Enrollment
375
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · South Bend, IN
Darden Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Darden Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 181029001651
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Darden Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #2 of 6
- elementary schools in South Bend · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.9:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 76.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Darden Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 95% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Darden Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in South Bend, IN.
School address
District: South Bend Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 181029001651 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
9.9:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-38% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
76.1%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+54% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Darden Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Darden Elementary School
Darden Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in South Bend, Indiana, enrolling 375 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 9.9:1, Darden Elementary School is leaner than roughly 95% of Indiana schools and 38% under the state's 15.9:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 76.1% of students qualify for free meals, 54% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 375 students, its enrollment sits close to the Indiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 281 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #85.
Its student body is led by White (38%) and African American (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 77.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding South Bend Community School Corp spends $16,803 per pupil, 39% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among South Bend's elementary schools, it stands alongside Success Academy Primary School (610 students): Darden Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (9.9:1 vs 14.2:1).
South Bend Community School Corp also operates Adams High School (1,966 students) and Riley High School (1,238 students) alongside Darden 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 Darden Elementary School compares
Darden 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 | 9.9:1 | ▼ 38% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.1% | ▲ 54% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 375 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.9:1
Leaner classes than 89% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
375
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
76.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
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
9.9:1
students per teacher
- 38% below state mean
Top 5% in Indiana - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
77.1%
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
$16,803
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.0 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 37.9%
African American 31.7%
Two or More 15.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.5%
Asian 3.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 37.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.8, Darden 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 South Bend Community School Corp, which includes Darden Elementary School.
$16,803
Per student
+39%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
+1%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.2%
State 54.6%
Federal 16.3%
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 Darden Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riley High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Washington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clay High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Traditional School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Darden Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,966
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,238
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 795
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 628
- Students per teacher
- 9.5:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 591
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar elementary schools in South Bend
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Success Academy Primary School
Standard public school
610 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Monroe Elementary School
Standard public school
519 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Kennedy Academy
Standard public school
443 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Madison S.T.E.a.M. Academy
Standard public school
431 students 10.3:1 students per teacher
Mckinley Elementary School
Standard public school
315 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~375 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Darden Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Darden Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- South Bend Community 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 Darden Elementary School
How many students attend Darden Elementary School?
Darden Elementary School has 375 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in South Bend, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Darden Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Darden Elementary School is 9.9:1, which is 38% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 37% 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 Darden Elementary School?
76.1% of students at Darden Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Darden Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Darden Elementary School is White at 37.9% of enrollment, in South Bend, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Darden Elementary School?
Darden Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Darden Elementary School rank among elementary schools in South Bend?
By Resource Investment Index, Darden Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in South Bend, 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 South Bend on the city page.
Is Darden Elementary School a good school?
Darden Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% 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 South Bend Community School Corp?
Besides Darden Elementary School, South Bend Community School Corp also operates Adams High School (1,966 students), Riley High School (1,238 students), and Washington High School (795 students). See the South Bend Community 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.