- Enrollment
- 1,562
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Scotch Plains, NJ
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 67/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 341467005686
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 85
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School earns 67/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of New Jersey schools.
- #2 of 4
- schools in Scotch Plains · Resource Index
- 67
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.5:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 1.3%
- free-lunch eligible
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School has class sizes larger than 81% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 schools in Scotch Plains, NJ.
School address
District: Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341467005686 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School held near 548 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 39.4 → 40.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 341467005686 · Scotch Plains, NJ Other · MID · TRAD
526 enr · 13.5:1 · 1.3% lunch · RII 67
Nearest enrollment peer: Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (1,562 students)
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School held near 548 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE added 39.4 → 40.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Scotch Plains-
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
1,562 students
- Malcolm E Nett
Malcolm E Nettingham Middle School
913 students
- Terrill Middle
Terrill Middle School
822 students
- William J. Mcg 543
William J. Mcginn Elementary School
543 students
- This school 526
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School
526 students
- Evergreen Elem 449
Evergreen Elementary School
449 students
What this shows J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School reports 526 students on the CCD universe file.
How J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School compares
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▲ 14% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 1.3% | ▼ 96% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 526 | top 36% | - | - |
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.
526
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
1.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 96% below the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 81% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
6.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$20,926
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $26,225
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 + 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.
Student demographics
White 62.5%
Asian 13.1%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%
Two or More 6.3%
African American 5.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 62.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.1, J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School is more mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District reports $20,926 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Malcolm E Nettingham Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Terrill Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| William J. Mcginn Elementary School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Evergreen Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 913
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 822
- Students per teacher
- 11.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 543
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 67/100
- Enrollment
- 449
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 68/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~526 students)
Frequently asked questions about J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School
How many students attend J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School has 526 students enrolled. It is a public school in Scotch Plains, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 535 (2022-23) → 548 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School is 13.5:1, which is 14% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 14% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
1.3% of students at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School is White at 62.5% of enrollment, in Scotch Plains, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 67/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School rank among schools in Scotch Plains?
By Resource Investment Index, J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 schools in Scotch Plains, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Scotch Plains on the city page.
What other schools are in Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District?
Besides J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District also operates Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (1,562 students), Malcolm E Nettingham Middle School (913 students), and Terrill Middle School (822 students). See the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District district page for the complete list.