- Enrollment
- 1,151
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Bakersfield, CA
Panama Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Panama Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060639009329
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Panama Elementary earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of California schools.
- #35 of 97
- elementary schools in Bakersfield · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 29.2:1
- large classes for California
- 62.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Panama Elementary has class sizes larger than 95% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Panama Elementary ranks #35 of 97 elementary schools in Bakersfield, CA.
School address
District: Panama-Buena Vista Union · California
NCES ID 060639009329 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+71 students YoY
Panama Elementary grew from 797 students in 2022-23 to 868 in 2023-24 (+8.9%).
Teacher FTE added 30.0 → 32.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+71 students YoY 060639009329 · Bakersfield, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
876 enr · 29.2:1 · 62.2% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8 (1,151 students)
Panama Elementary grew from 797 students in 2022-23 to 868 in 2023-24 (+8.9%). Teacher FTE added 30.0 → 32.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Panama Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dolores S. Whi
Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8
1,151 students
- Douglas J. Mil
Douglas J. Miller Elementary
994 students
- Stonecreek Jun
Stonecreek Junior High
986 students
- Earl Warren Ju
Earl Warren Junior High
965 students
- Berkshire Elem
Berkshire Elementary
932 students
- This school
Panama Elementary
876 students
What this shows Panama Elementary reports 876 students on the CCD universe file.
How Panama Elementary compares
Panama Elementary 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 | 29.2:1 | ▲ 36% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.2% | ▲ 12% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 876 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
29.2:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
876
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.2%
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
29.2:1
students per teacher
- 36% above state mean
Top 95% in California - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
31.6%
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
$15,641
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints 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 + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 66.0%
Asian 10.3%
Two or More 10.3%
White 7.7%
African American 5.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 66.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.5, Panama Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Panama-Buena Vista Union reports $15,641 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Panama Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8 | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Douglas J. Miller Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Stonecreek Junior High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Earl Warren Junior High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Berkshire Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Panama Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 994
- Students per teacher
- 29.2:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 986
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 965
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 932
- Students per teacher
- 28.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar elementary schools in Bakersfield
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8
Standard public school
1,151 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Veterans Elementary
Standard public school
1,002 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Douglas J. Miller Elementary
Standard public school
994 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary
Standard public school
960 students 24:1 students per teacher
Berkshire Elementary
Standard public school
932 students 28.2:1 students per teacher
Patriot Elementary
Standard public school
931 students 23.3:1 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 (~876 students)
Frequently asked questions about Panama Elementary
How many students attend Panama Elementary?
Panama Elementary has 876 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Bakersfield, CA. CCD year-over-year: 797 (2022-23) → 868 (2023-24), up 71.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Panama Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Panama Elementary is 29.2:1, which is 36% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 86% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Panama Elementary?
62.2% of students at Panama Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Panama Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Panama Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 66.0% of enrollment, in Bakersfield, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Panama Elementary?
Panama Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (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 Panama Elementary rank among elementary schools in Bakersfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Panama Elementary ranks #35 of 97 elementary schools in Bakersfield, 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 Bakersfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Panama-Buena Vista Union?
Besides Panama Elementary, Panama-Buena Vista Union also operates Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8 (1,151 students), Douglas J. Miller Elementary (994 students), and Stonecreek Junior High (986 students). See the Panama-Buena Vista Union district page for the complete list.