Blackford County Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Hartford City, Indiana - 3 schools

An equity score of 69/100 ranks Blackford County Schools #59 of 372 districts in Indiana (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,100 per pupil, Blackford County Schools ranks #154 of 405 Indiana districts by per-pupil spending (Indiana districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,496
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$13,100
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Blackford County Schools operates 3 public schools serving 1,496 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Indiana. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Blackford County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,100 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 405 Indiana districts by per-pupil spending. See how Indiana compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 24.2% local, 60.7% state, and 15.1% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 69/100, ranked #59 of 372 in Indiana against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 304.9:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 18.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 88.1% White, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Blackford Primary School, with a diversity index of 23.7/100.

Its largest campus is Blackford Jr-Sr High School, enrolling 651 students (46% of the district's total enrollment).

Blackford Jr-Sr High School accounts for 43.5% of all Blackford County Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Blackford County Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Blackford County Schools school enrollment varies 2.1× across entities

Blackford County Schools school enrollment ranges from 314 students (lowest) to 651 students (highest), a spread of 337 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Blackford County Schools reports 56.3% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Blackford County Schools student-counselor ratio is 305:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Blackford County Schools is typically wider than the Blackford County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Blackford County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 18.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Blackford County Schools is typically wider than the Blackford County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.1%
Federal
60.7%
State
24.2%
Local

Funding Equity

69
Equity Score
59 / 372
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Blackford County Schools.

White 88.1%
Hispanic or Latino 5.2%
African American 0.6%
Multiracial 5.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 21.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Blackford County Schools's schools, below the Indiana average of 39.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Blackford Primary School 23.7
  2. 2 Blackford Intermediate School 21.3
  3. 3 Blackford Jr-Sr High School 20.5

Programs & Resources

304.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Blackford County Schools

School Enrollment
Blackford Jr-Sr High School
651
Blackford Intermediate School
447
Blackford Primary School
314

How Blackford County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Indiana districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Elwood Community School Corp Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Mitchell Community Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Switzerland County School Corp Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Bremen Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Rensselaer Central School Corp Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Blackford County Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Indiana

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Fort Wayne Community Schools
28,612 students · 50 schools · $14,569/pupil
Compare vs Blackford County Schools →
Indianapolis Public Schools
22,027 students · 57 schools · $23,197/pupil
Compare vs Blackford County Schools →
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp
21,739 students · 40 schools · $13,576/pupil
Compare vs Blackford County Schools →
Hamilton Southeastern Schools
21,612 students · 22 schools · $12,362/pupil
Compare vs Blackford County Schools →
Msd Lawrence Township
16,414 students · 17 schools · $12,332/pupil
Compare vs Blackford County Schools →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Blackford County Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Fort Wayne Community Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Blackford County Schools?

Blackford County Schools has 3 schools, including 3 combined. Total enrollment is 1,496 students.

How much does Blackford County Schools spend per student?

Blackford County Schools spends $13,100 per student. The district has an equity score of 69/100, ranking #59 in Indiana.

What is the demographic composition of Blackford County Schools?

Blackford County Schools students are 88.1% White, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Blackford County Schools?

Blackford County Schools has an equity score of 69/100, ranking #59 out of 372 districts in Indiana.