Enrollment
660
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Schererville, IN
James H Watson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for James H Watson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180545000981
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James H Watson Elementary School earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #2 of 3
- schools in Schererville · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.4:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 21.5%
- free-lunch eligible
James H Watson Elementary School has class sizes larger than 75% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James H Watson Elementary School ranks #2 of 3 schools in Schererville, IN.
School address
District: Lake Central School Corporation · Indiana
NCES ID 180545000981 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.4:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
21.5%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
-57% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James H Watson Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at James H Watson Elementary School
James H Watson Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Schererville, Indiana, enrolling 660 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 21.5% free-meal eligibility runs 57% below the Indiana average.
Enrollment of 660 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 92% of the 1,862 Indiana schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 284 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #24, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and Hispanic or Latino (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 60/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.6% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Among Schererville's public schools, it stands alongside Homan Elementary School (472 students): James H Watson Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.4:1 vs 13.1:1).
Lake Central School Corporation also operates Lake Central High School (2,926 students) and Hal E Clark Middle School (1,032 students) alongside James H Watson 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 James H Watson Elementary School compares
James H Watson Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▲ 9% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.5% | ▼ 57% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 660 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
660
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
21.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
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
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 75% in Indiana - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
8.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,785
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,079
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 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
White 57.7%
Hispanic or Latino 21.1%
African American 12.4%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 57.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.3, James H Watson Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lake Central School Corporation, which includes James H Watson Elementary School.
$11,785
Per student
-2%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.2%
State 57.5%
Federal 6.3%
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 H Watson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hal E Clark Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kahler Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Michael Grimmer Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Protsman Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James H Watson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,926
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,032
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 971
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 814
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Similar other schools in Schererville
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~660 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James H Watson Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare James H Watson Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Lake Central School Corporation'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 H Watson Elementary School
How many students attend James H Watson Elementary School?
James H Watson Elementary School has 660 students enrolled. It is a public school in Schererville, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James H Watson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at James H Watson Elementary School is 17.4:1, which is 9% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James H Watson Elementary School?
21.5% of students at James H Watson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James H Watson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at James H Watson Elementary School is White at 57.7% of enrollment, in Schererville, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James H Watson Elementary School?
James H Watson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher 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 James H Watson Elementary School rank among schools in Schererville?
By Resource Investment Index, James H Watson Elementary School ranks #2 of 3 schools in Schererville, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Schererville on the city page.
Is James H Watson Elementary School a good school?
James H Watson Elementary School earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana 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 Lake Central School Corporation?
Besides James H Watson Elementary School, Lake Central School Corporation also operates Lake Central High School (2,926 students), Hal E Clark Middle School (1,032 students), and Kahler Middle School (971 students). See the Lake Central School Corporation 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.