Enrollment
672
New Jersey · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Elizabeth, NJ
Christopher Columbus School No. 15
Federal NCES profile for Christopher Columbus School No. 15, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 340459005510
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Christopher Columbus School No. 15 earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of New Jersey schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most New Jersey schools.
- #7 of 10
- elementary schools in Elizabeth · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 71.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Christopher Columbus School No. 15 has class sizes larger than 85% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Christopher Columbus School No. 15 ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Elizabeth, NJ.
School address
District: Elizabeth Public Schools · New Jersey
NCES ID 340459005510 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
48.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14:1
vs 11.8:1 New Jersey avg
+19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
71.5%
vs 29.6% New Jersey avg
+142% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Christopher Columbus School No. 15 compares with New Jersey and U.S. medians
What stands out at Christopher Columbus School No. 15
Christopher Columbus School No. 15 is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Elizabeth, New Jersey, enrolling 672 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14:1 puts it in the larger third of New Jersey schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 71.5% of students qualify for free meals, 142% above the New Jersey average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 672 puts it in the larger third of New Jersey schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 2,501 New Jersey schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Against 208 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #131.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (92% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 16/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 672 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
16.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Elizabeth's elementary schools, it stands alongside Jerome Dunn Academy No 9 (856 students): Christopher Columbus School No. 15 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14:1 vs 15.9:1).
Elizabeth Public Schools also operates John E. Dwyer Technology Academy (1,348 students) and Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy (1,272 students) alongside Christopher Columbus School No. 15.
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 School No. 15 compares
Christopher Columbus School No. 15 on the metrics families compare, against New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | ▲ 19% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.5% | ▲ 142% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 672 | top 22% | - | - |
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.
672
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
71.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 142% above the New Jersey average of 29.6%
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
14:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 85% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$24,380
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $24,984
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 672 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 45 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.7 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
Hispanic or Latino 91.5%
African American 5.2%
White 2.8%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 91.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.9, Christopher Columbus School No. 15 is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Elizabeth Public Schools, which includes Christopher Columbus School No. 15.
$24,380
Per student
-2%
vs New Jersey
Avg $24,984
+47%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 10.8%
State 80.6%
Federal 8.7%
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 School No. 15 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John E. Dwyer Technology Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| William F. Halloran School No.22 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Christopher Columbus School No. 15's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,348
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,268
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,140
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar elementary schools in Elizabeth
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Jersey, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~672 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Christopher Columbus School No. 15's federal record.
- Compare Christopher Columbus School No. 15 against another school. Compare schools
- Elizabeth 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 Christopher Columbus School No. 15
How many students attend Christopher Columbus School No. 15?
Christopher Columbus School No. 15 has 672 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Elizabeth, NJ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Christopher Columbus School No. 15?
The student-teacher ratio at Christopher Columbus School No. 15 is 14:1, which is 19% higher than the New Jersey 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 School No. 15?
71.5% of students at Christopher Columbus School No. 15 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Christopher Columbus School No. 15?
The largest demographic group at Christopher Columbus School No. 15 is Hispanic or Latino at 91.5% of enrollment, in Elizabeth, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Christopher Columbus School No. 15?
Christopher Columbus School No. 15 has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Christopher Columbus School No. 15 rank among elementary schools in Elizabeth?
By Resource Investment Index, Christopher Columbus School No. 15 ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Elizabeth, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Elizabeth on the city page.
Is Christopher Columbus School No. 15 a good school?
Christopher Columbus School No. 15 earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of New Jersey schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most New Jersey 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 Elizabeth Public Schools?
Besides Christopher Columbus School No. 15, Elizabeth Public Schools also operates John E. Dwyer Technology Academy (1,348 students), Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy (1,272 students), and Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy (1,268 students). See the Elizabeth 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.