- Enrollment
- 490
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chowchilla, CA
Merle L. Fuller Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Merle L. Fuller Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060852000849
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 49
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merle L. Fuller Elementary earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #4 of 6
- elementary schools in Chowchilla · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.3:1
- students per teacher
- 82.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Merle L. Fuller Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merle L. Fuller Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Chowchilla, CA.
School address
District: Chowchilla Elementary · California
NCES ID 060852000849 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Merle L. Fuller Elementary held near 540 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 25.3 → 25.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 060852000849 · Chowchilla, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
508 enr · 20.3:1 · 82.2% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Ronald Reagan Elementary (490 students)
Merle L. Fuller Elementary held near 540 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 25.3 → 25.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Merle L. Fuller Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Merle L. Fuller Elementary
508 students
- Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan Elementary
490 students
- Wilson Middle
Wilson Middle
470 students
- Fairmead Eleme
Fairmead Elementary
458 students
- Stephens Eleme
Stephens Elementary
217 students
What this shows Merle L. Fuller Elementary reports 508 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merle L. Fuller Elementary compares
Merle L. Fuller 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 | 20.3:1 | ▼ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 82.2% | ▲ 48% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 508 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.3:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
508
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
82.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% 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
20.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 37% in California - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
60.0%
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
$17,031
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 254 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 76.8%
White 16.9%
Two or More 3.7%
Asian 1.8%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 76.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.0, Merle L. Fuller Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Chowchilla Elementary reports $17,031 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merle L. Fuller Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wilson Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fairmead Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stephens Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merle L. Fuller Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 470
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 458
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 217
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar elementary schools in Chowchilla
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ronald Reagan Elementary
Standard public school
490 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Fairmead Elementary
Standard public school
458 students 25.4:1 students per teacher
Stephens Elementary
Standard public school
217 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Dairyland Elementary
Standard public school
216 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
Alview Elementary
Standard public school
183 students 26.1:1 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 (~508 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merle L. Fuller Elementary
How many students attend Merle L. Fuller Elementary?
Merle L. Fuller Elementary has 508 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chowchilla, CA. CCD year-over-year: 527 (2022-23) → 540 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merle L. Fuller Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Merle L. Fuller Elementary is 20.3:1, which is 6% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 29% 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 Merle L. Fuller Elementary?
82.2% of students at Merle L. Fuller Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merle L. Fuller Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Merle L. Fuller Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 76.8% of enrollment, in Chowchilla, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merle L. Fuller Elementary?
Merle L. Fuller Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (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 Merle L. Fuller Elementary rank among elementary schools in Chowchilla?
By Resource Investment Index, Merle L. Fuller Elementary ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Chowchilla, 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 Chowchilla on the city page.
What other schools are in Chowchilla Elementary?
Besides Merle L. Fuller Elementary, Chowchilla Elementary also operates Ronald Reagan Elementary (490 students), Wilson Middle (470 students), and Fairmead Elementary (458 students). See the Chowchilla Elementary district page for the complete list.