Enrollment
529
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Indianapolis, IN
Gold Academy
Federal NCES profile for Gold Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180264002111
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gold Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #14 of 89
- elementary schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.6:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 68.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Gold Academy has class sizes smaller than 73% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gold Academy ranks #14 of 89 elementary schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Msd Decatur Township · Indiana
NCES ID 180264002111 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.4%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+38% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Gold Academy compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Gold Academy
Gold Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 529 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 529 students, its enrollment sits close to the Indiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 378 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #80.
Its student body is led by White (42%) and African American (30%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Indianapolis's elementary schools, it stands alongside Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate (1,365 students): Gold Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.6:1 vs 21:1).
Msd Decatur Township also operates Decatur Central High School (1,974 students) and Decatur Middle School (1,000 students) alongside Gold Academy.
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 Gold Academy compares
Gold Academy on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.4% | ▲ 38% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 529 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
529
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 27% in Indiana - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.8%
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
$12,052
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,079
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
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 42.3%
African American 30.2%
Hispanic or Latino 17.4%
Two or More 9.6%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 42.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.0, Gold Academy is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Msd Decatur Township, which includes Gold Academy.
$12,052
Per student
0%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.4%
State 57.1%
Federal 12.5%
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 Gold Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Decatur Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blue Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lynwood Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Newton Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gold Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,974
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,000
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 687
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 559
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Similar elementary schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate
Standard public school
1,365 students 21:1 students per teacher
Edgewood Intermediate School
Standard public school
1,300 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Creston Intermediate & Middle Schl
Standard public school
1,106 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Raymond Park Intermediate & Middle
Standard public school
1,079 students 14:1 students per teacher
Stonybrook Intermediate & Middle
Standard public school
1,043 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Paramount Brookside
Standard public school
843 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~529 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Gold Academy's federal record.
- Compare Gold Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Msd Decatur Township'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 Gold Academy
How many students attend Gold Academy?
Gold Academy has 529 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gold Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Gold Academy is 13.6:1, which is 14% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 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 Gold Academy?
68.4% of students at Gold Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gold Academy?
The largest demographic group at Gold Academy is White at 42.3% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gold Academy?
Gold Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (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 Gold Academy rank among elementary schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Gold Academy ranks #14 of 89 elementary schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is Gold Academy a good school?
Gold Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana 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 Msd Decatur Township?
Besides Gold Academy, Msd Decatur Township also operates Decatur Central High School (1,974 students), Decatur Middle School (1,000 students), and Blue Academy (687 students). See the Msd Decatur Township 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.