Enrollment
542
New Jersey · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Willingboro, NJ
James a Cotten Intermediate School
Federal NCES profile for James a Cotten Intermediate 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 341800003463
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James a Cotten Intermediate School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Jersey median.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Willingboro · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.5:1
- students per teacher
- 6.0%
- free-lunch eligible
James a Cotten Intermediate School has class sizes near the New Jersey median. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James a Cotten Intermediate School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Willingboro, NJ.
School address
District: Willingboro Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341800003463 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
47.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.5:1
vs 11.8:1 New Jersey avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
6.0%
vs 29.6% New Jersey avg
-80% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James a Cotten Intermediate School compares with New Jersey and U.S. medians
What stands out at James a Cotten Intermediate School
James a Cotten Intermediate School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Willingboro, New Jersey, enrolling 542 students.
At 11.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the New Jersey median, within a few percentage points of the 11.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 6.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 542 puts it in the larger third of New Jersey schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,501 scored New Jersey schools.
Among 592 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need New Jersey schools statewide, it ranks #565, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (65%) and Hispanic or Latino (28%) (diversity index 49/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 271 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 117 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 542 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Willingboro's elementary schools, it stands alongside Benjamin Banneker Preparatory Charter School (356 students): James a Cotten Intermediate School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.5:1 vs 12.3:1).
Willingboro Public School District also operates Willingboro High School (845 students) and Willingboro Memorial Middle School (550 students) alongside James a Cotten Intermediate 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 James a Cotten Intermediate School compares
James a Cotten Intermediate School on the metrics families compare, against New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.5:1 | ▼ 3% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 6.0% | ▼ 80% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 542 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.5:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
542
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
6.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 80% below the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.5:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 53% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
29.5%
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
$22,221
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $24,984
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 271 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 117 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.6 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
African American 65.3%
Hispanic or Latino 27.9%
White 2.8%
Two or More 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: African American at 65.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.4, James a Cotten Intermediate School is about as mixed as the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Willingboro Public School District, which includes James a Cotten Intermediate School.
$22,221
Per student
-11%
vs New Jersey
Avg $24,984
+34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.0%
State 58.5%
Federal 6.5%
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 James a Cotten Intermediate School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willingboro High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Willingboro Memorial Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| W. R. James Sr. Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| J.C.Stuart Ecdc | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hawthorne Park Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James a Cotten Intermediate School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 845
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 550
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 408
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 365
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 354
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Willingboro
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 New Jersey, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~542 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James a Cotten Intermediate School's federal record.
- Compare James a Cotten Intermediate School against another school. Compare schools
- Willingboro Public 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 James a Cotten Intermediate School
How many students attend James a Cotten Intermediate School?
James a Cotten Intermediate School has 542 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Willingboro, NJ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James a Cotten Intermediate School?
The student-teacher ratio at James a Cotten Intermediate School is 11.5:1, which is 3% lower than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 27% 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 James a Cotten Intermediate School?
6.0% of students at James a Cotten Intermediate School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James a Cotten Intermediate School?
The largest demographic group at James a Cotten Intermediate School is African American at 65.3% of enrollment, in Willingboro, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James a Cotten Intermediate School?
James a Cotten Intermediate School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 James a Cotten Intermediate School rank among public schools in Willingboro?
By Resource Investment Index, James a Cotten Intermediate School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Willingboro, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Willingboro on the city page.
Is James a Cotten Intermediate School a good school?
James a Cotten Intermediate School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Jersey median. 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 Willingboro Public School District?
Besides James a Cotten Intermediate School, Willingboro Public School District also operates Willingboro High School (845 students), Willingboro Memorial Middle School (550 students), and W. R. James Sr. Elementary School (408 students). See the Willingboro Public 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.