- Enrollment
- 1,756
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · West Covina, CA
Merlinda Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Merlinda Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064200006881
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merlinda Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of California schools.
- #5 of 15
- elementary schools in West Covina · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.6:1
- large classes for California
- 66.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Merlinda Elementary has class sizes larger than 83% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merlinda Elementary ranks #5 of 15 elementary schools in West Covina, CA.
School address
District: West Covina Unified · California
NCES ID 064200006881 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Merlinda Elementary held near 464 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 18.3 → 19.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 064200006881 · West Covina, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
460 enr · 25.6:1 · 66.1% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: West Covina High (1,756 students)
Merlinda Elementary held near 464 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE added 18.3 → 19.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Merlinda Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Covina Hi
West Covina High
1,756 students
- Hollencrest Mi
Hollencrest Middle
737 students
- Edgewood High
Edgewood High
712 students
- Merced Element 617
Merced Elementary
617 students
- Edgewood Middl 597
Edgewood Middle
597 students
- This school 460
Merlinda Elementary
460 students
What this shows Merlinda Elementary reports 460 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merlinda Elementary compares
Merlinda 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 | 25.6:1 | ▲ 19% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.1% | ▲ 19% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 460 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.6:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
460
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
66.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% 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
25.6:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 83% in California - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
23.7%
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
$18,629
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 72.4%
Asian 19.8%
African American 3.0%
White 2.6%
Two or More 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 72.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.5, Merlinda Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for West Covina Unified reports $18,629 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merlinda Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Covina High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hollencrest Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Edgewood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Merced Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edgewood Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merlinda Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 737
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 712
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 617
- Students per teacher
- 29.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 597
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar elementary schools in West Covina
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
San Jose Charter Academy
Standard public school
1,255 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Mesa Elementary
Standard public school
753 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Telesis Academy of Science & Math
Standard public school
621 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Merced Elementary
Standard public school
617 students 29.4:1 students per teacher
Grovecenter Elementary
Standard public school
595 students 25.9:1 students per teacher
Orangewood Elementary
Standard public school
580 students 23.2:1 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 (~460 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merlinda Elementary
How many students attend Merlinda Elementary?
Merlinda Elementary has 460 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in West Covina, CA. CCD year-over-year: 451 (2022-23) → 464 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merlinda Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Merlinda Elementary is 25.6:1, which is 19% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 63% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Merlinda Elementary?
66.1% of students at Merlinda Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merlinda Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Merlinda Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 72.4% of enrollment, in West Covina, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merlinda Elementary?
Merlinda Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical 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 Merlinda Elementary rank among elementary schools in West Covina?
By Resource Investment Index, Merlinda Elementary ranks #5 of 15 elementary schools in West Covina, 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 West Covina on the city page.
What other schools are in West Covina Unified?
Besides Merlinda Elementary, West Covina Unified also operates West Covina High (1,756 students), Hollencrest Middle (737 students), and Edgewood High (712 students). See the West Covina Unified district page for the complete list.