- Enrollment
- 1,891
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Palo Alto, CA
Walter Hays Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Walter Hays Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062961004588
👥 S:T ratio 13
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walter Hays Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 10
- elementary schools in Palo Alto · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.8:1
- students per teacher
- 13.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Walter Hays Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walter Hays Elementary ranks #6 of 10 elementary schools in Palo Alto, CA.
School address
District: Palo Alto Unified · California
NCES ID 062961004588 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Walter Hays Elementary held near 295 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 14.9 → 14.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 062961004588 · Palo Alto, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
305 enr · 21.8:1 · 13.6% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Palo Alto High (1,891 students)
Walter Hays Elementary held near 295 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE held 14.9 → 14.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Walter Hays Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Palo Alto High
Palo Alto High
1,891 students
- Henry M. Gunn
Henry M. Gunn High
1,643 students
- Jane Lathrop S
Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle
1,002 students
- Frank S. Green 732
Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle
732 students
- Ellen Fletcher 572
Ellen Fletcher Middle
572 students
- This school 305
Walter Hays Elementary
305 students
What this shows Walter Hays Elementary reports 305 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walter Hays Elementary compares
Walter Hays 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 | 21.8:1 | ▲ 1% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.6% | ▼ 75% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 305 | top 73% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.8:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
305
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
13.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 75% 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
21.8:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 51% in California - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
11.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$28,442
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
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 43.0%
White 23.3%
Hispanic or Latino 19.7%
Two or More 10.5%
African American 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.6%
Largest group: Asian at 43.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.0, Walter Hays Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Palo Alto Unified reports $28,442 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Walter Hays Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Henry M. Gunn High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ellen Fletcher Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walter Hays Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,643
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,002
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 732
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 572
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar elementary schools in Palo Alto
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Ohlone Elementary
Standard public school
464 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Fairmeadow Elementary
Standard public school
425 students 22.4:1 students per teacher
Herbert Hoover Elementary
Standard public school
389 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Duveneck Elementary
Standard public school
376 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Addison Elementary
Standard public school
366 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
Palo Verde Elementary
Standard public school
334 students 17.6:1 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 (~305 students)
Frequently asked questions about Walter Hays Elementary
How many students attend Walter Hays Elementary?
Walter Hays Elementary has 305 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Palo Alto, CA. CCD year-over-year: 294 (2022-23) → 295 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter Hays Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter Hays Elementary is 21.8:1, which is 1% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Walter Hays Elementary?
13.6% of students at Walter Hays Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walter Hays Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Walter Hays Elementary is Asian at 43.0% of enrollment, in Palo Alto, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walter Hays Elementary?
Walter Hays Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Walter Hays Elementary rank among elementary schools in Palo Alto?
By Resource Investment Index, Walter Hays Elementary ranks #6 of 10 elementary schools in Palo Alto, 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 Palo Alto on the city page.
What other schools are in Palo Alto Unified?
Besides Walter Hays Elementary, Palo Alto Unified also operates Palo Alto High (1,891 students), Henry M. Gunn High (1,643 students), and Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle (1,002 students). See the Palo Alto Unified district page for the complete list.