- Enrollment
- 2,077
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Plainfield, NJ
Emerson Community School
Federal NCES profile for Emerson Community School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 341314005618
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Emerson Community School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Jersey median.
- #2 of 6
- elementary schools in Plainfield · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.8:1
- students per teacher
- 66.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Emerson Community School has class sizes near the New Jersey median. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Emerson Community School ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Plainfield, NJ.
School address
District: Plainfield Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341314005618 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-85 students YoY
Emerson Community School shrank from 509 students in 2022-23 to 424 in 2023-24 (-16.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 35.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-85 students YoY 341314005618 · Plainfield, NJ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
414 enr · 11.8:1 · 66.8% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Plainfield High School (2,077 students)
Emerson Community School shrank from 509 students in 2022-23 to 424 in 2023-24 (-16.7%). Teacher FTE lost 35.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
Emerson Community School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Plainfield Hig
Plainfield High School
2,077 students
- Hubbard Middle 737
Hubbard Middle School
737 students
- Maxson Middle 721
Maxson Middle School
721 students
- Cedarbrook Ele 671
Cedarbrook Elementary School
671 students
- Washington Com 557
Washington Community School
557 students
- This school 414
Emerson Community School
414 students
What this shows Emerson Community School reports 414 students on the CCD universe file.
How Emerson Community School compares
Emerson Community School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.8:1 | ▼ 0% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.8% | ▲ 126% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 414 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
414
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
66.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 126% 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
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 58% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
30.2%
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
$21,278
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $26,225
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 + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 71.5%
African American 25.4%
White 1.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Two or More 0.7%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 71.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.4, Emerson Community School is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
District finance for Plainfield Public School District reports $21,278 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Emerson Community School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hubbard Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Maxson Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cedarbrook Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washington Community School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Emerson Community School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 737
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 721
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 671
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 557
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar elementary schools in Plainfield
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~414 students)
Frequently asked questions about Emerson Community School
How many students attend Emerson Community School?
Emerson Community School has 414 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Plainfield, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 509 (2022-23) → 424 (2023-24), down 85.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Emerson Community School?
The student-teacher ratio at Emerson Community School is 11.8:1, which is 0% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 25% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Emerson Community School?
66.8% of students at Emerson Community School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Emerson Community School?
The largest demographic group at Emerson Community School is Hispanic or Latino at 71.5% of enrollment, in Plainfield, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Emerson Community School?
Emerson Community School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical 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 Emerson Community School rank among elementary schools in Plainfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Emerson Community School ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Plainfield, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Plainfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Plainfield Public School District?
Besides Emerson Community School, Plainfield Public School District also operates Plainfield High School (2,077 students), Hubbard Middle School (737 students), and Maxson Middle School (721 students). See the Plainfield Public School District district page for the complete list.