Enrollment
549
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Springfield, IL
Early Learning Center
Federal NCES profile for Early Learning Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 173708005743
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Early Learning Center earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Illinois schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #2 of 5
- schools in Springfield · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.3:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 549
- students enrolled
Early Learning Center has class sizes larger than 89% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Early Learning Center ranks #2 of 5 schools in Springfield, IL.
School address
District: Springfield Sd 186 · Illinois
NCES ID 173708005743 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.3:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Early Learning Center compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Early Learning Center
Early Learning Center is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Springfield, Illinois, enrolling 549 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.3:1 is larger than about 89% of Illinois schools and 24% above the 14:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Enrollment of 549 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by African American (46%) and White (29%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 67/100).
The surrounding Springfield Sd 186 spends $20,525 per pupil, 20% above the Illinois average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 18.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Springfield's public schools, it stands alongside Harvard Park Elem School (370 students): Early Learning Center is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.3:1 vs 11.5:1).
Springfield Sd 186 also operates Springfield High School (1,308 students) and Springfield Southeast High Sch (1,229 students) alongside Early Learning Center.
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 Early Learning Center compares
Early Learning Center on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▲ 24% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 549 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
549
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 89% in Illinois - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$20,525
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
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
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 549 Top 25% in Illinois - larger than 75% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 32.0
Students per teacher 17.3:1 +24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 173708005743
Student demographics
African American 45.9%
White 28.8%
Two or More 17.5%
Hispanic or Latino 4.6%
Asian 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 45.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.3, Early Learning Center is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 0
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Springfield Sd 186, which includes Early Learning Center.
$20,525
Per student
+20%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.0%
State 35.9%
Federal 18.1%
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 Early Learning Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Springfield Southeast High Sch | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lanphier High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Benjamin Franklin Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Early Learning Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,308
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 1,229
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,117
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 709
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 517
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Springfield
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Harvard Park Elem School
Standard public school
370 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
Ridgely Elem School
Standard public school
343 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Feitshans Elem Sch
Standard public school
288 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Edwin a Lee Elementary School
Standard public school
204 students 9.2:1 students per teacher
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Early Learning Center's federal record.
- Compare Early Learning Center against another school. Compare schools
- Springfield Sd 186'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 Early Learning Center
How many students attend Early Learning Center?
Early Learning Center has 549 students enrolled. It is a public school in Springfield, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Early Learning Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Early Learning Center is 17.3:1, which is 24% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Early Learning Center?
The largest demographic group at Early Learning Center is African American at 45.9% of enrollment, in Springfield, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Early Learning Center?
Early Learning Center has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Early Learning Center rank among schools in Springfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Early Learning Center ranks #2 of 5 schools in Springfield, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Springfield on the city page.
Is Early Learning Center a good school?
Early Learning Center earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Illinois schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois 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 Springfield Sd 186?
Besides Early Learning Center, Springfield Sd 186 also operates Springfield High School (1,308 students), Springfield Southeast High Sch (1,229 students), and Lanphier High School (1,117 students). See the Springfield Sd 186 district page for the complete list.