- Enrollment
- 34
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Arcata, CA
Pacific Union Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Pacific Union Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062943004533
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pacific Union Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #2 of 6
- elementary schools in Arcata · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.1:1
- small classes for California
- 49.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Pacific Union Elementary has class sizes smaller than 72% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pacific Union Elementary ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Arcata, CA.
School address
District: Pacific Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 062943004533 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Pacific Union Elementary held near 529 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.1 → 29.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 062943004533 · Arcata, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
534 enr · 19.1:1 · 49.0% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Trillium Charter (34 students)
Pacific Union Elementary held near 529 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.1 → 29.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
How Pacific Union Elementary compares
Pacific Union 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 | 19.1:1 | ▼ 11% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.0% | ▼ 12% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 534 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.1:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
534
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.1:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 28% in California - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.8%
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
$11,205
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 356 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 49.1%
Hispanic or Latino 27.4%
Two or More 13.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 6.6%
African American 2.1%
Asian 1.5%
Largest group: White at 49.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.1, Pacific Union Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pacific Union Elementary reports $11,205 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pacific Union Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trillium Charter | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pacific Union Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar elementary schools in Arcata
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Arcata Elementary
Standard public school
240 students 16:1 students per teacher
Coastal Grove Charter
Standard public school
235 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Fuente Nueva Charter
Standard public school
150 students 25:1 students per teacher
Union Street Charter
Standard public school
99 students 19.8:1 students per teacher
Trillium Charter
Standard public school
34 students 17:1 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 (~534 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pacific Union Elementary
How many students attend Pacific Union Elementary?
Pacific Union Elementary has 534 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Arcata, CA. CCD year-over-year: 537 (2022-23) → 529 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pacific Union Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pacific Union Elementary is 19.1:1, 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 Pacific Union Elementary?
49.0% of students at Pacific Union Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pacific Union Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Pacific Union Elementary is White at 49.1% of enrollment, in Arcata, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pacific Union Elementary?
Pacific Union Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical 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 Pacific Union Elementary rank among elementary schools in Arcata?
By Resource Investment Index, Pacific Union Elementary ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Arcata, 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 Arcata on the city page.
What other schools are in Pacific Union Elementary?
Besides Pacific Union Elementary, Pacific Union Elementary also operates Trillium Charter (34 students). See the Pacific Union Elementary district page for the complete list.