Enrollment
363
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Indianapolis, IN
James Russell Lowell School 51
Federal NCES profile for James Russell Lowell School 51, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180477002404
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Russell Lowell School 51 earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #50 of 90
- schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.8:1
- students per teacher
- 81.6%
- free-lunch eligible
James Russell Lowell School 51 has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Russell Lowell School 51 ranks #50 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Indianapolis Public Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180477002404 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.8:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
81.6%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+65% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James Russell Lowell School 51 compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at James Russell Lowell School 51
James Russell Lowell School 51 is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 363 students.
At 15.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Indiana median, within a few percentage points of the 15.9:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 81.6% of students qualify for free meals, 65% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 363 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 224 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #130.
Its student body is led by African American (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 59/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 23.7% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Indianapolis Public Schools spends $19,511 per pupil, 62% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 167 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 363 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Indianapolis's public schools, it stands alongside Indiana Connections Academy (5,376 students): James Russell Lowell School 51 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.8:1 vs 36.6:1).
Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students) and Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students) alongside James Russell Lowell School 51.
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 Russell Lowell School 51 compares
James Russell Lowell School 51 on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▼ 1% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.6% | ▲ 65% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 363 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
363
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
81.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 57% in Indiana - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.7%
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
$19,511
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
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
98
in-school suspensions + 69 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 27.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 46.0 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
African American 53.7%
Hispanic or Latino 33.1%
White 6.9%
Two or More 6.3%
Largest group: African American at 53.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.3, James Russell Lowell School 51 is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Indianapolis Public Schools, which includes James Russell Lowell School 51.
$19,511
Per student
+62%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
+18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.1%
State 53.5%
Federal 12.3%
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 Russell Lowell School 51 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal Technical High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crispus Attucks High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shortridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northwest Community Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Russell Lowell School 51's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,360
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,206
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 623
- Students per teacher
- 26:1
- Resource Index
- 8/100
Similar other schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Indiana Connections Academy
Standard public school
5,376 students 36.6:1 students per teacher
Hoosier College and Career Academy
Standard public school
1,484 students 57.1:1 students per teacher
Early Learning Center
Standard public school
1,313 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Victory College Prep Academy
Standard public school
1,058 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Forest Glen Elementary School
Standard public school
971 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Indiana Connections Career Academy
Standard public school
942 students 49.6:1 students per teacher
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 (~363 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James Russell Lowell School 51's federal record.
- Compare James Russell Lowell School 51 against another school. Compare schools
- Indianapolis Public Schools'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 Russell Lowell School 51
How many students attend James Russell Lowell School 51?
James Russell Lowell School 51 has 363 students enrolled. It is a public school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Russell Lowell School 51?
The student-teacher ratio at James Russell Lowell School 51 is 15.8:1, which is 1% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 1% higher 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 Russell Lowell School 51?
81.6% of students at James Russell Lowell School 51 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Russell Lowell School 51?
The largest demographic group at James Russell Lowell School 51 is African American at 53.7% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Russell Lowell School 51?
James Russell Lowell School 51 has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 James Russell Lowell School 51 rank among schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, James Russell Lowell School 51 ranks #50 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is James Russell Lowell School 51 a good school?
James Russell Lowell School 51 earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. 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 Indianapolis Public Schools?
Besides James Russell Lowell School 51, Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students), Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students), and Shortridge High School (1,206 students). See the Indianapolis Public Schools 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.