- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Atwater, CA
Peggy Heller Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Peggy Heller Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060342004672
👥 S:T ratio 8
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Peggy Heller Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #1 of 7
- elementary schools in Atwater · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23:1
- students per teacher
- 53.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Peggy Heller Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Peggy Heller Elementary ranks #1 of 7 elementary schools in Atwater, CA.
School address
District: Atwater Elementary · California
NCES ID 060342004672 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Peggy Heller Elementary held near 707 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 31.9 → 31.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 060342004672 · Atwater, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
712 enr · 23:1 · 53.0% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Mitchell Intermediate (744 students)
Peggy Heller Elementary held near 707 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 31.9 → 31.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Peggy Heller Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mitchell Inter
Mitchell Intermediate
744 students
- This school
Peggy Heller Elementary
712 students
- Bellevue Eleme
Bellevue Elementary
599 students
- Mitchell Eleme
Mitchell Elementary
528 students
- Elmer Wood Ele
Elmer Wood Elementary
514 students
- Shaffer Elemen
Shaffer Elementary
405 students
What this shows Peggy Heller Elementary reports 712 students on the CCD universe file.
How Peggy Heller Elementary compares
Peggy Heller Elementary 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 | 23:1 | ▲ 7% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.0% | ▼ 5% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 712 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
712
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 62% in California - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
19.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,365
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 + 7 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 70.1%
White 19.4%
Asian 4.9%
Two or More 2.9%
African American 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 70.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.7, Peggy Heller Elementary is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Atwater Elementary reports $15,365 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Peggy Heller Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Intermediate | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bellevue Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mitchell Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Elmer Wood Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shaffer Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Peggy Heller Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 599
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 514
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 405
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Atwater
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Bellevue Elementary
Standard public school
599 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Mitchell Elementary
Standard public school
528 students 24:1 students per teacher
Elmer Wood Elementary
Standard public school
514 students 22.3:1 students per teacher
Shaffer Elementary
Standard public school
405 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Thomas Olaeta Elementary
Standard public school
374 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Aileen Colburn Elementary
Standard public school
371 students 19.5:1 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 (~712 students)
Frequently asked questions about Peggy Heller Elementary
How many students attend Peggy Heller Elementary?
Peggy Heller Elementary has 712 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Atwater, CA. CCD year-over-year: 707 (2022-23) → 707 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Peggy Heller Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Peggy Heller Elementary is 23:1, which is 7% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 46% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Peggy Heller Elementary?
53.0% of students at Peggy Heller Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Peggy Heller Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Peggy Heller Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 70.1% of enrollment, in Atwater, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Peggy Heller Elementary?
Peggy Heller Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Peggy Heller Elementary rank among elementary schools in Atwater?
By Resource Investment Index, Peggy Heller Elementary ranks #1 of 7 elementary schools in Atwater, 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 Atwater on the city page.
What other schools are in Atwater Elementary?
Besides Peggy Heller Elementary, Atwater Elementary also operates Mitchell Intermediate (744 students), Bellevue Elementary (599 students), and Mitchell Elementary (528 students). See the Atwater Elementary district page for the complete list.