Enrollment
286
Nebraska · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
14.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.4:1
vs 13.5:1 Nebraska avg
+51% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
42.0%
vs 30.9% Nebraska avg
+36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Emerson Elementary School compares with Nebraska and U.S. medians
What stands out at Emerson Elementary School
Emerson Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Columbus, Nebraska, enrolling 286 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.4:1 is larger than about 96% of Nebraska schools and 51% above the 13.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 42.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 286 students, its enrollment sits close to the Nebraska median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,003 scored Nebraska schools.
Among 155 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Nebraska schools statewide, it ranks #142, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (60%) and White (38%) (diversity index 50/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 286 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
15.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Columbus Public Schools spends $12,223 per pupil, 31% below the Nebraska average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Columbus Public Schools also operates Columbus High School (1,337 students) and Columbus Middle School (1,166 students) alongside Emerson 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 Emerson Elementary School compares
Emerson Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$12,223
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nebraska avg of $17,680
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Columbus Public Schools, which includes Emerson Elementary School.
$12,223
Per student
-31%
vs Nebraska
Avg $17,680
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.5%
State 38.1%
Federal 10.3%
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 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
- 1,337
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- 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
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Nebraska, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~286 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Emerson Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Emerson Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Columbus Public Schools'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 Elementary School
How many students attend Emerson Elementary School?
Emerson Elementary School has 286 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbus, NE.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Emerson Elementary School a good school?
Emerson Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Nebraska 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 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.
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.