Enrollment
104
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Owensboro, KY
Emerson Academy
Federal NCES profile for Emerson Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 210459002011
👥 S:T ratio 40
📚 AP courses 10
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Emerson Academy earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #4 of 6
- high schools in Owensboro · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 80.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Emerson Academy has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Emerson Academy ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Owensboro, KY.
School address
District: Owensboro Independent · Kentucky
NCES ID 210459002011 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
7.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.9:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
80.0%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Emerson Academy compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Emerson Academy
Emerson Academy is a high-poverty, small high school in Owensboro, Kentucky, enrolling 104 students.
At 14.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Kentucky median, within a few percentage points of the 15.2:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 80.0% of students qualify for free meals, 35% above the Kentucky average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 104 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 44 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #33, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (53%) and Hispanic or Latino (18%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
No Advanced Placement courses are reported for this campus in the federal data.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 65.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 23.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 40 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 104 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Owensboro's high schools, it stands alongside Daviess County High School (1,750 students): Emerson Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.9:1 vs 19.4:1).
Owensboro Independent also operates Owensboro High School (1,342 students) and Owensboro Middle School (790 students) alongside Emerson Academy.
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 Emerson Academy compares
Emerson Academy on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▼ 2% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.0% | ▲ 35% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 104 | top 87% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
104
Bigger than 10% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
80.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
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
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 49% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
65.4%
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
$15,009
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $13,211
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
22
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 38.5 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 52.9%
Hispanic or Latino 18.3%
Two or More 17.3%
African American 11.5%
Largest group: White at 52.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.4, Emerson Academy is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Owensboro Independent, which includes Emerson Academy.
$15,009
Per student
+14%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.0%
State 51.9%
Federal 23.1%
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 Emerson Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Owensboro Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Newton Parrish Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sutton Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Estes Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Emerson Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,342
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 545
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 535
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 492
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar high schools in Owensboro
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Daviess County High School
Standard public school
1,750 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Owensboro High School
Standard public school
1,342 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Apollo High School
Standard public school
1,265 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Heritage Park High School
Alternative education program
140 students 9.3:1 students per teacher
Valley High School
Alternative education program
16 students 16:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~104 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Emerson Academy's federal record.
- Compare Emerson Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Owensboro Independent'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 Emerson Academy
How many students attend Emerson Academy?
Emerson Academy has 104 students enrolled. It is a high school in Owensboro, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Emerson Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Emerson Academy is 14.9:1, which is 2% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 5% 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 Emerson Academy?
80.0% of students at Emerson Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Emerson Academy?
The largest demographic group at Emerson Academy is White at 52.9% of enrollment, in Owensboro, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Emerson Academy?
Emerson Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Emerson Academy rank among high schools in Owensboro?
By Resource Investment Index, Emerson Academy ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Owensboro, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Owensboro on the city page.
Is Emerson Academy a good school?
Emerson Academy earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky 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 Owensboro Independent?
Besides Emerson Academy, Owensboro Independent also operates Owensboro High School (1,342 students), Owensboro Middle School (790 students), and Newton Parrish Elementary School (545 students). See the Owensboro Independent 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.