Chico Unified reports $16,422 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Marigold Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Chico High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bidwell Junior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Chico Junior High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Marigold Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,804
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,012
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 861
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 716
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar elementary schools in Chico
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Shasta Elementary
Standard public school
621 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Emma Wilson Elementary
Standard public school
597 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Chico Country Day
Standard public school
585 students 25.4:1 students per teacher
Rosedale Elementary
Standard public school
563 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Little Chico Creek Elementary
Standard public school
471 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Sierra View Elementary
Alternative education program
428 students 20.4:1 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 (~571 students)
Frequently asked questions about Marigold Elementary
How many students attend Marigold Elementary?
Marigold Elementary has 571 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chico, CA. CCD year-over-year: 568 (2022-23) → 538 (2023-24), down 30.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Marigold Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Marigold Elementary is 27.2:1, which is 27% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 73% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Marigold Elementary?
34.0% of students at Marigold Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Marigold Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Marigold Elementary is White at 58.7% of enrollment, in Chico, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Marigold Elementary?
Marigold Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 Marigold Elementary rank among elementary schools in Chico?
By Resource Investment Index, Marigold Elementary ranks #17 of 19 elementary schools in Chico, 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 Chico on the city page.
What other schools are in Chico Unified?
Besides Marigold Elementary, Chico Unified also operates Pleasant Valley High (1,978 students), Chico High (1,804 students), and Bidwell Junior High (1,012 students). See the Chico Unified district page for the complete list.