- Enrollment
- 457
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Mc Donald, PA
Fort Cherry El Ctr
Federal NCES profile for Fort Cherry El Ctr, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 420996007270
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fort Cherry El Ctr earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Pennsylvania schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Mc Donald · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12:1
- small classes for Pennsylvania
- 42.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Fort Cherry El Ctr has class sizes smaller than 72% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Cherry El Ctr ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Mc Donald, PA.
School address
District: Fort Cherry Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420996007270 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+20 students YoY
Fort Cherry El Ctr held near 475 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 38.8 → 39.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+20 students YoY 420996007270 · Mc Donald, PA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
455 enr · 12:1 · 42.6% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Fort Cherry Jshs (457 students)
Fort Cherry El Ctr held near 475 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount). Teacher FTE added 38.8 → 39.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
How Fort Cherry El Ctr compares
Fort Cherry El Ctr held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12:1 | ▼ 12% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.6% | ▼ 27% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 455 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
455
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 28% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
19.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$19,520
per pupil, district-wide
- above Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 455 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 89.5%
Two or More 6.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.1%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 89.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 19.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 19.3, Fort Cherry El Ctr is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fort Cherry Sd reports $19,520 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fort Cherry El Ctr Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Cherry Jshs | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fort Cherry El Ctr's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar elementary schools in Mc Donald
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 (~455 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fort Cherry El Ctr
How many students attend Fort Cherry El Ctr?
Fort Cherry El Ctr has 455 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Mc Donald, PA. CCD year-over-year: 455 (2022-23) → 475 (2023-24), nearly flat (+20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Cherry El Ctr?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Cherry El Ctr is 12:1, which is 12% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 24% 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 Fort Cherry El Ctr?
42.6% of students at Fort Cherry El Ctr are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fort Cherry El Ctr?
The largest demographic group at Fort Cherry El Ctr is White at 89.5% of enrollment, in Mc Donald, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fort Cherry El Ctr?
Fort Cherry El Ctr has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Fort Cherry El Ctr rank among public schools in Mc Donald?
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Cherry El Ctr ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Mc Donald, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Fort Cherry Sd?
Besides Fort Cherry El Ctr, Fort Cherry Sd also operates Fort Cherry Jshs (457 students). See the Fort Cherry Sd district page for the complete list.