Mary Deterding Elementary

As a mid-sized primary school in Carmichael, California, Mary Deterding Elementary educates 670 students from grades K through 6, run under San Juan Unified. Enrollment runs roughly 44% larger than the state mean of about 465.

Across the 67 schools in San Juan Unified (39,171 students total), Mary Deterding Elementary accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, Mary Deterding Elementary records that the largest single group is White at 54%, but no single group is in the majority; the rest consists of 17% Hispanic, 14% Asian, 12% multiracial, 3% Black. By comparison, Sacramento County as a whole is about 45% White, so the school skews visibly more White than its surroundings.

On the income-and-resources front, The school currently runs with 25 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 26.8:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 22.3:1, putting Mary Deterding Elementary higher than the state norm the norm. About 51% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Sacramento County (around 63%), the school's rate is noticeably below typical.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Mary Deterding Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 48.9%; this one delivers 59.3%.

In the surrounding community, Sacramento County reports that median household income runs about $92,175, 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 9%. Mary Deterding Elementary is one of 387 public schools in Sacramento County (combined enrollment of about 259,342 students).

The closest other public school is Carmichael Elementary, roughly 0.9 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Mary Deterding Elementary. On composite proficiency, Mary Deterding Elementary comes 1st of 7 in the immediate cluster, higher than the nearby-schools average of 34.3%.

The school occupies a commuter-belt site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Mary Deterding Elementary has expanded 13%, going from 595 students in 2018 to 670 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 62% to 54% across the same window. Class-load math has tightened: from 28.3:1 in 2018 to 26.8:1 in 2025.

On this page, recent activity here tends to focus on science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.