- Enrollment
- 1,094
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Reading, MA
Birch Meadow
Federal NCES profile for Birch Meadow, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 250999001606
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 76
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Birch Meadow earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of Massachusetts schools.
- #1 of 5
- elementary schools in Reading · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.6:1
- small classes for Massachusetts
- 359
- students enrolled
Birch Meadow has class sizes smaller than 71% of Massachusetts schools. Computed live against every Massachusetts school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Birch Meadow ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Reading, MA.
School address
District: Reading · Massachusetts
NCES ID 250999001606 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Birch Meadow held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 34.7 → 32.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 250999001606 · Reading, MA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
359 enr · 10.6:1 · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Reading Memorial High (1,094 students)
Birch Meadow held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 34.7 → 32.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Massachusetts schools → · Find another →
Birch Meadow in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Reading Memori
Reading Memorial High
1,094 students
- Walter S Parke
Walter S Parker Middle
467 students
- J Warren Killa 406
J Warren Killam
406 students
- Arthur W Cooli 405
Arthur W Coolidge Middle
405 students
- Joshua Eaton 388
Joshua Eaton
388 students
- This school 359
Birch Meadow
359 students
What this shows Birch Meadow reports 359 students on the CCD universe file.
How Birch Meadow compares
Birch Meadow held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Massachusetts and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Massachusetts | Massachusetts avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 12.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 359 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.6:1
Leaner classes than 85% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
359
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
10.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 29% in Massachusetts - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
9.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$19,869
per pupil, district-wide
- below Massachusetts avg of $23,695
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
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.
Student demographics
White 82.2%
Asian 5.3%
Two or More 5.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%
African American 2.8%
Largest group: White at 82.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 31.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 31.6, Birch Meadow is less mixed than the Massachusetts school average of 47.3.
Programs
District finance for Reading reports $19,869 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Birch Meadow Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Memorial High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walter S Parker Middle | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| J Warren Killam | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Arthur W Coolidge Middle | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Joshua Eaton | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Birch Meadow's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 467
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 406
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 405
- Students per teacher
- 10.1:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 388
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Reading
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
J Warren Killam
Standard public school
406 students 15:1 students per teacher
Joshua Eaton
Standard public school
388 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Alice M Barrows
Standard public school
365 students 14:1 students per teacher
Wood End Elementary School
Standard public school
236 students 11.2:1 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 (~359 students)
Frequently asked questions about Birch Meadow
How many students attend Birch Meadow?
Birch Meadow has 359 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Reading, MA. CCD year-over-year: 358 (2022-23) → 371 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Birch Meadow?
The student-teacher ratio at Birch Meadow is 10.6:1, which is 14% lower than the Massachusetts average of 12.3:1 and 32% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Birch Meadow?
The largest demographic group at Birch Meadow is White at 82.2% of enrollment, in Reading, MA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Birch Meadow?
Birch Meadow has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher 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 Birch Meadow rank among elementary schools in Reading?
By Resource Investment Index, Birch Meadow ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Reading, MA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Reading on the city page.
What other schools are in Reading?
Besides Birch Meadow, Reading also operates Reading Memorial High (1,094 students), Walter S Parker Middle (467 students), and J Warren Killam (406 students). See the Reading district page for the complete list.