- Enrollment
- 455
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mc Donald, PA
Fort Cherry Jshs
Federal NCES profile for Fort Cherry Jshs, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 420996004242
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 54
📋 Attendance 34
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fort Cherry Jshs earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Mc Donald · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.4:1
- students per teacher
- 34.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Fort Cherry Jshs has class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Cherry Jshs ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Mc Donald, PA.
School address
District: Fort Cherry Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420996004242 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Fort Cherry Jshs held near 456 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.3 → 36.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 420996004242 · Mc Donald, PA Other · SMALL · TRAD
457 enr · 12.4:1 · 34.2% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Fort Cherry El Ctr (455 students)
Fort Cherry Jshs held near 456 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.3 → 36.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
How Fort Cherry Jshs compares
Fort Cherry Jshs 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 | 12.4:1 | ▼ 9% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.2% | ▼ 41% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 457 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
457
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
34.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 35% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 229 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
33
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 89.9%
Two or More 6.1%
Hispanic or Latino 2.4%
African American 1.3%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 89.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.7, Fort Cherry Jshs is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
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 Jshs Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Cherry El Ctr | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fort Cherry Jshs's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
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 (~457 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fort Cherry Jshs
How many students attend Fort Cherry Jshs?
Fort Cherry Jshs has 457 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mc Donald, PA. CCD year-over-year: 450 (2022-23) → 456 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Cherry Jshs?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Cherry Jshs is 12.4:1, which is 9% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 21% 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 Jshs?
34.2% of students at Fort Cherry Jshs are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fort Cherry Jshs?
The largest demographic group at Fort Cherry Jshs is White at 89.9% of enrollment, in Mc Donald, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fort Cherry Jshs?
Fort Cherry Jshs has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Jshs rank among public schools in Mc Donald?
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Cherry Jshs ranks #1 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 Jshs, Fort Cherry Sd also operates Fort Cherry El Ctr (455 students). See the Fort Cherry Sd district page for the complete list.