Enrollment
403
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Atascadero, CA
San Benito Elementary
Federal NCES profile for San Benito Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060330001384
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
San Benito Elementary earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of California schools.
- #1 of 5
- elementary schools in Atascadero · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26.9:1
- large classes for California
- 31.2%
- free-lunch eligible
San Benito Elementary has class sizes larger than 89% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, San Benito Elementary ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Atascadero, CA.
School address
District: Atascadero Unified · California
NCES ID 060330001384 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
15.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
26.9:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
31.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
-44% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How San Benito Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at San Benito Elementary
San Benito Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Atascadero, California, enrolling 403 students.
Class loads run heavy: 26.9:1 is larger than about 89% of California schools and 25% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 31.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 403 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,106 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #1,003, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (60%) and Hispanic or Latino (30%) (diversity index 55/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Atascadero Unified spends $13,091 per pupil, 21% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Atascadero's elementary schools, it stands alongside Monterey Road Elementary (382 students): San Benito Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (26.9:1 vs 27.3:1).
Atascadero Unified also operates Atascadero High (1,157 students) and Atascadero Middle (845 students) alongside San Benito 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 San Benito Elementary compares
San Benito 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 | 26.9:1 | ▲ 25% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.2% | ▼ 44% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 403 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.9:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
403
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
31.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% 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
26.9:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 89% in California - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
30.5%
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
$13,091
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 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
White 60.0%
Hispanic or Latino 29.5%
Two or More 8.7%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
African American 0.2%
Largest group: White at 60.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.5, San Benito Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Atascadero Unified, which includes San Benito Elementary.
$13,091
Per student
-21%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 63.5%
State 30.2%
Federal 6.3%
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 San Benito Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atascadero High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Atascadero Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Monterey Road Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Gabriel Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to San Benito Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,157
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 845
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 382
- Students per teacher
- 27.3:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 377
- Students per teacher
- 25.1:1
- Resource Index
- 7/100
- Enrollment
- 360
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 9/100
Similar elementary schools in Atascadero
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Monterey Road Elementary
Standard public school
382 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy
Standard public school
377 students 25.1:1 students per teacher
San Gabriel Elementary
Standard public school
360 students 27.7:1 students per teacher
Fine Arts Academy
Standard public school
238 students 29.8:1 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 (~403 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~26.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on San Benito Elementary's federal record.
- Compare San Benito Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Atascadero 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 San Benito Elementary
How many students attend San Benito Elementary?
San Benito Elementary has 403 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Atascadero, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at San Benito Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at San Benito Elementary is 26.9:1, which is 25% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 71% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at San Benito Elementary?
31.2% of students at San Benito Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of San Benito Elementary?
The largest demographic group at San Benito Elementary is White at 60.0% of enrollment, in Atascadero, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for San Benito Elementary?
San Benito Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 San Benito Elementary rank among elementary schools in Atascadero?
By Resource Investment Index, San Benito Elementary ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Atascadero, 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 Atascadero on the city page.
Is San Benito Elementary a good school?
San Benito Elementary earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of 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 Atascadero Unified?
Besides San Benito Elementary, Atascadero Unified also operates Atascadero High (1,157 students), Atascadero Middle (845 students), and Monterey Road Elementary (382 students). See the Atascadero 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.