- Enrollment
- 3,218
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Berkeley, CA
Sylvia Mendez Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sylvia Mendez Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060474000445
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 46
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sylvia Mendez Elementary earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of California schools.
- #9 of 12
- elementary schools in Berkeley · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18:1
- small classes for California
- 24.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Sylvia Mendez Elementary has class sizes smaller than 79% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sylvia Mendez Elementary ranks #9 of 12 elementary schools in Berkeley, CA.
School address
District: Berkeley Unified · California
NCES ID 060474000445 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+16 students YoY
Sylvia Mendez Elementary held near 386 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+16 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 21.2 → 17.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+16 students YoY 060474000445 · Berkeley, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
379 enr · 18:1 · 24.1% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Berkeley High (3,218 students)
Sylvia Mendez Elementary held near 386 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+16 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 21.2 → 17.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Sylvia Mendez Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Berkeley High
Berkeley High
3,218 students
- Martin Luther 851
Martin Luther King Middle
851 students
- Willard Middle 596
Willard Middle
596 students
- Malcolm X Elem 469
Malcolm X Elementary
469 students
- Longfellow Art 462
Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle
462 students
- This school 379
Sylvia Mendez Elementary
379 students
What this shows Sylvia Mendez Elementary reports 379 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sylvia Mendez Elementary compares
Sylvia Mendez 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 | 18:1 | ▼ 16% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.1% | ▼ 57% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 379 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
379
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% 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
18:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 21% in California - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.6%
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
$22,710
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 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 60.8%
White 23.3%
Two or More 7.9%
African American 7.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 60.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.4, Sylvia Mendez Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Berkeley Unified reports $22,710 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sylvia Mendez Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Martin Luther King Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Willard Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Malcolm X Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sylvia Mendez Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 851
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 596
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 469
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 462
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar elementary schools in Berkeley
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Malcolm X Elementary
Standard public school
469 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Ruth Acty Elementary
Standard public school
410 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier
Standard public school
407 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Washington Elementary
Standard public school
401 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Rosa Parks Environmental Science
Standard public school
393 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Thousand Oaks Elementary
Standard public school
337 students 16.9:1 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 (~379 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sylvia Mendez Elementary
How many students attend Sylvia Mendez Elementary?
Sylvia Mendez Elementary has 379 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Berkeley, CA. CCD year-over-year: 370 (2022-23) → 386 (2023-24), nearly flat (+16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sylvia Mendez Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sylvia Mendez Elementary is 18:1, which is 16% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 15% 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 Sylvia Mendez Elementary?
24.1% of students at Sylvia Mendez Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sylvia Mendez Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sylvia Mendez Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 60.8% of enrollment, in Berkeley, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sylvia Mendez Elementary?
Sylvia Mendez Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Sylvia Mendez Elementary rank among elementary schools in Berkeley?
By Resource Investment Index, Sylvia Mendez Elementary ranks #9 of 12 elementary schools in Berkeley, 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 Berkeley on the city page.
What other schools are in Berkeley Unified?
Besides Sylvia Mendez Elementary, Berkeley Unified also operates Berkeley High (3,218 students), Martin Luther King Middle (851 students), and Willard Middle (596 students). See the Berkeley Unified district page for the complete list.