Enrollment
374
Rhode Island · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Cumberland, RI
B.F. Norton Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for B.F. Norton Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 440027000039
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
B.F. Norton Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Rhode Island schools.
- #3 of 8
- elementary schools in Cumberland · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- large classes for Rhode Island
- 35.3%
- free-lunch eligible
B.F. Norton Elementary School has class sizes larger than 73% of Rhode Island schools. Computed live against every Rhode Island school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, B.F. Norton Elementary School ranks #3 of 8 elementary schools in Cumberland, RI.
School address
District: Cumberland · Rhode Island
NCES ID 440027000039 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15:1
vs 13.8:1 Rhode Island avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.3%
vs 39.6% Rhode Island avg
-11% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How B.F. Norton Elementary School compares with Rhode Island and U.S. medians
What stands out at B.F. Norton Elementary School
B.F. Norton Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Cumberland, Rhode Island, enrolling 374 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15:1 puts it in the larger third of Rhode Island schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 35.3% lands close to the Rhode Island typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 374 students, its enrollment sits close to the Rhode Island median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 308 scored Rhode Island schools.
Against 70 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #17.
Its student body is led by White (56%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%) (diversity index 61/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.3% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Cumberland spends $15,629 per pupil, 23% below the Rhode Island average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Cumberland's elementary schools, it stands alongside Community School (545 students): B.F. Norton Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15:1 vs 13.6:1).
Cumberland also operates Cumberland High School (1,428 students) and North Cumberland Middle (643 students) alongside B.F. Norton Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How B.F. Norton Elementary School compares
B.F. Norton Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Rhode Island and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Rhode Island | Rhode Island avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15:1 | ▲ 9% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.3% | ▼ 11% | 39.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 374 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
374
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% below the Rhode Island average of 39.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 73% in Rhode Island - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
20.3%
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
$15,629
per pupil, district-wide
- below Rhode Island avg of $20,315
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 55.6%
Hispanic or Latino 26.2%
African American 8.0%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 55.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.1, B.F. Norton Elementary School is more mixed than the Rhode Island school average of 47.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cumberland, which includes B.F. Norton Elementary School.
$15,629
Per student
-23%
vs Rhode Island
Avg $20,315
-6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 58.8%
State 31.7%
Federal 9.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How B.F. Norton Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Cumberland Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Community School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Joseph L. Mccourt Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ashton School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to B.F. Norton Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 643
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 545
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 482
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 429
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Cumberland
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Community School
Standard public school
545 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Ashton School
Standard public school
429 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Blackstone Valley Prep E. 2
Standard public school
426 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Blackstone Valley Prep
Standard public school
422 students 10.6:1 students per teacher
Garvin Memorial
Standard public school
422 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
John J. Mclaughlin Cumberland
Standard public school
413 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Rhode Island, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~374 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on B.F. Norton Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare B.F. Norton Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Cumberland's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about B.F. Norton Elementary School
How many students attend B.F. Norton Elementary School?
B.F. Norton Elementary School has 374 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Cumberland, RI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at B.F. Norton Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at B.F. Norton Elementary School is 15:1, which is 9% higher than the Rhode Island average of 13.8:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at B.F. Norton Elementary School?
35.3% of students at B.F. Norton Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Rhode Island average of 39.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of B.F. Norton Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at B.F. Norton Elementary School is White at 55.6% of enrollment, in Cumberland, RI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for B.F. Norton Elementary School?
B.F. Norton Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does B.F. Norton Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Cumberland?
By Resource Investment Index, B.F. Norton Elementary School ranks #3 of 8 elementary schools in Cumberland, RI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Cumberland on the city page.
Is B.F. Norton Elementary School a good school?
B.F. Norton Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Rhode Island schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Cumberland?
Besides B.F. Norton Elementary School, Cumberland also operates Cumberland High School (1,428 students), North Cumberland Middle (643 students), and Community School (545 students). See the Cumberland district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.