- Enrollment
- 477
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · National City, CA
Palmer Way
Federal NCES profile for Palmer Way, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062667004050
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmer Way earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #7 of 11
- elementary schools in National City · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.5:1
- students per teacher
- 63.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmer Way has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer Way ranks #7 of 11 elementary schools in National City, CA.
School address
District: National Elementary · California
NCES ID 062667004050 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Palmer Way held near 415 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 18.0 → 17.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 062667004050 · National City, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
387 enr · 21.5:1 · 63.8% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Central Elementary (477 students)
Palmer Way held near 415 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 18.0 → 17.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Palmer Way in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central Elemen
Central Elementary
477 students
- Las Palmas
Las Palmas
458 students
- Olivewood
Olivewood
424 students
- Lincoln Acres
Lincoln Acres
423 students
- Ira Harbison
Ira Harbison
393 students
- This school
Palmer Way
387 students
What this shows Palmer Way reports 387 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palmer Way compares
Palmer Way 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 | 21.5:1 | ▼ 0% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.8% | ▲ 15% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 387 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.5:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
387
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
63.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% 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
21.5:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 48% in California - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
45.0%
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
$20,866
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 387 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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 72.1%
Asian 20.4%
Two or More 5.2%
African American 1.3%
White 1.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 72.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.6, Palmer Way is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for National Elementary reports $20,866 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Palmer Way Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Las Palmas | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Olivewood | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Acres | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ira Harbison | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmer Way's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 458
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 423
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 393
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar elementary schools in National City
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Central Elementary
Standard public school
477 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Las Palmas
Standard public school
458 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Olivewood
Standard public school
424 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Acres
Standard public school
423 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Integrity Charter
Standard public school
393 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Ira Harbison
Standard public school
393 students 21.8:1 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 (~387 students)
Frequently asked questions about Palmer Way
How many students attend Palmer Way?
Palmer Way has 387 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in National City, CA. CCD year-over-year: 409 (2022-23) → 415 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmer Way?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmer Way is 21.5:1, which is 0% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 37% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Palmer Way?
63.8% of students at Palmer Way are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmer Way?
The largest demographic group at Palmer Way is Hispanic or Latino at 72.1% of enrollment, in National City, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palmer Way?
Palmer Way has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (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 Palmer Way rank among elementary schools in National City?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer Way ranks #7 of 11 elementary schools in National City, 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 National City on the city page.
What other schools are in National Elementary?
Besides Palmer Way, National Elementary also operates Central Elementary (477 students), Las Palmas (458 students), and Olivewood (424 students). See the National Elementary district page for the complete list.