- Enrollment
- 5,239
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Carmel, IN
Forest Dale Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Forest Dale Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180120002101
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forest Dale Elementary School earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median.
- #5 of 7
- schools in Carmel · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 21.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Forest Dale Elementary School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Dale Elementary School ranks #5 of 7 schools in Carmel, IN.
School address
District: Carmel Clay Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180120002101 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Forest Dale Elementary School held near 653 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 42.5 → 46.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 180120002101 · Carmel, IN Other · MID · TRAD
638 enr · 15.2:1 · 21.5% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Carmel High School (5,239 students)
Forest Dale Elementary School held near 653 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 42.5 → 46.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Forest Dale Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Carmel High Sc
Carmel High School
5,239 students
- Creekside Midd 1,428
Creekside Middle School
1,428 students
- Clay Middle Sc 1,415
Clay Middle School
1,415 students
- Carmel Middle 1,047
Carmel Middle School
1,047 students
- Prairie Trace 715
Prairie Trace Elementary School
715 students
- This school 638
Forest Dale Elementary School
638 students
What this shows Forest Dale Elementary School reports 638 students on the CCD universe file.
How Forest Dale Elementary School compares
Forest Dale Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.2:1 | ▼ 4% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.5% | ▼ 57% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 638 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
638
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 49% in Indiana - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,444
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 74.9%
Hispanic or Latino 8.9%
African American 6.0%
Asian 6.0%
Two or More 3.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 74.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.2, Forest Dale Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Carmel Clay Schools reports $13,444 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Forest Dale Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Creekside Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clay Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carmel Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Prairie Trace Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forest Dale Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,415
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,047
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 715
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
Similar other schools in Carmel
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Cherry Tree Elementary School
Standard public school
711 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Smoky Row Elementary School
Standard public school
692 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Clay Center Elementary School
Standard public school
666 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Mohawk Trails Elementary School
Standard public school
543 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Indiana Agriculture and Technology
Standard public school
441 students
Options Westfield
Standard public school
248 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
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 (~638 students)
Frequently asked questions about Forest Dale Elementary School
How many students attend Forest Dale Elementary School?
Forest Dale Elementary School has 638 students enrolled. It is a public school in Carmel, IN. CCD year-over-year: 652 (2022-23) → 653 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Dale Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Forest Dale Elementary School is 15.2:1, which is 4% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 3% 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 Forest Dale Elementary School?
21.5% of students at Forest Dale Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forest Dale Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Forest Dale Elementary School is White at 74.9% of enrollment, in Carmel, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forest Dale Elementary School?
Forest Dale Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher 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 Forest Dale Elementary School rank among schools in Carmel?
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Dale Elementary School ranks #5 of 7 schools in Carmel, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Carmel on the city page.
What other schools are in Carmel Clay Schools?
Besides Forest Dale Elementary School, Carmel Clay Schools also operates Carmel High School (5,239 students), Creekside Middle School (1,428 students), and Clay Middle School (1,415 students). See the Carmel Clay Schools district page for the complete list.