- Enrollment
- 2,370
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lexington, KY
Brenda Cowan Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Brenda Cowan Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210186002486
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Brenda Cowan Elementary earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #21 of 38
- schools in Lexington · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 41.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Brenda Cowan Elementary has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Brenda Cowan Elementary ranks #21 of 38 schools in Lexington, KY.
School address
District: Fayette County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210186002486 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+33 students YoY
Brenda Cowan Elementary grew from 537 students in 2022-23 to 570 in 2023-24 (+6.1%).
Teacher FTE added 41.9 → 44.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+33 students YoY 210186002486 · Lexington, KY Other · MID · TRAD
586 enr · 14.3:1 · 41.7% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Lafayette High School (2,370 students)
Brenda Cowan Elementary grew from 537 students in 2022-23 to 570 in 2023-24 (+6.1%). Teacher FTE added 41.9 → 44.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Brenda Cowan Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lafayette High
Lafayette High School
2,370 students
- Bryan Station
Bryan Station High School
2,030 students
- Henry Clay Hig
Henry Clay High School
1,939 students
- Paul Laurence
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
1,828 students
- Frederick Doug
Frederick Douglass High School
1,770 students
- This school 586
Brenda Cowan Elementary
586 students
What this shows Brenda Cowan Elementary reports 586 students on the CCD universe file.
How Brenda Cowan Elementary compares
Brenda Cowan Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.3:1 | ▼ 6% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.7% | ▼ 30% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 586 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
586
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 40% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$18,318
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $14,362
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 586 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 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 41.3%
African American 20.5%
Asian 16.4%
Hispanic or Latino 12.1%
Two or More 9.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 41.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.7, Brenda Cowan Elementary is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
District finance for Fayette County reports $18,318 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Brenda Cowan Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bryan Station High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Henry Clay High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paul Laurence Dunbar High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Frederick Douglass High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Brenda Cowan Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,030
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,939
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,828
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,770
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar other schools in Lexington
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sandersville Elementary
Standard public school
765 students 15:1 students per teacher
Coventry Oak Elementary
Standard public school
755 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Stonewall Elementary School
Standard public school
674 students 14:1 students per teacher
Cardinal Valley Elementary School
Standard public school
643 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Tates Creek Elementary School
Standard public school
626 students 12:1 students per teacher
Lansdowne Elementary School
Standard public school
610 students 12.2:1 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 (~586 students)
Frequently asked questions about Brenda Cowan Elementary
How many students attend Brenda Cowan Elementary?
Brenda Cowan Elementary has 586 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lexington, KY. CCD year-over-year: 537 (2022-23) → 570 (2023-24), up 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Brenda Cowan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Brenda Cowan Elementary is 14.3:1, which is 6% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 9% 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 Brenda Cowan Elementary?
41.7% of students at Brenda Cowan Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Brenda Cowan Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Brenda Cowan Elementary is White at 41.3% of enrollment, in Lexington, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Brenda Cowan Elementary?
Brenda Cowan Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 Brenda Cowan Elementary rank among schools in Lexington?
By Resource Investment Index, Brenda Cowan Elementary ranks #21 of 38 schools in Lexington, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lexington on the city page.
What other schools are in Fayette County?
Besides Brenda Cowan Elementary, Fayette County also operates Lafayette High School (2,370 students), Bryan Station High School (2,030 students), and Henry Clay High School (1,939 students). See the Fayette County district page for the complete list.