Enrollment
571
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Florence, KY
Hillard Collins Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Hillard Collins Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210051001608
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hillard Collins Elementary School earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #3 of 6
- schools in Florence · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.7:1
- small classes for Kentucky
- 62.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Hillard Collins Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 83% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hillard Collins Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 schools in Florence, KY.
School address
District: Boone County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210051001608 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
49.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.7:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.3%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+5% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hillard Collins Elementary School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hillard Collins Elementary School
Hillard Collins Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Florence, Kentucky, enrolling 571 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 11.7:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 62.3% lands close to the Kentucky typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 571 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 496 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #13, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (42%) and White (37%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 67/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 286 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
14.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Florence's public schools, it stands alongside Ockerman Elementary School (777 students): Hillard Collins Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.7:1 vs 14.7:1).
Boone County also operates Larry a. Ryle High School (2,077 students) and Randall K. Cooper High School (1,490 students) alongside Hillard Collins 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 Hillard Collins Elementary School compares
Hillard Collins 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 | 11.7:1 | ▼ 23% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.3% | ▲ 5% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 571 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
571
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.7:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 17% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
14.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,899
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $13,211
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 286 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
33
in-school suspensions + 39 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.6 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
Hispanic or Latino 42.0%
White 36.6%
African American 14.4%
Two or More 4.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.6%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.6, Hillard Collins 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 Boone County, which includes Hillard Collins Elementary School.
$12,899
Per student
-2%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.3%
State 38.1%
Federal 10.5%
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 Hillard Collins Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larry a. Ryle High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Randall K. Cooper High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Conner High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Boone County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gray Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hillard Collins Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,077
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,490
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,400
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,252
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,006
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar other schools in Florence
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Ockerman Elementary School
Standard public school
777 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Erpenbeck Elementary School
Standard public school
764 students 17:1 students per teacher
Florence Elementary School
Standard public school
610 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
A M Yealey Elementary School
Standard public school
534 students 13:1 students per teacher
Rise Academy
Alternative education program
70 students 6.4:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~571 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hillard Collins Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Hillard Collins Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Boone County'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 Hillard Collins Elementary School
How many students attend Hillard Collins Elementary School?
Hillard Collins Elementary School has 571 students enrolled. It is a public school in Florence, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillard Collins Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hillard Collins Elementary School is 11.7:1, which is 23% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 25% 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 Hillard Collins Elementary School?
62.3% of students at Hillard Collins Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hillard Collins Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Hillard Collins Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 42.0% of enrollment, in Florence, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hillard Collins Elementary School?
Hillard Collins Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher 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 Hillard Collins Elementary School rank among schools in Florence?
By Resource Investment Index, Hillard Collins Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 schools in Florence, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Florence on the city page.
Is Hillard Collins Elementary School a good school?
Hillard Collins Elementary School earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% 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 Boone County?
Besides Hillard Collins Elementary School, Boone County also operates Larry a. Ryle High School (2,077 students), Randall K. Cooper High School (1,490 students), and Conner High School (1,400 students). See the Boone County 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.