- Enrollment
- 626
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Downers Grove, IL
El Sierra Elem School
Federal NCES profile for El Sierra Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 64/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 171254001506
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
El Sierra Elem School earns 64/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median.
- #3 of 11
- schools in Downers Grove · Resource Index
- 64
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.5:1
- students per teacher
- 300
- students enrolled
El Sierra Elem School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, El Sierra Elem School ranks #3 of 11 schools in Downers Grove, IL.
School address
District: Downers Grove Gsd 58 · Illinois
NCES ID 171254001506 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-7 students YoY
El Sierra Elem School held near 280 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 24.2 → 23.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-7 students YoY 171254001506 · Downers Grove, IL Other · SMALL · TRAD
300 enr · 12.5:1 · RII 64
Nearest enrollment peer: Herrick Middle School (626 students)
El Sierra Elem School held near 280 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-7 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 24.2 → 23.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
El Sierra Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Herrick Middle
Herrick Middle School
626 students
- Lester Elem Sc
Lester Elem School
531 students
- O Neill Middle
O Neill Middle School
403 students
- Hillcrest Elem
Hillcrest Elem School
382 students
- Kingsley Elem
Kingsley Elem School
359 students
- This school
El Sierra Elem School
300 students
What this shows El Sierra Elem School reports 300 students on the CCD universe file.
How El Sierra Elem School compares
El Sierra Elem School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.5:1 | ▼ 11% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 300 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
300
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 35% in Illinois - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
11.3%
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
$20,037
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.3%
Hispanic or Latino 21.3%
African American 6.7%
Asian 6.0%
Two or More 4.7%
Largest group: White at 61.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.9, El Sierra Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Downers Grove Gsd 58 reports $20,037 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How El Sierra Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herrick Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lester Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| O Neill Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hillcrest Elem School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kingsley Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to El Sierra Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 531
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
- Enrollment
- 403
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 382
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 70/100
Similar other schools in Downers Grove
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Lester Elem School
Standard public school
531 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Hillcrest Elem School
Standard public school
382 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Kingsley Elem School
Standard public school
359 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Highland Elem School
Standard public school
352 students 16:1 students per teacher
Fairmount Elem School
Standard public school
342 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Pierce Downer Elem School
Standard public school
337 students 16:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~300 students)
Frequently asked questions about El Sierra Elem School
How many students attend El Sierra Elem School?
El Sierra Elem School has 300 students enrolled. It is a public school in Downers Grove, IL. CCD year-over-year: 287 (2022-23) → 280 (2023-24), nearly flat (-7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at El Sierra Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at El Sierra Elem School is 12.5:1, which is 11% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 20% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of El Sierra Elem School?
The largest demographic group at El Sierra Elem School is White at 61.3% of enrollment, in Downers Grove, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for El Sierra Elem School?
El Sierra Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 64/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does El Sierra Elem School rank among schools in Downers Grove?
By Resource Investment Index, El Sierra Elem School ranks #3 of 11 schools in Downers Grove, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Downers Grove on the city page.
What other schools are in Downers Grove Gsd 58?
Besides El Sierra Elem School, Downers Grove Gsd 58 also operates Herrick Middle School (626 students), Lester Elem School (531 students), and O Neill Middle School (403 students). See the Downers Grove Gsd 58 district page for the complete list.