Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 8 schools in district

Joe Henderson Elementary

650 Hastings Dr., Benicia, CA 94510Benicia Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–05Non-Charter
512
Students
Total enrolled
$15,252
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 6% vs nat'l
23.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 54% vs nat'l
46/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 512 students in grades KG–05 in Benicia, California.
Near-average funding
District spends $15,252 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 46th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Joe Henderson Elementary is a large elementary in Benicia, California, serving grades KG–05 with 512 students. The district invests $15,252 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. With only 21% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Joe Henderson Elementary

512
Total Students
23.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
21%
Free Lunch
22
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution264 male · 248 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility21%
National avg 52% · 108 students
Student Composition
13%
43%
22%
17%
Asian13%
White43%
Hispanic / Latino22%
Black5%
Multiracial17%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 060462009116

Academic Outcomes at Joe Henderson Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
46
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 46th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 60th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 94510

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,252Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$15,252
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,711
Student Support$2,898
Administration$1,830
Operations$2,288
Other$1,525
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $15,252 spent per student, an estimated $6,757 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
55%
39%
State government
54.6%
Local (property tax)
39.3%
Federal programs
6.2%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 21% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio — larger classes than the national average of 15.4:1
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Matthew Turner ElementaryRobert Semple ElementaryMary Farmar Elementary
↓
Middle
Benicia Middle
↓
High School
Benicia HighLiberty HighCommunity Day
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 05
Location—
CountySolano County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictBenicia Unified →
Phone: (707)747-8370
NCES ID: 060462009116
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Benicia seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Benicia Unified
High
Benicia High
1,432 students · 09–12
● 46 opp24% FRL
Mid
Benicia Middle
986 students · 06–08
● 46 opp28% FRL
Elem
Matthew Turner Elementary
508 students · KG–05
● 46 opp10% FRL
Elem
Robert Semple Elementary
444 students · KG–05
● 46 opp40% FRL
Elem
Mary Farmar Elementary
420 students · KG–05
● 46 opp25% FRL
High
Liberty High
64 students · 09–12
● 46 opp38% FRL
High
Community Day
1 students · 07–12
● 46 opp
District School Rankings
Location
650 Hastings Dr., Benicia, CA 94510
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.