- Enrollment
- 4,604
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chicago, IL
Bell Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Bell Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 170993000605
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 10
📋 Attendance 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bell Elem School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Illinois schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #8 of 102
- elementary schools in Chicago · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 902
- students enrolled
Bell Elem School has class sizes larger than 76% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Elem School ranks #8 of 102 elementary schools in Chicago, IL.
School address
District: City of Chicago Sd 299 · Illinois
NCES ID 170993000605 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-38 students YoY
Bell Elem School held near 848 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-38 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 58.5 → 58.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-38 students YoY 170993000605 · Chicago, IL Elementary · MID · TRAD
902 enr · 15.6:1 · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Lane Technical High School (4,604 students)
Bell Elem School held near 848 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-38 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 58.5 → 58.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Bell Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lane Technical
Lane Technical High School
4,604 students
- Taft High Scho
Taft High School
4,487 students
- Curie Metropol
Curie Metropolitan High School
3,099 students
- Kenwood Academ
Kenwood Academy High School
2,268 students
- Young Magnet H
Young Magnet High School
2,223 students
- This school 902
Bell Elem School
902 students
What this shows Bell Elem School reports 902 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bell Elem School compares
Bell Elem School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 902 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
902
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 76% in Illinois - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
11.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$22,699
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 451 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 56.0%
Hispanic or Latino 17.0%
Two or More 13.0%
Asian 11.5%
African American 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 56.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.7, Bell Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for City of Chicago Sd 299 reports $22,699 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bell Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Technical High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Taft High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Curie Metropolitan High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kenwood Academy High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Young Magnet High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bell Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,487
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 3,099
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,268
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,223
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar elementary schools in Chicago
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Mount Greenwood Elem School
Standard public school
1,182 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Eberhart Elem School
Standard public school
1,011 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Kipp One Academy
Standard public school
996 students 10.9:1 students per teacher
Lyon Elem School
Standard public school
988 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Kipp Chicago Chrtrs Bloom Campus
Standard public school
921 students 11.2:1 students per teacher
Kipp Chicago Chrtrs - Ascend Acad
Standard public school
897 students 8.5:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~902 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bell Elem School
How many students attend Bell Elem School?
Bell Elem School has 902 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chicago, IL. CCD year-over-year: 886 (2022-23) → 848 (2023-24), nearly flat (-38).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bell Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bell Elem School is 15.6:1, which is 11% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bell Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Bell Elem School is White at 56.0% of enrollment, in Chicago, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bell Elem School?
Bell Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bell Elem School rank among elementary schools in Chicago?
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Elem School ranks #8 of 102 elementary schools in Chicago, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Chicago on the city page.
What other schools are in City of Chicago Sd 299?
Besides Bell Elem School, City of Chicago Sd 299 also operates Lane Technical High School (4,604 students), Taft High School (4,487 students), and Curie Metropolitan High School (3,099 students). See the City of Chicago Sd 299 district page for the complete list.