- Enrollment
- 1,188
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Carteret, NJ
Columbus Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Columbus Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 340282003272
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Columbus Elementary School earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Jersey median.
- #3 of 3
- schools in Carteret · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.9:1
- students per teacher
- 63.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Columbus Elementary School has class sizes near the New Jersey median. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Columbus Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 schools in Carteret, NJ.
School address
District: Carteret Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 340282003272 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+47 students YoY
Columbus Elementary School grew from 578 students in 2022-23 to 625 in 2023-24 (+8.1%).
Teacher FTE added 54.4 → 54.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+47 students YoY 340282003272 · Carteret, NJ Other · MID · TRAD
642 enr · 11.9:1 · 63.0% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Carteret High School (1,188 students)
Columbus Elementary School grew from 578 students in 2022-23 to 625 in 2023-24 (+8.1%). Teacher FTE added 54.4 → 54.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
Columbus Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Carteret High
Carteret High School
1,188 students
- This school
Columbus Elementary School
642 students
- Carteret Junio
Carteret Junior High School
568 students
- Carteret Middl
Carteret Middle School
540 students
- Private Nichol
Private Nicholas Minue Elementary School
529 students
- Nathan Hale El 436
Nathan Hale Elementary School
436 students
What this shows Columbus Elementary School reports 642 students on the CCD universe file.
How Columbus Elementary School compares
Columbus Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▲ 1% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.0% | ▲ 113% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 642 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
642
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
63.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 113% 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
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 60% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
23.4%
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
$22,307
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $26,225
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 49.5%
African American 23.7%
Asian 16.0%
White 6.9%
Two or More 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 49.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.7, Columbus Elementary School is more mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Carteret Public School District reports $22,307 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Columbus Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carteret High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carteret Junior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Carteret Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Private Nicholas Minue Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Nathan Hale Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Columbus Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 568
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 540
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 529
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
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 (~642 students)
Frequently asked questions about Columbus Elementary School
How many students attend Columbus Elementary School?
Columbus Elementary School has 642 students enrolled. It is a public school in Carteret, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 578 (2022-23) → 625 (2023-24), up 47.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbus Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbus Elementary School is 11.9:1, which is 1% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 24% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Columbus Elementary School?
63.0% of students at Columbus Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbus Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Columbus Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 49.5% of enrollment, in Carteret, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbus Elementary School?
Columbus Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Columbus Elementary School rank among schools in Carteret?
By Resource Investment Index, Columbus Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 schools in Carteret, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Carteret on the city page.
What other schools are in Carteret Public School District?
Besides Columbus Elementary School, Carteret Public School District also operates Carteret High School (1,188 students), Carteret Junior High School (568 students), and Carteret Middle School (540 students). See the Carteret Public School District district page for the complete list.