Thomas Olaeta Elementary

Thomas Olaeta Elementary operates as a tight-knit elementary-level community in Atwater, California, operated by Atwater Elementary. Current enrollment sits at 374 students spanning grades K through 6.

Thomas Olaeta Elementary is one of 11 schools operated by Atwater Elementary, a district that hosts 4,925 students overall.

Looking at the student body, Thomas Olaeta Elementary lists that the largest single group is Hispanic, at 75% of enrollment. The remainder reads as 14% White, 5% Asian, 3% multiracial. By comparison, Merced County as a whole is about 63% Hispanic, so the school skews noticeably more Hispanic than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Thomas Olaeta Elementary shows 17 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 22.0:1. The state averages about 22.3:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. About 74% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Thomas Olaeta Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 35.5%; this one delivers 48.6%.

In the area at large, Merced County reports that median household earnings sit near $65,510, about 15% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate sits near 16%. In all, Merced County runs 117 public schools (combined enrollment of about 59,456 students), of which Thomas Olaeta Elementary is one.

The closest other public school is Shaffer Elementary, roughly 0.6 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Thomas Olaeta Elementary at 1st of 8; the average score across the group is 37.1%.

Thomas Olaeta Elementary operates from a suburban location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Thomas Olaeta Elementary's enrollment has edged down 39% since 2018, when it stood at 617 (now 374). The Hispanic share of enrollment increased from 64% to 75% over that span. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 25.7:1 in 2018 to 22.0:1 today.

On allk12, members of the Thomas Olaeta Elementary community share and discuss pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.