- Enrollment
- 1,343
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Harrisburg, PA
Cougar Academy
Federal NCES profile for Cougar Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 421158007583
👥 S:T ratio 62
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cougar Academy earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of Pennsylvania schools.
- #2 of 5
- schools in Harrisburg · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.4:1
- small classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Cougar Academy has class sizes smaller than 94% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cougar Academy ranks #2 of 5 schools in Harrisburg, PA.
School address
District: Harrisburg City Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421158007583 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-67 students YoY
Cougar Academy shrank from 389 students in 2022-23 to 322 in 2023-24 (-17.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 32.1 → 21.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-67 students YoY 421158007583 · Harrisburg, PA Other · SMALL · TRAD
300 enr · 9.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Harrisburg Hs (1,343 students)
Cougar Academy shrank from 389 students in 2022-23 to 322 in 2023-24 (-17.2%). Teacher FTE lost 32.1 → 21.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Cougar Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Harrisburg Hs
Harrisburg Hs
1,343 students
- Camp Curtin Ac
Camp Curtin Academy
724 students
- Benjamin Frank
Benjamin Franklin Sch
678 students
- Melrose Sch 536
Melrose Sch
536 students
- Foose Sch 522
Foose Sch
522 students
- This school 300
Cougar Academy
300 students
What this shows Cougar Academy reports 300 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cougar Academy compares
Cougar Academy is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 9.4:1 | ▼ 31% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 300 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.4:1
Leaner classes than 91% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
300
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
9.4:1
students per teacher
- 31% below state mean
Top 6% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
42.7%
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
$18,828
per pupil, district-wide
- above Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 150 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 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
Hispanic or Latino 52.7%
African American 42.3%
Two or More 4.7%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 52.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.1, Cougar Academy is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
District finance for Harrisburg City Sd reports $18,828 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cougar Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Camp Curtin Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benjamin Franklin Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Melrose Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Foose Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cougar Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 724
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 678
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 536
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 522
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Similar other schools in Harrisburg
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Commonwealth Charter Academy Cs
Standard public school
29,320 students 25.1:1 students per teacher
Reach Cyber Cs
Standard public school
5,721 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Benjamin Franklin Sch
Standard public school
678 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Foose Sch
Standard public school
522 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~300 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cougar Academy
How many students attend Cougar Academy?
Cougar Academy has 300 students enrolled. It is a public school in Harrisburg, PA. CCD year-over-year: 389 (2022-23) → 322 (2023-24), down 67.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cougar Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Cougar Academy is 9.4:1, which is 31% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 40% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cougar Academy?
100.0% of students at Cougar Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cougar Academy?
The largest demographic group at Cougar Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 52.7% of enrollment, in Harrisburg, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cougar Academy?
Cougar Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Cougar Academy rank among schools in Harrisburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Cougar Academy ranks #2 of 5 schools in Harrisburg, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Harrisburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Harrisburg City Sd?
Besides Cougar Academy, Harrisburg City Sd also operates Harrisburg Hs (1,343 students), Camp Curtin Academy (724 students), and Benjamin Franklin Sch (678 students). See the Harrisburg City Sd district page for the complete list.