- Enrollment
- 3,687
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mishawaka, IN
Bittersweet Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Bittersweet Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180876002161
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bittersweet Elementary School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Indiana schools.
- #2 of 6
- schools in Mishawaka · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.5:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 24.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Bittersweet Elementary School has class sizes larger than 96% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bittersweet Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Mishawaka, IN.
School address
District: Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180876002161 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
Bittersweet Elementary School held near 515 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 22.5 → 23.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 180876002161 · Mishawaka, IN Other · SMALL · TRAD
494 enr · 22.5:1 · 24.0% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Penn High School (3,687 students)
Bittersweet Elementary School held near 515 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE added 22.5 → 23.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Bittersweet Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Penn High Scho
Penn High School
3,687 students
- Schmucker Midd 1,041
Schmucker Middle School
1,041 students
- Discovery Midd 941
Discovery Middle School
941 students
- Horizon Elemen 679
Horizon Elementary School
679 students
- Virgil I Griss 662
Virgil I Grissom Middle School
662 students
- This school 494
Bittersweet Elementary School
494 students
What this shows Bittersweet Elementary School reports 494 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bittersweet Elementary School compares
Bittersweet Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.5:1 | ▲ 42% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.0% | ▼ 52% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 494 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.5:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
494
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
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
22.5:1
students per teacher
- 42% above state mean
Top 96% in Indiana - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
14.0%
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
$11,141
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that 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 + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.4%
African American 7.7%
Hispanic or Latino 5.5%
Two or More 4.9%
Asian 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 80.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.2, Bittersweet Elementary School is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp reports $11,141 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bittersweet Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Schmucker Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Discovery Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Horizon Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Virgil I Grissom Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bittersweet Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,041
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 941
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 679
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 662
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar other schools in Mishawaka
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Lasalle Elementary School
Standard public school
519 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Beiger Elementary School
Standard public school
504 students 18:1 students per teacher
Elm Road Elementary School
Standard public school
503 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Elsie Rogers Elementary School
Standard public school
361 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Oaklawn Campus Program
Special-education school
58 students 29:1 students per teacher
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 (~494 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bittersweet Elementary School
How many students attend Bittersweet Elementary School?
Bittersweet Elementary School has 494 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mishawaka, IN. CCD year-over-year: 520 (2022-23) → 515 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bittersweet Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bittersweet Elementary School is 22.5:1, which is 42% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bittersweet Elementary School?
24.0% of students at Bittersweet Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bittersweet Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Bittersweet Elementary School is White at 80.4% of enrollment, in Mishawaka, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bittersweet Elementary School?
Bittersweet Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Bittersweet Elementary School rank among schools in Mishawaka?
By Resource Investment Index, Bittersweet Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Mishawaka, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mishawaka on the city page.
What other schools are in Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp?
Besides Bittersweet Elementary School, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp also operates Penn High School (3,687 students), Schmucker Middle School (1,041 students), and Discovery Middle School (941 students). See the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp district page for the complete list.