Enrollment
400
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Owensboro, KY
Foust Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Foust Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 210459001132
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Foust Elementary School earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #4 of 5
- elementary schools in Owensboro · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.1:1
- small classes for Kentucky
- 86.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Foust Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 81% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Foust Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Owensboro, KY.
School address
District: Owensboro Independent · Kentucky
NCES ID 210459001132 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.1:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-20% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
86.4%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Foust Elementary School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Foust Elementary School
Foust Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Owensboro, Kentucky, enrolling 400 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 86.4% of students qualify for free meals, 46% above the Kentucky average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 400 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 141 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #2, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (43%) and Hispanic or Latino (22%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.0% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 23.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 84 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 400 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Owensboro's elementary schools, it stands alongside Newton Parrish Elementary School (545 students): Foust Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.1:1 vs 14:1).
Owensboro Independent also operates Owensboro High School (1,342 students) and Owensboro Middle School (790 students) alongside Foust 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 Foust Elementary School compares
Foust 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 | 12.1:1 | ▼ 20% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 86.4% | ▲ 46% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 400 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
400
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
86.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 19% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.0%
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
$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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
58
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.0 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 43.0%
Hispanic or Latino 21.8%
African American 20.3%
Two or More 14.0%
Asian 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 43.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.7, Foust 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 Foust 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 Foust 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 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sutton Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Estes Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Foust 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
- 492
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar elementary schools in Owensboro
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Newton Parrish Elementary School
Standard public school
545 students 14:1 students per teacher
Sutton Elementary School
Standard public school
535 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Cravens Elementary School
Standard public school
396 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Valley Elementary School
Alternative education program
19 students 3.2:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~400 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Foust Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Foust 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 Foust Elementary School
How many students attend Foust Elementary School?
Foust Elementary School has 400 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Owensboro, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Foust Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Foust Elementary School is 12.1:1, which is 20% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 23% 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 Foust Elementary School?
86.4% of students at Foust Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Foust Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Foust Elementary School is White at 43.0% of enrollment, in Owensboro, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Foust Elementary School?
Foust Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Foust Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Owensboro?
By Resource Investment Index, Foust Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 elementary 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 elementary schools in Owensboro on the city page.
Is Foust Elementary School a good school?
Foust Elementary School earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of Kentucky schools. 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 Foust 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.