Enrollment
445
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Meriden, CT
Israel Putnam School
Federal NCES profile for Israel Putnam School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 090240000443
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Israel Putnam School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Connecticut schools.
- #5 of 14
- public schools in Meriden · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 63.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Israel Putnam School has class sizes larger than 81% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Israel Putnam School ranks #5 of 14 public schools in Meriden, CT.
School address
District: Meriden School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090240000443 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.8%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+75% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Israel Putnam School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at Israel Putnam School
Israel Putnam School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Meriden, Connecticut, enrolling 445 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 13.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Connecticut schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 63.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 445 students, its enrollment sits close to the Connecticut median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,003 scored Connecticut schools.
Against 147 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #57.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (56%) and White (17%) (diversity index 63/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 23.1% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Meriden School District spends $19,132 per pupil, 20% below the Connecticut average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Meriden's elementary schools, it stands alongside Casimir Pulaski School (539 students): Israel Putnam School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.5:1 vs 13.1:1).
Meriden School District also operates Francis T. Maloney High School (1,291 students) and Orville H. Platt High School (1,191 students) alongside Israel Putnam 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 Israel Putnam School compares
Israel Putnam School on the metrics families compare, against Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▲ 12% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.8% | ▲ 75% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 445 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
445
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 75% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 81% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.1%
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
$19,132
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $23,870
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.0 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
Hispanic or Latino 56.0%
White 17.3%
African American 15.3%
Two or More 8.8%
Asian 2.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 56.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.5, Israel Putnam School is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Meriden School District, which includes Israel Putnam School.
$19,132
Per student
-20%
vs Connecticut
Avg $23,870
+15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.9%
State 54.9%
Federal 14.2%
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 Israel Putnam School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis T. Maloney High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orville H. Platt High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edison Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Casimir Pulaski School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Israel Putnam School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,291
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,191
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 773
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 684
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 539
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Meriden
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Connecticut, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~445 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Israel Putnam School's federal record.
- Compare Israel Putnam School against another school. Compare schools
- Meriden School District'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 Israel Putnam School
How many students attend Israel Putnam School?
Israel Putnam School has 445 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Meriden, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Israel Putnam School?
The student-teacher ratio at Israel Putnam School is 13.5:1, which is 12% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 14% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Israel Putnam School?
63.8% of students at Israel Putnam School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Israel Putnam School?
The largest demographic group at Israel Putnam School is Hispanic or Latino at 56.0% of enrollment, in Meriden, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Israel Putnam School?
Israel Putnam School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 Israel Putnam School rank among public schools in Meriden?
By Resource Investment Index, Israel Putnam School ranks #5 of 14 public schools in Meriden, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Meriden on the city page.
Is Israel Putnam School a good school?
Israel Putnam School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Connecticut 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 Meriden School District?
Besides Israel Putnam School, Meriden School District also operates Francis T. Maloney High School (1,291 students), Orville H. Platt High School (1,191 students), and Edison Middle School (773 students). See the Meriden School District 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.