Enrollment
388
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Carlisle, PA
Hamilton El Sch
Federal NCES profile for Hamilton El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 420501001691
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hamilton El Sch earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #5 of 7
- elementary schools in Carlisle · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 68.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Hamilton El Sch has class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hamilton El Sch ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Carlisle, PA.
School address
District: Carlisle Area Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420501001691 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.4:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.2%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+17% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hamilton El Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hamilton El Sch
Hamilton El Sch is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, enrolling 388 students.
At 13.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Pennsylvania median, within a few percentage points of the 13.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 388 students, its enrollment sits close to the Pennsylvania median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 151 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #53.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and African American (28%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 388 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.6% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Carlisle's elementary schools, it stands alongside Crestview El Sch (541 students): Hamilton El Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.4:1 vs 18.7:1).
Carlisle Area Sd also operates Carlisle Area Hs (1,559 students) and Wilson Ms (604 students) alongside Hamilton El Sch.
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 Hamilton El Sch compares
Hamilton El Sch on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 1% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.2% | ▲ 17% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 388 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
388
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 51% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,072
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 388 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 39.4%
African American 28.1%
Hispanic or Latino 13.1%
Two or More 11.6%
Asian 7.7%
Largest group: White at 39.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.9, Hamilton El Sch is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Carlisle Area Sd, which includes Hamilton El Sch.
$15,072
Per student
-16%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 62.9%
State 28.3%
Federal 8.7%
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 Hamilton El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Area Hs | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wilson Ms | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lamberton Ms | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Crestview El Sch | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bellaire El Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hamilton El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,559
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 604
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 541
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 407
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar elementary schools in Carlisle
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Crestview El Sch
Standard public school
541 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Middlesex El Sch
Standard public school
419 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Bellaire El Sch
Standard public school
407 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Mooreland El Sch
Standard public school
372 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Letort El Sch
Standard public school
225 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
North Dickinson El Sch
Standard public school
193 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~388 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hamilton El Sch's federal record.
- Compare Hamilton El Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Carlisle Area Sd'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 Hamilton El Sch
How many students attend Hamilton El Sch?
Hamilton El Sch has 388 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Carlisle, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hamilton El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Hamilton El Sch is 13.4:1, which is 1% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 15% 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 Hamilton El Sch?
68.2% of students at Hamilton El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hamilton El Sch?
The largest demographic group at Hamilton El Sch is White at 39.4% of enrollment, in Carlisle, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hamilton El Sch?
Hamilton El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Hamilton El Sch rank among elementary schools in Carlisle?
By Resource Investment Index, Hamilton El Sch ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Carlisle, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Carlisle on the city page.
Is Hamilton El Sch a good school?
Hamilton El Sch earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania 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 Carlisle Area Sd?
Besides Hamilton El Sch, Carlisle Area Sd also operates Carlisle Area Hs (1,559 students), Wilson Ms (604 students), and Lamberton Ms (583 students). See the Carlisle Area Sd 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.