- Enrollment
- 983
- Students per teacher
- 27.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Saugus, CA
Plum Canyon Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Plum Canyon Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063597007532
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Plum Canyon Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #2 of 7
- elementary schools in Saugus · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 29.2:1
- large classes for California
- 16.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Plum Canyon Elementary has class sizes larger than 95% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Plum Canyon Elementary ranks #2 of 7 elementary schools in Saugus, CA.
School address
District: Saugus Union · California
NCES ID 063597007532 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+37 students YoY
Plum Canyon Elementary held near 849 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+37 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 30.1 → 31.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+37 students YoY 063597007532 · Saugus, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
876 enr · 29.2:1 · 16.5% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: West Creek Academy (983 students)
Plum Canyon Elementary held near 849 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+37 headcount). Teacher FTE added 30.1 → 31.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Plum Canyon Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Creek Aca
West Creek Academy
983 students
- Mountainview E
Mountainview Elementary
917 students
- This school
Plum Canyon Elementary
876 students
- Bridgeport Ele
Bridgeport Elementary
866 students
- Emblem Academy
Emblem Academy
810 students
- Highlands Elem
Highlands Elementary
666 students
What this shows Plum Canyon Elementary reports 876 students on the CCD universe file.
How Plum Canyon Elementary compares
Plum Canyon 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 | 29.2:1 | ▲ 36% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.5% | ▼ 70% | 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
16.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 70% 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
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
13.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$14,043
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
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
2
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 35.4%
Hispanic or Latino 32.0%
Asian 18.7%
Two or More 8.1%
African American 5.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 35.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.8, Plum Canyon Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Saugus Union reports $14,043 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Plum Canyon Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Creek Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mountainview Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bridgeport Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Emblem Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Highlands Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Plum Canyon Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 917
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 866
- Students per teacher
- 28.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 810
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 666
- Students per teacher
- 27.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Saugus
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Mountainview Elementary
Standard public school
917 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Emblem Academy
Standard public school
810 students 27:1 students per teacher
Highlands Elementary
Standard public school
666 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Rosedell Elementary
Standard public school
660 students 27.5:1 students per teacher
James Foster Elementary
Standard public school
508 students 29.9:1 students per teacher
Santa Clarita Elementary
Standard public school
254 students 25.4:1 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 Plum Canyon Elementary
How many students attend Plum Canyon Elementary?
Plum Canyon Elementary has 876 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Saugus, CA. CCD year-over-year: 812 (2022-23) → 849 (2023-24), nearly flat (+37).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Plum Canyon Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Plum Canyon 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 Plum Canyon Elementary?
16.5% of students at Plum Canyon Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Plum Canyon Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Plum Canyon Elementary is White at 35.4% of enrollment, in Saugus, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Plum Canyon Elementary?
Plum Canyon Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Plum Canyon Elementary rank among elementary schools in Saugus?
By Resource Investment Index, Plum Canyon Elementary ranks #2 of 7 elementary schools in Saugus, 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 Saugus on the city page.
What other schools are in Saugus Union?
Besides Plum Canyon Elementary, Saugus Union also operates West Creek Academy (983 students), Mountainview Elementary (917 students), and Bridgeport Elementary (866 students). See the Saugus Union district page for the complete list.