Enrollment
492
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Owensboro, KY
Estes Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Estes Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210459001130
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Estes Elementary School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #3 of 14
- schools in Owensboro · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 82.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Estes Elementary School has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Estes Elementary School ranks #3 of 14 schools in Owensboro, KY.
School address
District: Owensboro Independent · Kentucky
NCES ID 210459001130 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.7:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
82.2%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+39% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Estes Elementary School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Estes Elementary School
Estes Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Owensboro, Kentucky, enrolling 492 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.7:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 82.2% of students qualify for free meals, 39% above the Kentucky average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 492 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kentucky median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 205 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #5, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and Hispanic or Latino (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 246 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
17.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 23.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Owensboro's public schools, it stands alongside Tamarack Elementary School (564 students): Estes Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.7:1 vs 17.1:1).
Owensboro Independent also operates Owensboro High School (1,342 students) and Owensboro Middle School (790 students) alongside Estes 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 Estes Elementary School compares
Estes Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 10% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 82.2% | ▲ 39% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 492 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
492
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
82.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 32% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 246 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 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 44.9%
Hispanic or Latino 24.2%
Two or More 16.9%
African American 12.4%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 44.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.6, Estes Elementary School is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Owensboro Independent, which includes Estes Elementary School.
$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 Estes Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Owensboro Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Newton Parrish Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sutton Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Foust Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Estes Elementary School'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
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar other schools in Owensboro
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Tamarack Elementary School
Standard public school
564 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Deer Park Elementary School
Standard public school
480 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Meadow Lands Elementary School
Standard public school
479 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Country Heights Elementary School
Standard public school
462 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Highland Elementary School
Standard public school
440 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
F T Burns Elementary School
Standard public school
440 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~492 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Estes Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Estes Elementary School 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 Estes Elementary School
How many students attend Estes Elementary School?
Estes Elementary School has 492 students enrolled. It is a public school in Owensboro, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Estes Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Estes Elementary School is 13.7:1, which is 10% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 13% 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 Estes Elementary School?
82.2% of students at Estes Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Estes Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Estes Elementary School is White at 44.9% of enrollment, in Owensboro, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Estes Elementary School?
Estes Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 Estes Elementary School rank among schools in Owensboro?
By Resource Investment Index, Estes Elementary School ranks #3 of 14 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 schools in Owensboro on the city page.
Is Estes Elementary School a good school?
Estes Elementary School earns 56/100 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 Estes Elementary School, 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.