Enrollment
405
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Harrisburg, PA
Downey Sch
Federal NCES profile for Downey Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 421158007488
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Downey Sch earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #20 of 22
- elementary schools in Harrisburg · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.5:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Downey Sch has class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Downey Sch ranks #20 of 22 elementary schools in Harrisburg, PA.
School address
District: Harrisburg City Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421158007488 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Downey Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Downey Sch
Downey Sch is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, enrolling 405 students.
At 13.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Pennsylvania median, within a few percentage points of the 13.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 405 students, its enrollment sits close to the Pennsylvania median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 97% of the 2,889 Pennsylvania schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 512 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Pennsylvania schools statewide, it ranks #473, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (50%) and Hispanic or Latino (40%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 405 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 55.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Harrisburg's elementary schools, it stands alongside Thomas W Holtzman Jr El Sch (792 students): Downey Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.5:1 vs 18.4:1).
Harrisburg City Sd also operates Harrisburg Hs (1,343 students) and Camp Curtin Academy (724 students) alongside Downey Sch.
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 Downey Sch compares
Downey Sch on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▼ 1% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 405 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
405
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 53% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
55.6%
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
$16,794
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 405 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 33 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.1 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
African American 49.9%
Hispanic or Latino 39.5%
Two or More 8.6%
White 1.5%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 49.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.7, Downey Sch is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Harrisburg City Sd, which includes Downey Sch.
$16,794
Per student
-7%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
+1%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.6%
State 50.1%
Federal 17.3%
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 Downey Sch 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Melrose Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Foose Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Downey Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,343
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- 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 elementary schools in Harrisburg
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Thomas W Holtzman Jr El Sch
Standard public school
792 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Sara Lindemuth El Sch
Standard public school
758 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
North Side El Sch
Standard public school
722 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Paxtonia El Sch
Standard public school
682 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
South Side El Sch
Standard public school
603 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
West Hanover El Sch
Standard public school
589 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~405 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Downey Sch's federal record.
- Compare Downey Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Harrisburg City Sd'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 Downey Sch
How many students attend Downey Sch?
Downey Sch has 405 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Harrisburg, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Downey Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Downey Sch is 13.5:1, which is 1% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 14% 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 Downey Sch?
100.0% of students at Downey Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Downey Sch?
The largest demographic group at Downey Sch is African American at 49.9% of enrollment, in Harrisburg, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Downey Sch?
Downey Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 Downey Sch rank among elementary schools in Harrisburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Downey Sch ranks #20 of 22 elementary 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 elementary schools in Harrisburg on the city page.
Is Downey Sch a good school?
Downey Sch earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania 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 Harrisburg City Sd?
Besides Downey Sch, 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.
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.