- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Atwater, CA
Shaffer Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Shaffer Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060342000261
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Shaffer Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of California schools.
- #4 of 7
- elementary schools in Atwater · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- small classes for California
- 74.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Shaffer Elementary has class sizes smaller than 81% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Shaffer Elementary ranks #4 of 7 elementary schools in Atwater, CA.
School address
District: Atwater Elementary · California
NCES ID 060342000261 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-112 students YoY
Shaffer Elementary shrank from 534 students in 2022-23 to 422 in 2023-24 (-21.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 23.2 → 17.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-112 students YoY 060342000261 · Atwater, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
405 enr · 17.6:1 · 74.0% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Mitchell Intermediate (744 students)
Shaffer Elementary shrank from 534 students in 2022-23 to 422 in 2023-24 (-21.0%). Teacher FTE lost 23.2 → 17.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Shaffer Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mitchell Inter
Mitchell Intermediate
744 students
- Peggy Heller E
Peggy Heller Elementary
712 students
- Bellevue Eleme
Bellevue Elementary
599 students
- Mitchell Eleme
Mitchell Elementary
528 students
- Elmer Wood Ele
Elmer Wood Elementary
514 students
- This school
Shaffer Elementary
405 students
What this shows Shaffer Elementary reports 405 students on the CCD universe file.
How Shaffer Elementary compares
Shaffer Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▼ 18% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.0% | ▲ 33% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 405 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
405
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
74.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% 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
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 19% in California - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
48.4%
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
$15,365
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 80.0%
White 11.9%
Asian 5.2%
African American 1.2%
Two or More 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 80.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.3, Shaffer Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Atwater Elementary reports $15,365 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Shaffer Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Intermediate | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Peggy Heller Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bellevue Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mitchell Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Elmer Wood Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Shaffer Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 712
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 599
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 514
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Atwater
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Peggy Heller Elementary
Standard public school
712 students 23:1 students per teacher
Bellevue Elementary
Standard public school
599 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Mitchell Elementary
Standard public school
528 students 24:1 students per teacher
Elmer Wood Elementary
Standard public school
514 students 22.3:1 students per teacher
Thomas Olaeta Elementary
Standard public school
374 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Aileen Colburn Elementary
Standard public school
371 students 19.5:1 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 (~405 students)
Frequently asked questions about Shaffer Elementary
How many students attend Shaffer Elementary?
Shaffer Elementary has 405 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Atwater, CA. CCD year-over-year: 534 (2022-23) → 422 (2023-24), down 112.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shaffer Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Shaffer Elementary is 17.6:1, which is 18% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Shaffer Elementary?
74.0% of students at Shaffer Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Shaffer Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Shaffer Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 80.0% of enrollment, in Atwater, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Shaffer Elementary?
Shaffer Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Shaffer Elementary rank among elementary schools in Atwater?
By Resource Investment Index, Shaffer Elementary ranks #4 of 7 elementary schools in Atwater, 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 Atwater on the city page.
What other schools are in Atwater Elementary?
Besides Shaffer Elementary, Atwater Elementary also operates Mitchell Intermediate (744 students), Peggy Heller Elementary (712 students), and Bellevue Elementary (599 students). See the Atwater Elementary district page for the complete list.