Enrollment
510
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Waterford, CA
Richard M. Moon Primary
Federal NCES profile for Richard M. Moon Primary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 15/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060006312220
👥 S:T ratio 7
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 7
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Richard M. Moon Primary earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #3 of 4
- elementary schools in Waterford · Resource Index
- 15
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.2:1
- students per teacher
- 78.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Richard M. Moon Primary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Richard M. Moon Primary ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Waterford, CA.
School address
District: Waterford Unified · California
NCES ID 060006312220 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
23.2:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
78.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
+41% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Richard M. Moon Primary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Richard M. Moon Primary
Richard M. Moon Primary is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Waterford, California, enrolling 510 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 23.2:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 78.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 510 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 91% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 2,195 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #1,795, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (71%) and White (22%) (diversity index 45/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 37.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Waterford's elementary schools, it stands alongside Lucille Whitehead Intermediate (355 students): Richard M. Moon Primary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (23.2:1 vs 22.2:1).
Waterford Unified also operates Waterford High (582 students) and Lucille Whitehead Intermediate (355 students) alongside Richard M. Moon Primary.
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 Richard M. Moon Primary compares
Richard M. Moon Primary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.2:1 | ▲ 8% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.2% | ▲ 41% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 510 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.2:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
510
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
78.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 64% in California - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
37.3%
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
$17,234
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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
Hispanic or Latino 71.0%
White 21.6%
Two or More 3.7%
Asian 2.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
African American 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 71.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.7, Richard M. Moon Primary is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waterford Unified, which includes Richard M. Moon Primary.
$17,234
Per student
+4%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.1%
State 63.3%
Federal 12.6%
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 Richard M. Moon Primary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lucille Whitehead Intermediate | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Waterford Junior | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sentinel High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Richard M. Moon Primary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 582
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 355
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 260
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 14
- Students per teacher
- 7:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
Similar elementary schools in Waterford
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~510 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Richard M. Moon Primary's federal record.
- Compare Richard M. Moon Primary against another school. Compare schools
- Waterford Unified'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 Richard M. Moon Primary
How many students attend Richard M. Moon Primary?
Richard M. Moon Primary has 510 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Waterford, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Richard M. Moon Primary?
The student-teacher ratio at Richard M. Moon Primary is 23.2:1, which is 8% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 48% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Richard M. Moon Primary?
78.2% of students at Richard M. Moon Primary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Richard M. Moon Primary?
The largest demographic group at Richard M. Moon Primary is Hispanic or Latino at 71.0% of enrollment, in Waterford, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Richard M. Moon Primary?
Richard M. Moon Primary has a Resource Investment Index of 15/100 (lower 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 Richard M. Moon Primary rank among elementary schools in Waterford?
By Resource Investment Index, Richard M. Moon Primary ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Waterford, 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 Waterford on the city page.
Is Richard M. Moon Primary a good school?
Richard M. Moon Primary earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. 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 Waterford Unified?
Besides Richard M. Moon Primary, Waterford Unified also operates Waterford High (582 students), Lucille Whitehead Intermediate (355 students), and Waterford Junior (260 students). See the Waterford Unified 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.