Enrollment
705
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbus, IN
Clifty Creek Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Clifty Creek Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180036002188
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Clifty Creek Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #7 of 10
- schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 67.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Clifty Creek Elementary School has class sizes larger than 77% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Clifty Creek Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 schools in Columbus, IN.
School address
District: Bartholomew Con School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180036002188 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.6:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
67.3%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Clifty Creek Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Clifty Creek Elementary School
Clifty Creek Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Columbus, Indiana, enrolling 705 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 67.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 705 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 293 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #145.
Its student body is led by White (47%) and Hispanic or Latino (42%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 60/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 705 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Columbus's public schools, it stands alongside Southside Elementary School (891 students): Clifty Creek Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.6:1 vs 18.6:1).
Bartholomew Con School Corp also operates Columbus North High School (2,360 students) and Columbus East High School (1,452 students) alongside Clifty Creek 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 Clifty Creek Elementary School compares
Clifty Creek Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.3% | ▲ 36% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 705 | top 18% | - | - |
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.
705
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
67.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 77% in Indiana - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,632
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,079
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 705 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 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
White 46.8%
Hispanic or Latino 41.6%
Two or More 5.2%
African American 5.0%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 46.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.3, Clifty Creek Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bartholomew Con School Corp, which includes Clifty Creek Elementary School.
$11,632
Per student
-4%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.5%
State 52.0%
Federal 12.5%
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 Clifty Creek Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus North High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbus East High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northside Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southside Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Clifty Creek Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,360
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,452
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 908
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 891
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar other schools in Columbus
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Southside Elementary School
Standard public school
891 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Parkside Elementary School
Standard public school
733 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Lillian Schmitt Elementary School
Standard public school
704 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
W D Richards Elementary School
Standard public school
610 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
L F Smith Elementary
Standard public school
420 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Mount Healthy Elementary School
Standard public school
365 students 14.6:1 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 (~705 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Clifty Creek Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Clifty Creek Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Bartholomew Con School Corp'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 Clifty Creek Elementary School
How many students attend Clifty Creek Elementary School?
Clifty Creek Elementary School has 705 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbus, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Clifty Creek Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Clifty Creek Elementary School is 17.6:1, which is 11% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Clifty Creek Elementary School?
67.3% of students at Clifty Creek Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Clifty Creek Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Clifty Creek Elementary School is White at 46.8% of enrollment, in Columbus, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Clifty Creek Elementary School?
Clifty Creek Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Clifty Creek Elementary School rank among schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Clifty Creek Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 schools in Columbus, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbus on the city page.
Is Clifty Creek Elementary School a good school?
Clifty Creek Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% 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 Bartholomew Con School Corp?
Besides Clifty Creek Elementary School, Bartholomew Con School Corp also operates Columbus North High School (2,360 students), Columbus East High School (1,452 students), and Northside Middle School (908 students). See the Bartholomew Con School Corp 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.