CaliforniaSchoolsJames A. Whitaker Elementary

James A. Whitaker Elementary

PublicRegular
Buena Park, California · Buena Park Elementary
Teachers29.0FTE
Ratio20.0:1students per teacher
Students579enrolled
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students579
Grade Span0–5
Student:Teacher20.0:1
Free/Reduced Lunch89%
Title INo
SectorPublic
Pupil : Teacher Ratio
20.7:1
(2024)
3.5%vs prior yrUS avg 15.4:1
Teacher FTE
27
(2024)
6.9%vs prior yr
Enrollment
559
(2024)
3.5%vs prior yr
Years of Data
5
2020–2024
Counselor : Pupils
1:1,588
(2020)
55%vs prior yrASCA max 1:250
Nurse : Pupils
1:1,638
(2020)
55.3%vs prior yrNASN max 1:750
Psychologist : Pupils
1:699
(2020)
9706%vs prior yrNASP max 1:500
Social Worker : Pupils
(2020)
SSWAA max 1:250

Pupil : Teacher Ratio — 5-Year Trend

14.7:116.7:118.6:120.5:122.4:124.4:12020202120222023202421.8:122.4:123.7:120.0:120.7:115.4:115.4:115.4:115.4:115.4:1This schoolUS public-school avg

Enrollment & Teacher FTE

515541568595622648242526272829202020212022202320245245836395795592426272927EnrollmentTeacher FTE

Year-by-year workforce

Metric20202021202220232024Nat Avg
Enrollment524583639579559
Teacher FTE2426272927
Pupil : Teacher ratio21.8:122.4:123.7:120.0:120.7:115.4:1

What These Numbers Mean

Teacher FTE

Full-Time Equivalent counts part-time teachers proportionally. One full-time teacher = 1.0 FTE; two half-time teachers also = 1.0 FTE. This is the standard federal reporting unit.

Pupil : Teacher ratio

NCES-reported ratio divides total enrollment by teacher FTE. It is NOT the same as average class size — schools with specialists, coaches, and resource teachers will show lower ratios than typical class sizes.

How to read the trend

A falling pupil:teacher ratio (line going down) means more staffing per student — generally a positive signal. A rising line can indicate budget pressure or fast enrollment growth outpacing hiring. Always compare to the US average (dashed grey).

Historical data spans 20202024 from NCES CCD.

Student Support & Wellbeing

Non-teaching staff who support student mental health, physical health, and behavioural needs. Lower pupil-to-staff ratios mean more one-on-one access.

Counselors & Social Workers — staff to pupils (recommended 1:250)

1:01:3431:6861:1,0291:1,3721:1,7152015201720201:1,0261:1,0261:1,5881:2501:2501:250Counselor : PupilsSocial Worker : PupilsRecommended 1:250

Nurses & Psychologists — staff to pupils

1:01:7911:1,5831:2,3741:3,1661:3,9572015201720201:3,6641:3,6641:1,6381:7501:7501:7501:1,0261:71:6991:5001:5001:500Nurse : PupilsNASN 1:750Psychologist : PupilsNASP 1:500

Support staffing & ratios — year by year

Metric201520172020Nat Avg
Counselors (FTE)0.50.50.3
Nurses (FTE)0.10.10.3
Psychologists (FTE)0.5720.8
Social Workers (FTE)000
Counselor : Pupils1:1,0261:1,0261:1,5881:250
Nurse : Pupils1:3,6641:3,6641:1,6381:750
Psychologist : Pupils1:1,0261:71:6991:500
Social Worker : Pupils1:250

Why these ratios matter

Counselors (ASCA 250:1)

School counselors support academic planning, college & career readiness, and social-emotional wellbeing. The American School Counselor Association recommends no more than 250 students per counselor.

Nurses (NASN 750:1)

School nurses manage chronic conditions, medications, immunisations, and emergencies. The National Association of School Nurses recommends at least 1 full-time nurse per 750 students (more for high-need populations).

Psychologists (NASP 500:1)

School psychologists assess learning & behavioural needs, run mental-health interventions, and coordinate special-education services. NASP recommends 500:1 or lower.

Social workers (SSWAA 250:1)

School social workers bridge home-school relationships, address attendance & trauma, and connect families to community resources. SSWAA recommends 250:1.

Source: US Dept of Education CRDC (20152020) — Civil Rights Data Collection.