- Enrollment
- 1,978
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chico, CA
Neal Dow Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Neal Dow Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060837000823
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Neal Dow Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 71% of California schools.
- #11 of 19
- elementary schools in Chico · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.2:1
- small classes for California
- 56.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Neal Dow Elementary has class sizes smaller than 71% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Neal Dow Elementary ranks #11 of 19 elementary schools in Chico, CA.
School address
District: Chico Unified · California
NCES ID 060837000823 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Neal Dow Elementary held near 339 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 21.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+4 students YoY 060837000823 · Chico, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
364 enr · 19.2:1 · 56.4% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Pleasant Valley High (1,978 students)
Neal Dow Elementary held near 339 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount). Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 21.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Neal Dow 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 364
Neal Dow Elementary
364 students
What this shows Neal Dow Elementary reports 364 students on the CCD universe file.
How Neal Dow Elementary compares
Neal Dow 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 | 19.2:1 | ▼ 11% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.4% | ▲ 2% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 364 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
364
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% 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
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 29% in California - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.7%
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
$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 364 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 53.6%
Hispanic or Latino 27.5%
Two or More 13.5%
Asian 3.0%
African American 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 53.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.8, Neal Dow 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 Neal Dow Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chico High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bidwell Junior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chico Junior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Neal Dow 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
Marigold Elementary
Standard public school
571 students 27.2:1 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
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 (~364 students)
Frequently asked questions about Neal Dow Elementary
How many students attend Neal Dow Elementary?
Neal Dow Elementary has 364 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chico, CA. CCD year-over-year: 335 (2022-23) → 339 (2023-24), nearly flat (+4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Neal Dow Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Neal Dow Elementary is 19.2:1, which is 11% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 22% 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 Neal Dow Elementary?
56.4% of students at Neal Dow Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Neal Dow Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Neal Dow Elementary is White at 53.6% of enrollment, in Chico, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Neal Dow Elementary?
Neal Dow Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Neal Dow Elementary rank among elementary schools in Chico?
By Resource Investment Index, Neal Dow Elementary ranks #11 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 Neal Dow 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.