- Enrollment
- 644
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Merrick, NY
Birch School
Federal NCES profile for Birch School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 361911001727
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 80
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Birch School earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New York median.
- #2 of 3
- schools in Merrick · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.3:1
- students per teacher
- 7.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Birch School has class sizes near the New York median. Computed live against every New York school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Birch School ranks #2 of 3 schools in Merrick, NY.
School address
District: Merrick Union Free School District · New York
NCES ID 361911001727 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Birch School held near 594 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 52.4 → 55.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 361911001727 · Merrick, NY Other · MID · TRAD
588 enr · 11.3:1 · 7.7% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Norman J Levy Lakeside School (644 students)
Birch School held near 594 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE added 52.4 → 55.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New York schools → · Find another →
Birch School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Norman J Levy
Norman J Levy Lakeside School
644 students
- This school
Birch School
588 students
- Chatterton Sch
Chatterton School
451 students
What this shows Birch School reports 588 students on the CCD universe file.
How Birch School compares
Birch 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 | 11.3:1 | ▼ 4% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 7.7% | ▼ 86% | 56.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 588 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
588
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
7.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 86% below the New York average of 56.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 49% in New York - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
8.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$31,350
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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
Counselors0.3 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.9%
Asian 6.8%
African American 2.4%
Two or More 2.4%
Largest group: White at 78.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.7, Birch School is less mixed than the New York school average of 45.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Merrick Union Free School District reports $31,350 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Birch School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norman J Levy Lakeside School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chatterton School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Birch School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 451
- Students per teacher
- 10.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
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 (~588 students)
Frequently asked questions about Birch School
How many students attend Birch School?
Birch School has 588 students enrolled. It is a public school in Merrick, NY. CCD year-over-year: 582 (2022-23) → 594 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Birch School?
The student-teacher ratio at Birch School is 11.3:1, which is 4% lower than the New York average of 11.8:1 and 28% 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 Birch School?
7.7% of students at Birch School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New York average of 56.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Birch School?
The largest demographic group at Birch School is White at 78.6% of enrollment, in Merrick, NY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Birch School?
Birch School has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher 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 Birch School rank among schools in Merrick?
By Resource Investment Index, Birch School ranks #2 of 3 schools in Merrick, NY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Merrick on the city page.
What other schools are in Merrick Union Free School District?
Besides Birch School, Merrick Union Free School District also operates Norman J Levy Lakeside School (644 students) and Chatterton School (451 students). See the Merrick Union Free School District district page for the complete list.