Enrollment
135
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Castro Valley, CA
Palomares Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Palomares Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060780000747
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palomares Elementary earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #9 of 9
- elementary schools in Castro Valley · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 27:1
- large classes for California
- 25.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Palomares Elementary has class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palomares Elementary ranks #9 of 9 elementary schools in Castro Valley, CA.
School address
District: Castro Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 060780000747 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
5.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
27:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
25.6%
vs 55.5% California avg
-54% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Palomares Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Palomares Elementary
Palomares Elementary is a small elementary school in Castro Valley, California, enrolling 135 students.
Class loads run heavy: 27:1 is larger than about 89% of California schools and 26% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 25.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 135 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 146 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #129, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (35%) and Two or More (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 74/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Castro Valley Unified spends $13,179 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Castro Valley's elementary schools, it stands alongside Independent Elementary (662 students): Palomares Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (27:1 vs 24.5:1).
Castro Valley Unified also operates Castro Valley High (2,874 students) and Canyon Middle (1,418 students) alongside Palomares Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Palomares Elementary compares
Palomares Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 27:1 | ▲ 26% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.6% | ▼ 54% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 135 | top 87% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
135
Bigger than 13% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
25.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
27:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 89% in California - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
27.4%
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
$13,179
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 34.8%
Two or More 25.2%
White 21.5%
Asian 16.3%
African American 2.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 34.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.2, Palomares Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Castro Valley Unified, which includes Palomares Elementary.
$13,179
Per student
-20%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 26.6%
State 62.3%
Federal 11.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Palomares Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castro Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Canyon Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Creekside Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Independent Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Proctor Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palomares Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,874
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,418
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 754
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 662
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar elementary schools in Castro Valley
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Independent Elementary
Standard public school
662 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Proctor Elementary
Standard public school
613 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Vannoy Elementary
Standard public school
536 students 29.8:1 students per teacher
Marshall Elementary
Standard public school
515 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Stanton Elementary
Standard public school
515 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Castro Valley Elementary
Standard public school
502 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~135 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~27:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Palomares Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Palomares Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Castro Valley Unified's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Palomares Elementary
How many students attend Palomares Elementary?
Palomares Elementary has 135 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Castro Valley, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palomares Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Palomares Elementary is 27:1, which is 26% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 72% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Palomares Elementary?
25.6% of students at Palomares Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palomares Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Palomares Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 34.8% of enrollment, in Castro Valley, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palomares Elementary?
Palomares Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Palomares Elementary rank among elementary schools in Castro Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Palomares Elementary ranks #9 of 9 elementary schools in Castro Valley, 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 Castro Valley on the city page.
Is Palomares Elementary a good school?
Palomares Elementary earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Castro Valley Unified?
Besides Palomares Elementary, Castro Valley Unified also operates Castro Valley High (2,874 students), Canyon Middle (1,418 students), and Creekside Middle (754 students). See the Castro Valley Unified district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.