- Enrollment
- 1,337
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbus, NE
Emerson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Emerson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 310534000161
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Emerson Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Nebraska schools.
- #6 of 7
- schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.4:1
- large classes for Nebraska
- 42.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Emerson Elementary School has class sizes larger than 96% of Nebraska schools. Computed live against every Nebraska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Emerson Elementary School ranks #6 of 7 schools in Columbus, NE.
School address
District: Columbus Public Schools · Nebraska
NCES ID 310534000161 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Emerson Elementary School held near 275 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 14.5 → 13.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 310534000161 · Columbus, NE Other · SMALL · TRAD
286 enr · 20.4:1 · 42.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbus High School (1,337 students)
Emerson Elementary School held near 275 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 14.5 → 13.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Nebraska schools → · Find another →
Emerson Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbus High
Columbus High School
1,337 students
- Columbus Middl
Columbus Middle School
1,166 students
- Centennial Ele 353
Centennial Elementary School
353 students
- Lost Creek Ele 318
Lost Creek Elementary Sch
318 students
- North Park Ele 304
North Park Elementary
304 students
- This school 286
Emerson Elementary School
286 students
What this shows Emerson Elementary School reports 286 students on the CCD universe file.
How Emerson Elementary School compares
Emerson Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Nebraska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nebraska | Nebraska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.4:1 | ▲ 51% | 13.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.0% | ▲ 36% | 30.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 286 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.4:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
286
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% above the Nebraska average of 30.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.4:1
students per teacher
- 51% above state mean
Top 96% in Nebraska - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
15.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,835
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nebraska avg of $18,497
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 286 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 59.8%
White 38.1%
Asian 1.0%
African American 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Two or More 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 59.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.7, Emerson Elementary School is more mixed than the Nebraska school average of 34.9.
Programs
District finance for Columbus Public Schools reports $12,835 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Emerson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbus Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Centennial Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lost Creek Elementary Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Park Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Emerson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,166
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 353
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 318
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 304
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
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 (~286 students)
Frequently asked questions about Emerson Elementary School
How many students attend Emerson Elementary School?
Emerson Elementary School has 286 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbus, NE. CCD year-over-year: 281 (2022-23) → 275 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Emerson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Emerson Elementary School is 20.4:1, which is 51% higher than the Nebraska average of 13.5:1 and 30% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Emerson Elementary School?
42.0% of students at Emerson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nebraska average of 30.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Emerson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Emerson Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 59.8% of enrollment, in Columbus, NE.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Emerson Elementary School?
Emerson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Emerson Elementary School rank among schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Emerson Elementary School ranks #6 of 7 schools in Columbus, NE. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbus on the city page.
What other schools are in Columbus Public Schools?
Besides Emerson Elementary School, Columbus Public Schools also operates Columbus High School (1,337 students), Columbus Middle School (1,166 students), and Centennial Elementary School (353 students). See the Columbus Public Schools district page for the complete list.