Enrollment
618
New York · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Utica, NY
Christopher Columbus Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Christopher Columbus Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 362937000231
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Christopher Columbus Elementary School earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of New York schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New York schools.
- #6 of 11
- elementary schools in Utica · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14:1
- large classes for New York
- 78.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Christopher Columbus Elementary School has class sizes larger than 80% of New York schools. Computed live against every New York school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Christopher Columbus Elementary School ranks #6 of 11 elementary schools in Utica, NY.
School address
District: Utica City School District · New York
NCES ID 362937000231 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
44.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14:1
vs 11.8:1 New York avg
+19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
78.1%
vs 56.2% New York avg
+39% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Christopher Columbus Elementary School compares with New York and U.S. medians
What stands out at Christopher Columbus Elementary School
Christopher Columbus Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Utica, New York, enrolling 618 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14:1 puts it in the larger third of New York schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 78.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 618 puts it in the larger third of New York schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 4,801 scored New York schools.
Against 848 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #508.
Its student body is led by Asian (31%) and Hispanic or Latino (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 76/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Utica City School District spends $18,903 per pupil, 28% below the New York average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Utica City School District also operates Thomas R Proctor High School (2,820 students) and Senator James H Donovan Middle School (749 students) alongside Christopher Columbus Elementary School.
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 Christopher Columbus Elementary School compares
Christopher Columbus Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against New York and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New York | New York avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | ▲ 19% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.1% | ▲ 39% | 56.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 618 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
618
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
78.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% above the New York average of 56.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 80% in New York - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
49.4%
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
$18,903
per pupil, district-wide
- below New York avg of $26,410
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.2 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 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
Asian 30.6%
Hispanic or Latino 27.2%
African American 19.0%
White 17.0%
Two or More 6.2%
Largest group: Asian at 30.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 76.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 76.4, Christopher Columbus Elementary School is more mixed than the New York school average of 45.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Utica City School District, which includes Christopher Columbus Elementary School.
$18,903
Per student
-28%
vs New York
Avg $26,410
+14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 14.1%
State 75.3%
Federal 10.6%
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 Christopher Columbus Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas R Proctor High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Senator James H Donovan Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| John F Kennedy Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| General Herkimer Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Watson Williams Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Christopher Columbus Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,820
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 749
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 687
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 590
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New York, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~618 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Christopher Columbus Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Christopher Columbus Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Utica City School District'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 Christopher Columbus Elementary School
How many students attend Christopher Columbus Elementary School?
Christopher Columbus Elementary School has 618 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Utica, NY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Christopher Columbus Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Christopher Columbus Elementary School is 14:1, which is 19% higher than the New York average of 11.8:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Christopher Columbus Elementary School?
78.1% of students at Christopher Columbus Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New York average of 56.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Christopher Columbus Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Christopher Columbus Elementary School is Asian at 30.6% of enrollment, in Utica, NY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 76.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Christopher Columbus Elementary School?
Christopher Columbus Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (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 Christopher Columbus Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Utica?
By Resource Investment Index, Christopher Columbus Elementary School ranks #6 of 11 elementary schools in Utica, NY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Utica on the city page.
Is Christopher Columbus Elementary School a good school?
Christopher Columbus Elementary School earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of New York schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New York 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 Utica City School District?
Besides Christopher Columbus Elementary School, Utica City School District also operates Thomas R Proctor High School (2,820 students), Senator James H Donovan Middle School (749 students), and John F Kennedy Middle School (687 students). See the Utica City School District 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.