- Enrollment
- 1,120
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · North Little Rock, AR
Cato Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cato Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 051185000906
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cato Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Arkansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #6 of 11
- schools in North Little Rock · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.1:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 96.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Cato Elementary School has class sizes larger than 72% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cato Elementary School ranks #6 of 11 schools in North Little Rock, AR.
School address
District: Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist. · Arkansas
NCES ID 051185000906 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+27 students YoY
Cato Elementary School grew from 296 students in 2022-23 to 323 in 2023-24 (+9.1%).
Teacher FTE held 19.3 → 19.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+27 students YoY 051185000906 · North Little Rock, AR Other · SMALL · TRAD
305 enr · 16.1:1 · 96.6% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Sylvan Hills High School (1,120 students)
Cato Elementary School grew from 296 students in 2022-23 to 323 in 2023-24 (+9.1%). Teacher FTE held 19.3 → 19.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Cato Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sylvan Hills H
Sylvan Hills High School
1,120 students
- Joe T. Robinso
Joe T. Robinson High School
1,030 students
- Maumelle High
Maumelle High School
869 students
- Sylvan Hills M
Sylvan Hills Middle School
772 students
- Sylvan Hills J
Sylvan Hills Junior High School
721 students
- This school 305
Cato Elementary School
305 students
What this shows Cato Elementary School reports 305 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cato Elementary School compares
Cato Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.1:1 | ▲ 18% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.6% | ▲ 63% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 305 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
305
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
96.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 72% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.2%
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
$13,934
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arkansas avg of $12,818
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.8 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 46.9%
African American 31.8%
Hispanic or Latino 12.5%
Two or More 7.9%
Asian 1.0%
Largest group: White at 46.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.7, Cato Elementary School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist. reports $13,934 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cato Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvan Hills High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Joe T. Robinson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Maumelle High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sylvan Hills Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sylvan Hills Junior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cato Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,030
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 869
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 772
- Students per teacher
- 10.2:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
- Enrollment
- 721
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
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 (~305 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cato Elementary School
How many students attend Cato Elementary School?
Cato Elementary School has 305 students enrolled. It is a public school in North Little Rock, AR. CCD year-over-year: 296 (2022-23) → 323 (2023-24), up 27.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cato Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cato Elementary School is 16.1:1, which is 18% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cato Elementary School?
96.6% of students at Cato Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cato Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cato Elementary School is White at 46.9% of enrollment, in North Little Rock, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cato Elementary School?
Cato Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 Cato Elementary School rank among schools in North Little Rock?
By Resource Investment Index, Cato Elementary School ranks #6 of 11 schools in North Little Rock, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in North Little Rock on the city page.
What other schools are in Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist.?
Besides Cato Elementary School, Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist. also operates Sylvan Hills High School (1,120 students), Joe T. Robinson High School (1,030 students), and Maumelle High School (869 students). See the Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist. district page for the complete list.