- Enrollment
- 1,068
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Shelbyville, IN
Coulston Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Coulston Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 181014001627
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Coulston Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of Indiana schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Shelbyville · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 60.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Coulston Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 75% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Coulston Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Shelbyville, IN.
School address
District: Shelbyville Central Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 181014001627 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-35 students YoY
Coulston Elementary School shrank from 469 students in 2022-23 to 434 in 2023-24 (-7.5%).
Teacher FTE added 32.0 → 34.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-35 students YoY 181014001627 · Shelbyville, IN Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
428 enr · 13.4:1 · 60.8% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Shelbyville Sr High School (1,068 students)
Coulston Elementary School shrank from 469 students in 2022-23 to 434 in 2023-24 (-7.5%). Teacher FTE added 32.0 → 34.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Coulston Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Shelbyville Sr
Shelbyville Sr High School
1,068 students
- Shelbyville Mi
Shelbyville Middle School
886 students
- William F Lope
William F Loper Elementary School
619 students
- Thomas a Hendr
Thomas a Hendricks Elementary Sch
565 students
- This school
Coulston Elementary School
428 students
- Golden Bear Pr 295
Golden Bear Preschool
295 students
What this shows Coulston Elementary School reports 428 students on the CCD universe file.
How Coulston Elementary School compares
Coulston Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 16% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.8% | ▲ 23% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 428 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
428
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
60.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 25% in Indiana - lower ratio than 75% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
20.8%
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
$12,582
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
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 428 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 65.2%
Hispanic or Latino 23.6%
Two or More 5.8%
Asian 3.5%
African American 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 65.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.4, Coulston Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Shelbyville Central Schools reports $12,582 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Coulston Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville Sr High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shelbyville Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William F Loper Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thomas a Hendricks Elementary Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Golden Bear Preschool | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Coulston Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 886
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 619
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 565
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 295
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Similar elementary schools in Shelbyville
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~428 students)
Frequently asked questions about Coulston Elementary School
How many students attend Coulston Elementary School?
Coulston Elementary School has 428 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Shelbyville, IN. CCD year-over-year: 469 (2022-23) → 434 (2023-24), down 35.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Coulston Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Coulston Elementary School is 13.4:1, which is 16% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 15% 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 Coulston Elementary School?
60.8% of students at Coulston Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Coulston Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Coulston Elementary School is White at 65.2% of enrollment, in Shelbyville, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Coulston Elementary School?
Coulston Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Coulston Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Shelbyville?
By Resource Investment Index, Coulston Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Shelbyville, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Shelbyville on the city page.
What other schools are in Shelbyville Central Schools?
Besides Coulston Elementary School, Shelbyville Central Schools also operates Shelbyville Sr High School (1,068 students), Shelbyville Middle School (886 students), and William F Loper Elementary School (619 students). See the Shelbyville Central Schools district page for the complete list.