- Enrollment
- 1,411
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Ithaca, NY
Belle Sherman School
Federal NCES profile for Belle Sherman School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 361557001329
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 17
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Belle Sherman School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New York median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New York schools.
- #3 of 7
- schools in Ithaca · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.5:1
- students per teacher
- 29.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Belle Sherman School has class sizes near the New York median. Computed live against every New York school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Belle Sherman School ranks #3 of 7 schools in Ithaca, NY.
School address
District: Ithaca City School District · New York
NCES ID 361557001329 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Belle Sherman School held near 319 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 33.8 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 361557001329 · Ithaca, NY Other · SMALL · TRAD
347 enr · 10.5:1 · 29.3% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Ithaca Senior High School (1,411 students)
Belle Sherman School held near 319 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE added 33.8 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New York schools → · Find another →
Belle Sherman School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ithaca Senior
Ithaca Senior High School
1,411 students
- Dewitt Middle 559
Dewitt Middle School
559 students
- Boynton Middle 513
Boynton Middle School
513 students
- South Hill Sch 363
South Hill School
363 students
- This school 347
Belle Sherman School
347 students
- Northeast Scho 347
Northeast School
347 students
What this shows Belle Sherman School reports 347 students on the CCD universe file.
How Belle Sherman School compares
Belle Sherman School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New York and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New York | New York avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.5:1 | ▼ 11% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.3% | ▼ 48% | 56.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 347 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.5:1
Leaner classes than 86% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
347
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
29.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% below the New York average of 56.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
10.5:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 37% in New York - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
33.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$27,800
per pupil, district-wide
- below New York avg of $28,120
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 48.6%
Asian 19.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%
Two or More 10.1%
African American 9.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 48.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.2, Belle Sherman School is more mixed than the New York school average of 45.5.
Programs
District finance for Ithaca City School District reports $27,800 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Belle Sherman School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dewitt Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Boynton Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South Hill School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northeast School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Belle Sherman School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 559
- Students per teacher
- 8.9:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 513
- Students per teacher
- 8.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 363
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 347
- Students per teacher
- 9.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Nationwide other 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 (~347 students)
Frequently asked questions about Belle Sherman School
How many students attend Belle Sherman School?
Belle Sherman School has 347 students enrolled. It is a public school in Ithaca, NY. CCD year-over-year: 307 (2022-23) → 319 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Belle Sherman School?
The student-teacher ratio at Belle Sherman School is 10.5:1, which is 11% lower than the New York average of 11.8:1 and 33% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Belle Sherman School?
29.3% of students at Belle Sherman School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New York average of 56.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Belle Sherman School?
The largest demographic group at Belle Sherman School is White at 48.6% of enrollment, in Ithaca, NY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Belle Sherman School?
Belle Sherman School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Belle Sherman School rank among schools in Ithaca?
By Resource Investment Index, Belle Sherman School ranks #3 of 7 schools in Ithaca, NY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Ithaca on the city page.
What other schools are in Ithaca City School District?
Besides Belle Sherman School, Ithaca City School District also operates Ithaca Senior High School (1,411 students), Dewitt Middle School (559 students), and Boynton Middle School (513 students). See the Ithaca City School District district page for the complete list.