Enrollment
854
New Jersey · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Newark, NJ
East Ward Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for East Ward Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 341134003455
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 73
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
East Ward Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of New Jersey schools.
- #3 of 9
- schools in Newark · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 72.5%
- free-lunch eligible
East Ward Elementary School has class sizes larger than 98% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, East Ward Elementary School ranks #3 of 9 schools in Newark, NJ.
School address
District: Newark Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341134003455 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
45.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19:1
vs 11.8:1 New Jersey avg
+61% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.5%
vs 29.6% New Jersey avg
+145% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How East Ward Elementary School compares with New Jersey and U.S. medians
What stands out at East Ward Elementary School
East Ward Elementary School is a higher-need, large combined-grade school in Newark, New Jersey, enrolling 854 students.
Class loads run heavy: 19:1 is larger than about 98% of New Jersey schools and 61% above the 11.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 72.5% of students qualify for free meals, 145% above the New Jersey average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 854 puts it in the larger third of New Jersey schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,501 scored New Jersey schools.
Against 165 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #52.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (62%) and White (32%) (diversity index 51/100).
10.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Newark's public schools, it stands alongside Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (2,169 students): East Ward Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19:1 vs 21.5:1).
Newark Public School District also operates East Side High School (2,046 students) and Barringer High School (1,894 students) alongside East Ward 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 East Ward Elementary School compares
East Ward Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19:1 | ▲ 61% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.5% | ▲ 145% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 854 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
854
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
72.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 145% above the New Jersey average of 29.6%
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
19:1
students per teacher
- 61% above state mean
Top 98% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
10.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$25,301
per pupil, district-wide
- above New Jersey avg of $24,984
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
- 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
Hispanic or Latino 61.7%
White 32.2%
African American 4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Two or More 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Asian 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 61.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.3, East Ward Elementary School is about as mixed as the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Newark Public School District, which includes East Ward Elementary School.
$25,301
Per student
+1%
vs New Jersey
Avg $24,984
+52%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 10.8%
State 79.3%
Federal 9.9%
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 East Ward Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Side High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Barringer High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ann Street School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lafayette Street School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| First Avenue School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to East Ward Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,046
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,894
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,294
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,213
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,084
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Newark
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
Standard public school
2,169 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School
Standard public school
818 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Park Elementary School
Standard public school
747 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Philip's Academy Charter School
Standard public school
730 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Salome Urena Elementary School
Standard public school
516 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Michelle Obama Elementary School
Standard public school
198 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Jersey, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~854 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on East Ward Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare East Ward Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Newark Public School District'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 East Ward Elementary School
How many students attend East Ward Elementary School?
East Ward Elementary School has 854 students enrolled. It is a public school in Newark, NJ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at East Ward Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at East Ward Elementary School is 19:1, which is 61% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 21% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at East Ward Elementary School?
72.5% of students at East Ward Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of East Ward Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at East Ward Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 61.7% of enrollment, in Newark, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for East Ward Elementary School?
East Ward Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 East Ward Elementary School rank among schools in Newark?
By Resource Investment Index, East Ward Elementary School ranks #3 of 9 schools in Newark, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Newark on the city page.
Is East Ward Elementary School a good school?
East Ward Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of New Jersey 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 Newark Public School District?
Besides East Ward Elementary School, Newark Public School District also operates East Side High School (2,046 students), Barringer High School (1,894 students), and Ann Street School (1,294 students). See the Newark Public School District 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.