- Enrollment
- 1,027
- Students per teacher
- 28.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Palmdale, CA
Palmdale Discovery Center
Federal NCES profile for Palmdale Discovery Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062958013975
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmdale Discovery Center earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 94% of California schools.
- #19 of 31
- elementary schools in Palmdale · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.7:1
- small classes for California
- 61.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmdale Discovery Center has class sizes smaller than 94% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmdale Discovery Center ranks #19 of 31 elementary schools in Palmdale, CA.
School address
District: Palmdale Elementary · California
NCES ID 062958013975 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+29 students YoY
Palmdale Discovery Center grew from 187 students in 2022-23 to 216 in 2023-24 (+15.5%).
Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 22.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+29 students YoY 062958013975 · Palmdale, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
246 enr · 11.7:1 · 61.5% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Los Amigos - Dual Immersion (1,027 students)
Palmdale Discovery Center grew from 187 students in 2022-23 to 216 in 2023-24 (+15.5%). Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 22.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Palmdale Discovery Center in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Los Amigos - D
Los Amigos - Dual Immersion
1,027 students
- Palmdale Acade
Palmdale Academy Charter
989 students
- David G. Mille
David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy
952 students
- Desert Willow
Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad
948 students
- Dos Caminos Du
Dos Caminos Dual Immersion
945 students
- This school 246
Palmdale Discovery Center
246 students
What this shows Palmdale Discovery Center reports 246 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palmdale Discovery Center compares
Palmdale Discovery Center is a growing 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 | 11.7:1 | ▼ 46% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.5% | ▲ 11% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 246 | top 79% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
246
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
61.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% 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
11.7:1
students per teacher
- 46% below state mean
Top 6% in California - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
45.9%
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
$17,861
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
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 74.0%
African American 15.9%
Asian 4.1%
White 3.7%
Two or More 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 74.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.4, Palmdale Discovery Center is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Palmdale Elementary reports $17,861 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Palmdale Discovery Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Amigos - Dual Immersion | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palmdale Academy Charter | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dos Caminos Dual Immersion | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmdale Discovery Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 39.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 948
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 945
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in Palmdale
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Los Amigos - Dual Immersion
Alternative education program
1,027 students 28.5:1 students per teacher
Esperanza Elementary
Standard public school
962 students 26.7:1 students per teacher
Dos Caminos Dual Immersion
Alternative education program
945 students 27:1 students per teacher
Gregg Anderson Academy
Standard public school
893 students 27.9:1 students per teacher
Rancho Vista Elementary
Standard public school
886 students 26.8:1 students per teacher
Palmdale Learning Plaza
Standard public school
800 students 22.9:1 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 (~246 students)
Frequently asked questions about Palmdale Discovery Center
How many students attend Palmdale Discovery Center?
Palmdale Discovery Center has 246 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Palmdale, CA. CCD year-over-year: 187 (2022-23) → 216 (2023-24), up 29.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmdale Discovery Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmdale Discovery Center is 11.7:1, which is 46% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 25% lower 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 Palmdale Discovery Center?
61.5% of students at Palmdale Discovery Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmdale Discovery Center?
The largest demographic group at Palmdale Discovery Center is Hispanic or Latino at 74.0% of enrollment, in Palmdale, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palmdale Discovery Center?
Palmdale Discovery Center has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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 Palmdale Discovery Center rank among elementary schools in Palmdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmdale Discovery Center ranks #19 of 31 elementary schools in Palmdale, 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 Palmdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Palmdale Elementary?
Besides Palmdale Discovery Center, Palmdale Elementary also operates Los Amigos - Dual Immersion (1,027 students), Palmdale Academy Charter (989 students), and David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy (952 students). See the Palmdale Elementary district page for the complete list.