- Enrollment
- 2,148
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Garden Grove, CA
Thomas Paine Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Thomas Paine Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 061488001869
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas Paine Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #15 of 35
- elementary schools in Garden Grove · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.4:1
- students per teacher
- 62.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Thomas Paine Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Paine Elementary ranks #15 of 35 elementary schools in Garden Grove, CA.
School address
District: Garden Grove Unified · California
NCES ID 061488001869 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Thomas Paine Elementary held near 429 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 21.5 → 19.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 061488001869 · Garden Grove, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
428 enr · 20.4:1 · 62.9% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Garden Grove High (2,148 students)
Thomas Paine Elementary held near 429 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 21.5 → 19.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Thomas Paine Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Garden Grove H
Garden Grove High
2,148 students
- La Quinta High
La Quinta High
2,041 students
- Bolsa Grande H
Bolsa Grande High
1,701 students
- Santiago High
Santiago High
1,664 students
- Pacifica High
Pacifica High
1,634 students
- This school 428
Thomas Paine Elementary
428 students
What this shows Thomas Paine Elementary reports 428 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thomas Paine Elementary compares
Thomas Paine 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 | 20.4:1 | ▼ 5% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.9% | ▲ 13% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 428 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.4:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
428
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% 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
20.4:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 38% in California - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
32.2%
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
$20,023
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 56.1%
Hispanic or Latino 34.8%
Two or More 5.8%
White 1.9%
African American 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: Asian at 56.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.0, Thomas Paine Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Garden Grove Unified reports $20,023 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thomas Paine Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Grove High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| La Quinta High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bolsa Grande High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Santiago High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pacifica High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas Paine Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,041
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,701
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,664
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,634
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Garden Grove
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Patton Elementary
Standard public school
904 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Ocia a. Peters Elementary
Standard public school
893 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
John Murdy Elementary
Standard public school
689 students 26.5:1 students per teacher
Lampson Elementary
Standard public school
676 students 32.2:1 students per teacher
Bryant Elementary
Standard public school
571 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Gilbert Elementary
Standard public school
515 students 25.8:1 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 (~428 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thomas Paine Elementary
How many students attend Thomas Paine Elementary?
Thomas Paine Elementary has 428 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Garden Grove, CA. CCD year-over-year: 437 (2022-23) → 429 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Paine Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Paine Elementary is 20.4:1, which is 5% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 30% 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 Thomas Paine Elementary?
62.9% of students at Thomas Paine Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas Paine Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Thomas Paine Elementary is Asian at 56.1% of enrollment, in Garden Grove, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas Paine Elementary?
Thomas Paine Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Thomas Paine Elementary rank among elementary schools in Garden Grove?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Paine Elementary ranks #15 of 35 elementary schools in Garden Grove, 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 Garden Grove on the city page.
What other schools are in Garden Grove Unified?
Besides Thomas Paine Elementary, Garden Grove Unified also operates Garden Grove High (2,148 students), La Quinta High (2,041 students), and Bolsa Grande High (1,701 students). See the Garden Grove Unified district page for the complete list.