Enrollment
986
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Reading, PA
C E Cole Intermediate Sch
Federal NCES profile for C E Cole Intermediate Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 421620006905
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
C E Cole Intermediate Sch earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #3 of 12
- elementary schools in Reading · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.6:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
C E Cole Intermediate Sch has class sizes larger than 93% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, C E Cole Intermediate Sch ranks #3 of 12 elementary schools in Reading, PA.
School address
District: Muhlenberg Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421620006905 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
56.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.6:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+29% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How C E Cole Intermediate Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at C E Cole Intermediate Sch
C E Cole Intermediate Sch is a high-poverty, large elementary school in Reading, Pennsylvania, enrolling 986 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.6:1 is larger than about 93% of Pennsylvania schools and 29% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Pennsylvania, bigger than 90% of state schools at 986 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Among 234 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Pennsylvania schools statewide, it ranks #16, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (59%) and White (22%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 329 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
13.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Muhlenberg Sd spends $13,599 per pupil, 24% below the Pennsylvania average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 207 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 986 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 8 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Reading's elementary schools, it stands alongside Central Ms (1,785 students): C E Cole Intermediate Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.6:1 vs 15:1).
Muhlenberg Sd also operates Muhlenberg El Ctr (1,241 students) and Muhlenberg Hs (1,166 students) alongside C E Cole Intermediate Sch.
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 C E Cole Intermediate Sch compares
C E Cole Intermediate Sch on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 29% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 986 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
986
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 93% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.3%
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
$13,599
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 329 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 207 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
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
Hispanic or Latino 58.6%
White 21.7%
Two or More 10.2%
African American 7.9%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 58.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.3, C E Cole Intermediate Sch is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Muhlenberg Sd, which includes C E Cole Intermediate Sch.
$13,599
Per student
-24%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 60.5%
State 27.6%
Federal 11.8%
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 C E Cole Intermediate Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muhlenberg El Ctr | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Muhlenberg Hs | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Muhlenberg Jr Ms | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to C E Cole Intermediate Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,241
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,166
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,016
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar elementary schools in Reading
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Central Ms
Standard public school
1,785 students 15:1 students per teacher
Muhlenberg El Ctr
Standard public school
1,241 students 18:1 students per teacher
Northeast Ms
Standard public school
868 students 14:1 students per teacher
Northwest Ms
Standard public school
821 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Southern Ms
Standard public school
661 students 12:1 students per teacher
Southwest Ms
Standard public school
574 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~986 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on C E Cole Intermediate Sch's federal record.
- Compare C E Cole Intermediate Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Muhlenberg Sd'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 C E Cole Intermediate Sch
How many students attend C E Cole Intermediate Sch?
C E Cole Intermediate Sch has 986 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Reading, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at C E Cole Intermediate Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at C E Cole Intermediate Sch is 17.6:1, which is 29% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at C E Cole Intermediate Sch?
100.0% of students at C E Cole Intermediate Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of C E Cole Intermediate Sch?
The largest demographic group at C E Cole Intermediate Sch is Hispanic or Latino at 58.6% of enrollment, in Reading, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for C E Cole Intermediate Sch?
C E Cole Intermediate Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does C E Cole Intermediate Sch rank among elementary schools in Reading?
By Resource Investment Index, C E Cole Intermediate Sch ranks #3 of 12 elementary schools in Reading, PA. 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.
Is C E Cole Intermediate Sch a good school?
C E Cole Intermediate Sch earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania 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 Muhlenberg Sd?
Besides C E Cole Intermediate Sch, Muhlenberg Sd also operates Muhlenberg El Ctr (1,241 students), Muhlenberg Hs (1,166 students), and Muhlenberg Jr Ms (1,016 students). See the Muhlenberg Sd 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.