Enrollment
859
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Brentwood, CA
Pioneer Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Pioneer Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060591010753
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pioneer Elementary earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #5 of 9
- elementary schools in Brentwood · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.5:1
- large classes for California
- 20.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Pioneer Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Elementary ranks #5 of 9 elementary schools in Brentwood, CA.
School address
District: Brentwood Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 060591010753 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
35.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.5:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
20.7%
vs 55.5% California avg
-63% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Pioneer Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Pioneer Elementary
Pioneer Elementary is a large elementary school in Brentwood, California, enrolling 859 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.5:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 20.7% free-meal eligibility runs 63% below the California average.
Enrollment of 859 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,013 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #802, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Asian (30%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 77/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 859 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Brentwood Union Elementary spends $13,082 per pupil, 21% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Brentwood's elementary schools, it stands alongside R. Paul Krey Elementary (885 students): Pioneer Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.5:1 vs 27.7:1).
Brentwood Union Elementary also operates William B. Bristow Middle (1,223 students) and Adams (J. Douglas) Middle (1,197 students) alongside Pioneer 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 Pioneer Elementary compares
Pioneer 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 | 24.5:1 | ▲ 14% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.7% | ▼ 63% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 859 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.5:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
859
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
20.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% 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
24.5:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 76% in California - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
27.6%
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
$13,082
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 859 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.5 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
Asian 30.2%
Hispanic or Latino 25.0%
White 22.5%
Two or More 11.2%
African American 10.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 30.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.2, Pioneer Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Brentwood Union Elementary, which includes Pioneer Elementary.
$13,082
Per student
-21%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.8%
State 55.5%
Federal 9.7%
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 Pioneer Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| William B. Bristow Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Adams (J. Douglas) Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edna Hill Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| R. Paul Krey Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brentwood Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pioneer Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,223
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,197
- Students per teacher
- 26:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,047
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 885
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 26.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar elementary schools in Brentwood
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
R. Paul Krey Elementary
Standard public school
885 students 27.7:1 students per teacher
Brentwood Elementary
Standard public school
811 students 26.2:1 students per teacher
Garin Elementary
Standard public school
785 students 27.1:1 students per teacher
Loma Vista Elementary
Standard public school
749 students 31.2:1 students per teacher
Ron Nunn Elementary
Standard public school
702 students 28.1:1 students per teacher
Mary Casey Black Elementary
Standard public school
680 students 25.2:1 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 (~859 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Pioneer Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Pioneer Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Brentwood Union 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 Pioneer Elementary
How many students attend Pioneer Elementary?
Pioneer Elementary has 859 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Brentwood, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Elementary is 24.5:1, which is 14% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 56% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pioneer Elementary?
20.7% of students at Pioneer Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pioneer Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Pioneer Elementary is Asian at 30.2% of enrollment, in Brentwood, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pioneer Elementary?
Pioneer Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Pioneer Elementary rank among elementary schools in Brentwood?
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Elementary ranks #5 of 9 elementary schools in Brentwood, 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 Brentwood on the city page.
Is Pioneer Elementary a good school?
Pioneer Elementary earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% 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 Brentwood Union Elementary?
Besides Pioneer Elementary, Brentwood Union Elementary also operates William B. Bristow Middle (1,223 students), Adams (J. Douglas) Middle (1,197 students), and Edna Hill Middle (1,047 students). See the Brentwood Union 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.