Enrollment
366
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Indianapolis, IN
Brookside School 54
Federal NCES profile for Brookside School 54, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180477000805
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Brookside School 54 earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #77 of 90
- schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.5:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 78.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Brookside School 54 has class sizes larger than 94% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Brookside School 54 ranks #77 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Indianapolis Public Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180477000805 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
17.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.5:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+35% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
78.5%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+59% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Brookside School 54 compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Brookside School 54
Brookside School 54 is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 366 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.5:1 is larger than about 94% of Indiana schools and 35% above the 15.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 78.5% of students qualify for free meals, 59% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 366 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 1,862 Indiana schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 255 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #230, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (44%) and Hispanic or Latino (39%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Indianapolis Public Schools spends $19,511 per pupil, 62% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Indianapolis's public schools, it stands alongside Indiana Connections Academy (5,376 students): Brookside School 54 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (21.5:1 vs 36.6:1).
Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students) and Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students) alongside Brookside School 54.
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 Brookside School 54 compares
Brookside School 54 on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.5:1 | ▲ 35% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.5% | ▲ 59% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 366 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.5:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
366
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
78.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.5:1
students per teacher
- 35% above state mean
Top 94% in Indiana - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
30.3%
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
$19,511
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
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
5
in-school suspensions + 41 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.6 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
African American 44.3%
Hispanic or Latino 39.1%
White 10.1%
Two or More 6.3%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 44.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.7, Brookside School 54 is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Indianapolis Public Schools, which includes Brookside School 54.
$19,511
Per student
+62%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
+18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.1%
State 53.5%
Federal 12.3%
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 Brookside School 54 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal Technical High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Crispus Attucks High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shortridge High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northwest Community Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Brookside School 54's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,360
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,206
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 623
- Students per teacher
- 26:1
- Resource Index
- 8/100
Similar other schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Indiana Connections Academy
Standard public school
5,376 students 36.6:1 students per teacher
Hoosier College and Career Academy
Standard public school
1,484 students 57.1:1 students per teacher
Early Learning Center
Standard public school
1,313 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Victory College Prep Academy
Standard public school
1,058 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Forest Glen Elementary School
Standard public school
971 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Indiana Connections Career Academy
Standard public school
942 students 49.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~366 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Brookside School 54's federal record.
- Compare Brookside School 54 against another school. Compare schools
- Indianapolis Public Schools'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 Brookside School 54
How many students attend Brookside School 54?
Brookside School 54 has 366 students enrolled. It is a public school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Brookside School 54?
The student-teacher ratio at Brookside School 54 is 21.5:1, which is 35% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 37% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Brookside School 54?
78.5% of students at Brookside School 54 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Brookside School 54?
The largest demographic group at Brookside School 54 is African American at 44.3% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Brookside School 54?
Brookside School 54 has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower 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 Brookside School 54 rank among schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Brookside School 54 ranks #77 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is Brookside School 54 a good school?
Brookside School 54 earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana 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 Indianapolis Public Schools?
Besides Brookside School 54, Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students), Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students), and Shortridge High School (1,206 students). See the Indianapolis Public Schools 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.