- Enrollment
- 1,494
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Santa Paula, CA
Thelma Bedell Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Thelma Bedell 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 060142106112
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thelma Bedell Elementary earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 10
- elementary schools in Santa Paula · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.6:1
- students per teacher
- 64.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Thelma Bedell Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thelma Bedell Elementary ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Santa Paula, CA.
School address
District: Santa Paula Unified · California
NCES ID 060142106112 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+41 students YoY
Thelma Bedell Elementary grew from 268 students in 2022-23 to 309 in 2023-24 (+15.3%).
Teacher FTE added 13.1 → 16.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+41 students YoY 060142106112 · Santa Paula, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
294 enr · 22.6:1 · 64.6% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Santa Paula High (1,494 students)
Thelma Bedell Elementary grew from 268 students in 2022-23 to 309 in 2023-24 (+15.3%). Teacher FTE added 13.1 → 16.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Thelma Bedell Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Santa Paula Hi
Santa Paula High
1,494 students
- Glen City Elem
Glen City Elementary
675 students
- Isbell Middle
Isbell Middle
634 students
- Grace Thille E 358
Grace Thille Elementary
358 students
- Barbara Webste 325
Barbara Webster Elementary
325 students
- This school 294
Thelma Bedell Elementary
294 students
What this shows Thelma Bedell Elementary reports 294 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thelma Bedell Elementary compares
Thelma Bedell Elementary is a growing 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 | 22.6:1 | ▲ 5% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.6% | ▲ 16% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 294 | top 74% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.6:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
294
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
64.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
22.6:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 59% in California - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
32.7%
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
$20,615
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 294 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 89.1%
White 8.2%
Asian 1.0%
African American 0.7%
Two or More 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 89.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 19.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 19.9, Thelma Bedell Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Santa Paula Unified reports $20,615 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thelma Bedell Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Paula High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Glen City Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Isbell Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Grace Thille Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Barbara Webster Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thelma Bedell Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 675
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 358
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 325
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Santa Paula
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Glen City Elementary
Standard public school
675 students 27:1 students per teacher
Grace Thille Elementary
Standard public school
358 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Barbara Webster Elementary
Standard public school
325 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Blanchard Elementary
Standard public school
317 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Mckevett Elementary
Standard public school
300 students 20:1 students per teacher
Olivelands Elementary
Standard public school
236 students 21.5:1 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 (~294 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thelma Bedell Elementary
How many students attend Thelma Bedell Elementary?
Thelma Bedell Elementary has 294 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Santa Paula, CA. CCD year-over-year: 268 (2022-23) → 309 (2023-24), up 41.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thelma Bedell Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Thelma Bedell Elementary is 22.6:1, which is 5% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 44% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thelma Bedell Elementary?
64.6% of students at Thelma Bedell Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thelma Bedell Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Thelma Bedell Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 89.1% of enrollment, in Santa Paula, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thelma Bedell Elementary?
Thelma Bedell Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical 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 Thelma Bedell Elementary rank among elementary schools in Santa Paula?
By Resource Investment Index, Thelma Bedell Elementary ranks #1 of 10 elementary schools in Santa Paula, 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 Paula on the city page.
What other schools are in Santa Paula Unified?
Besides Thelma Bedell Elementary, Santa Paula Unified also operates Santa Paula High (1,494 students), Glen City Elementary (675 students), and Isbell Middle (634 students). See the Santa Paula Unified district page for the complete list.