- Enrollment
- 1,996
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Lakewood, CA
Palms Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Palms Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060162000025
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palms Elementary earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #5 of 14
- elementary schools in Lakewood · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21:1
- students per teacher
- 62.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Palms Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palms Elementary ranks #5 of 14 elementary schools in Lakewood, CA.
School address
District: Abc Unified · California
NCES ID 060162000025 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-36 students YoY
Palms Elementary shrank from 517 students in 2022-23 to 481 in 2023-24 (-7.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 22.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-36 students YoY 060162000025 · Lakewood, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
463 enr · 21:1 · 62.3% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Cerritos High (1,996 students)
Palms Elementary shrank from 517 students in 2022-23 to 481 in 2023-24 (-7.0%). Teacher FTE lost 22.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Palms Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cerritos High
Cerritos High
1,996 students
- Gahr (Richard)
Gahr (Richard) High
1,631 students
- Artesia High
Artesia High
1,384 students
- Whitney (Gretc
Whitney (Gretchen) High
1,024 students
- Leal (Frank C. 774
Leal (Frank C.) Elementary
774 students
- This school 463
Palms Elementary
463 students
What this shows Palms Elementary reports 463 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palms Elementary compares
Palms Elementary is a shrinking 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 | 21:1 | ▼ 2% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.3% | ▲ 12% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 463 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
463
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% 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
21:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 43% in California - lower ratio than 57% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
32.8%
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
$17,187
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 + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 59.2%
African American 16.8%
Asian 12.1%
Two or More 9.3%
White 1.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 59.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.8, Palms Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Abc Unified reports $17,187 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Palms Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerritos High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gahr (Richard) High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Artesia High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Whitney (Gretchen) High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Leal (Frank C.) Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palms Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,631
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,024
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 774
- Students per teacher
- 28.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar elementary schools in Lakewood
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Intensive Learning Center
Standard public school
646 students 22.3:1 students per teacher
Esther Lindstrom Elementary
Standard public school
552 students 23:1 students per teacher
Stephen Foster Elementary
Standard public school
501 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Riley Elementary
Standard public school
490 students 27.2:1 students per teacher
Craig Williams Elementary
Standard public school
478 students 26.6:1 students per teacher
Cleveland Elementary
Standard public school
450 students 26.5:1 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 (~463 students)
Frequently asked questions about Palms Elementary
How many students attend Palms Elementary?
Palms Elementary has 463 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Lakewood, CA. CCD year-over-year: 517 (2022-23) → 481 (2023-24), down 36.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palms Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Palms Elementary is 21:1, which is 2% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 34% 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 Palms Elementary?
62.3% of students at Palms Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palms Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Palms Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 59.2% of enrollment, in Lakewood, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palms Elementary?
Palms Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Palms Elementary rank among elementary schools in Lakewood?
By Resource Investment Index, Palms Elementary ranks #5 of 14 elementary schools in Lakewood, 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 Lakewood on the city page.
What other schools are in Abc Unified?
Besides Palms Elementary, Abc Unified also operates Cerritos High (1,996 students), Gahr (Richard) High (1,631 students), and Artesia High (1,384 students). See the Abc Unified district page for the complete list.