- Enrollment
- 1,007
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Auburn, IN
James R Watson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for James R Watson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180159000222
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 87
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James R Watson Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Indiana schools.
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.4:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 33.3%
- free-lunch eligible
- 590
- students enrolled
James R Watson Elementary School has class sizes larger than 83% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Dekalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist · Indiana
NCES ID 180159000222 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
James R Watson Elementary School held near 579 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 32.3 → 30.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 180159000222 · Auburn, IN Other · MID · TRAD
590 enr · 18.4:1 · 33.3% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Dekalb High School (1,007 students)
James R Watson Elementary School held near 579 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 32.3 → 30.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
James R Watson Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dekalb High Sc
Dekalb High School
1,007 students
- Dekalb Middle
Dekalb Middle School
759 students
- Mckenney-Harri
Mckenney-Harrison Elementary Sch
620 students
- This school
James R Watson Elementary School
590 students
- Country Meadow 314
Country Meadow Elementary School
314 students
- Waterloo Eleme 247
Waterloo Elementary School
247 students
What this shows James R Watson Elementary School reports 590 students on the CCD universe file.
How James R Watson Elementary School compares
James R Watson Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.4:1 | ▲ 16% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.3% | ▼ 33% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 590 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.4:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
590
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.4:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 83% in Indiana - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
5.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$10,445
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 590 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 89.2%
Hispanic or Latino 7.6%
Two or More 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
African American 0.5%
Largest group: White at 89.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 19.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 19.8, James R Watson Elementary School is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dekalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist reports $10,445 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James R Watson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dekalb High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dekalb Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mckenney-Harrison Elementary Sch | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Country Meadow Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Waterloo Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James R Watson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 759
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 620
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 314
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 247
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar other schools in Auburn
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~590 students)
Frequently asked questions about James R Watson Elementary School
How many students attend James R Watson Elementary School?
James R Watson Elementary School has 590 students enrolled. It is a public school in Auburn, IN. CCD year-over-year: 588 (2022-23) → 579 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at James R Watson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at James R Watson Elementary School is 18.4:1, which is 16% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James R Watson Elementary School?
33.3% of students at James R 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 R Watson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at James R Watson Elementary School is White at 89.2% of enrollment, in Auburn, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James R Watson Elementary School?
James R Watson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Dekalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist?
Besides James R Watson Elementary School, Dekalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist also operates Dekalb High School (1,007 students), Dekalb Middle School (759 students), and Mckenney-Harrison Elementary Sch (620 students). See the Dekalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist district page for the complete list.