Enrollment
478
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Walnut Creek, CA
Parkmead Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Parkmead Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064125009461
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 80
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Parkmead Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #2 of 10
- elementary schools in Walnut Creek · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 26.6:1
- large classes for California
- 11.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Parkmead Elementary has class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Parkmead Elementary ranks #2 of 10 elementary schools in Walnut Creek, CA.
School address
District: Walnut Creek Elementary · California
NCES ID 064125009461 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
18.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
26.6:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
11.8%
vs 55.5% California avg
-79% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Parkmead Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Parkmead Elementary
Parkmead Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Walnut Creek, California, enrolling 478 students.
Class loads run heavy: 26.6:1 is larger than about 88% of California schools and 24% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 11.8% free-meal eligibility runs 79% below the California average.
With 478 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 929 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #421.
Its student body is led by White (48%) and Two or More (18%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.2% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Among Walnut Creek's elementary schools, it stands alongside Walnut Acres Elementary (689 students): Parkmead Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (26.6:1 vs 32.8:1).
Walnut Creek Elementary also operates Walnut Creek Intermediate (940 students) and Buena Vista Elementary (495 students) alongside Parkmead 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 Parkmead Elementary compares
Parkmead 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 | 26.6:1 | ▲ 24% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.8% | ▼ 79% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 478 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.6:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
478
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
11.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 79% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
26.6:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 88% in California - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
8.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,428
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
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
3
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 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
White 47.7%
Two or More 17.6%
Asian 17.4%
Hispanic or Latino 14.9%
African American 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 47.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.9, Parkmead Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Walnut Creek Elementary, which includes Parkmead Elementary.
$13,428
Per student
-19%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 74.2%
State 17.4%
Federal 8.3%
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 Parkmead Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek Intermediate | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Buena Vista Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Murwood Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tice Creek | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Walnut Heights Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Parkmead Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 940
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 495
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 451
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 451
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 427
- Students per teacher
- 25.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in Walnut Creek
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Walnut Acres Elementary
Standard public school
689 students 32.8:1 students per teacher
Bancroft Elementary
Standard public school
672 students 26.9:1 students per teacher
Buena Vista Elementary
Standard public school
495 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Valle Verde Elementary
Standard public school
485 students 32.3:1 students per teacher
Murwood Elementary
Standard public school
451 students 26.5:1 students per teacher
Tice Creek
Standard public school
451 students 23.7:1 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 (~478 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Parkmead Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Parkmead Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Walnut Creek Elementary'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 Parkmead Elementary
How many students attend Parkmead Elementary?
Parkmead Elementary has 478 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Walnut Creek, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Parkmead Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Parkmead Elementary is 26.6:1, which is 24% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 69% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Parkmead Elementary?
11.8% of students at Parkmead Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Parkmead Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Parkmead Elementary is White at 47.7% of enrollment, in Walnut Creek, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Parkmead Elementary?
Parkmead Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical 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 Parkmead Elementary rank among elementary schools in Walnut Creek?
By Resource Investment Index, Parkmead Elementary ranks #2 of 10 elementary schools in Walnut Creek, 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 Walnut Creek on the city page.
Is Parkmead Elementary a good school?
Parkmead Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% 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 Walnut Creek Elementary?
Besides Parkmead Elementary, Walnut Creek Elementary also operates Walnut Creek Intermediate (940 students), Buena Vista Elementary (495 students), and Murwood Elementary (451 students). See the Walnut Creek Elementary 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.