- Enrollment
- 812
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Santa Maria, CA
Ralph Dunlap Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ralph Dunlap Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062871004461
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ralph Dunlap Elementary earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of California schools.
- #21 of 24
- elementary schools in Santa Maria · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 27.9:1
- large classes for California
- 37.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Ralph Dunlap Elementary has class sizes larger than 92% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ralph Dunlap Elementary ranks #21 of 24 elementary schools in Santa Maria, CA.
School address
District: Orcutt Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 062871004461 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
Ralph Dunlap Elementary held near 486 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 18.0 → 19.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+15 students YoY 062871004461 · Santa Maria, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
502 enr · 27.9:1 · 37.6% lunch · RII 17
Nearest enrollment peer: Orcutt Academy Charter (812 students)
Ralph Dunlap Elementary held near 486 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 18.0 → 19.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Ralph Dunlap Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Orcutt Academy
Orcutt Academy Charter
812 students
- Joe Nightingal
Joe Nightingale Elementary
695 students
- Patterson Road
Patterson Road Elementary
662 students
- Pine Grove Ele
Pine Grove Elementary
569 students
- Alice Shaw Ele
Alice Shaw Elementary
530 students
- This school
Ralph Dunlap Elementary
502 students
What this shows Ralph Dunlap Elementary reports 502 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ralph Dunlap Elementary compares
Ralph Dunlap 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 | 27.9:1 | ▲ 30% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.6% | ▼ 32% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 502 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.9:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
502
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
27.9:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 92% in California - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
24.9%
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
$14,143
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
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 52.6%
White 33.9%
Two or More 8.8%
Asian 3.2%
African American 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 52.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.9, Ralph Dunlap Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Orcutt Union Elementary reports $14,143 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ralph Dunlap Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orcutt Academy Charter | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Joe Nightingale Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Patterson Road Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pine Grove Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Alice Shaw Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ralph Dunlap Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 695
- Students per teacher
- 26.7:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 662
- Students per teacher
- 30.1:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 569
- Students per teacher
- 28.4:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 530
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar elementary schools in Santa Maria
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Jimenez Roberto and Dr. Francisco Elementary
Standard public school
1,177 students 29.4:1 students per teacher
Bruce (Robert) Elementary
Standard public school
1,050 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Alvin Elementary
Standard public school
998 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary
Standard public school
917 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Rice (William) Elementary
Standard public school
887 students 24:1 students per teacher
Miller (Isaac) Elementary
Standard public school
883 students 25.2:1 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 (~502 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ralph Dunlap Elementary
How many students attend Ralph Dunlap Elementary?
Ralph Dunlap Elementary has 502 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Santa Maria, CA. CCD year-over-year: 471 (2022-23) → 486 (2023-24), nearly flat (+15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ralph Dunlap Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ralph Dunlap Elementary is 27.9:1, which is 30% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 78% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ralph Dunlap Elementary?
37.6% of students at Ralph Dunlap Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ralph Dunlap Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ralph Dunlap Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 52.6% of enrollment, in Santa Maria, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ralph Dunlap Elementary?
Ralph Dunlap Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ralph Dunlap Elementary rank among elementary schools in Santa Maria?
By Resource Investment Index, Ralph Dunlap Elementary ranks #21 of 24 elementary schools in Santa Maria, 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 Santa Maria on the city page.
What other schools are in Orcutt Union Elementary?
Besides Ralph Dunlap Elementary, Orcutt Union Elementary also operates Orcutt Academy Charter (812 students), Joe Nightingale Elementary (695 students), and Patterson Road Elementary (662 students). See the Orcutt Union Elementary district page for the complete list.