Enrollment
639
Louisiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Baton Rouge, LA
Idea University Prep
Federal NCES profile for Idea University Prep, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 220054002505Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Idea University Prep earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 88% of Louisiana schools.
- #11 of 13
- elementary schools in Baton Rouge · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.8:1
- small classes for Louisiana
- 85.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Idea University Prep has class sizes smaller than 88% of Louisiana schools. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Idea University Prep ranks #11 of 13 elementary schools in Baton Rouge, LA.
School address
District: East Baton Rouge Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220054002505 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
54.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.8:1
vs 16.8:1 Louisiana avg
-30% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
85.9%
vs 62.5% Louisiana avg
+37% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Idea University Prep compares with Louisiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Idea University Prep
Idea University Prep is a high-poverty, mid-sized charter elementary school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, enrolling 639 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.8:1, Idea University Prep is leaner than roughly 88% of Louisiana schools and 30% under the state's 16.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 85.9% of students qualify for free meals, 37% above the Louisiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 639 puts it in the larger third of Louisiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 1,330 Louisiana schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 183 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Louisiana schools statewide, it ranks #145, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 639 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Baton Rouge's elementary schools, it stands alongside Basis Baton Rouge Materra Campus (888 students): Idea University Prep is smaller than that campus by headcount.
East Baton Rouge Parish also operates Baton Rouge Magnet High School (1,593 students) and Woodlawn High School (1,331 students) alongside Idea University Prep.
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 Idea University Prep compares
Idea University Prep on the metrics families compare, against Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.8:1 | ▼ 30% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 85.9% | ▲ 37% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 639 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
639
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
85.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% above the Louisiana average of 62.5%
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
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 30% below state mean
Top 12% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
28.3%
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
$15,604
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,376
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 639 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
25
in-school suspensions + 61 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.5 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.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Idea University Prep.
$15,604
Per student
-5%
vs Louisiana
Avg $16,376
-6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.2%
State 24.4%
Federal 21.4%
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 Idea University Prep Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge Magnet High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Woodlawn High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Idea Bridge | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tara High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Idea University Prep's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,593
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,331
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,218
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,122
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 1,016
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar elementary schools in Baton Rouge
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Basis Baton Rouge Materra Campus
Standard public school
888 students
Geo Prep Academy of Greater Baton Rouge
Standard public school
769 students 16:1 students per teacher
Geo Prep Mid-City of Greater Baton Rouge
Standard public school
686 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Inspire Charter Academy
Standard public school
658 students 82.3:1 students per teacher
Tanglewood Elementary School
Standard public school
622 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Mayfair Laboratory School
Standard public school
480 students 10.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Louisiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~639 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Idea University Prep's federal record.
- Compare Idea University Prep against another school. Compare schools
- East Baton Rouge Parish'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 Idea University Prep
How many students attend Idea University Prep?
Idea University Prep has 639 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Baton Rouge, LA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Idea University Prep?
The student-teacher ratio at Idea University Prep is 11.8:1, which is 30% lower than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 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 Idea University Prep?
85.9% of students at Idea University Prep are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Idea University Prep?
Idea University Prep has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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 Idea University Prep rank among elementary schools in Baton Rouge?
By Resource Investment Index, Idea University Prep ranks #11 of 13 elementary schools in Baton Rouge, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Baton Rouge on the city page.
Is Idea University Prep a good school?
Idea University Prep earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 88% of Louisiana 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 East Baton Rouge Parish?
Besides Idea University Prep, East Baton Rouge Parish also operates Baton Rouge Magnet High School (1,593 students), Woodlawn High School (1,331 students), and Liberty High School (1,218 students). See the East Baton Rouge Parish 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.