MANUEL RUIZ GANDIA

As a mid-sized primary school in ARECIBO, Puerto Rico, MANUEL RUIZ GANDIA instructs 325 students from grades K through 8, operated by PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Compared to the state average of about 232 students per school, that is 40% larger than typical.

Across the 856 schools in PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (236,079 students total), MANUEL RUIZ GANDIA accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, MANUEL RUIZ GANDIA reports that the student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic (99%). That composition is broadly in line with Arecibo Municipio as a whole.

On the income-and-resources front, The school employs 42 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 7.7:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 9.2:1 average. Around 89% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

In the surrounding community, the surrounding county (Arecibo Municipio) reports that median household income runs about $23,635 and the poverty rate sits near 38%. MANUEL RUIZ GANDIA is one of 22 public schools in Arecibo Municipio (combined enrollment of about 6,627 students).

JULIO SEIJO is the nearest neighboring public school, about 1.7 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Geographically, the school is in a downtown area.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at MANUEL RUIZ GANDIA has contracted 34%, going from 492 students in 2018 to 325 in 2025. Class-load math has tightened: from 12.6:1 in 2018 to 7.7:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the feed for MANUEL RUIZ GANDIA typically covers open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.