- Enrollment
- 828
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · New Castle, IN
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School
Federal NCES profile for James Whitcomb Riley Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180744001286
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Indiana schools.
- #4 of 7
- schools in New Castle · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 46.8%
- free-lunch eligible
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School has class sizes larger than 77% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Whitcomb Riley Elem School ranks #4 of 7 schools in New Castle, IN.
School address
District: New Castle Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180744001286 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+18 students YoY
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School grew from 235 students in 2022-23 to 253 in 2023-24 (+7.7%).
Teacher FTE added 14.8 → 17.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+18 students YoY 180744001286 · New Castle, IN Other · SMALL · TRAD
246 enr · 17.6:1 · 46.8% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: New Castle High School (828 students)
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School grew from 235 students in 2022-23 to 253 in 2023-24 (+7.7%). Teacher FTE added 14.8 → 17.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- New Castle Hig
New Castle High School
828 students
- New Castle Mid
New Castle Middle School
627 students
- Wilbur Wright 305
Wilbur Wright Elementary School
305 students
- Parker Element 278
Parker Elementary School
278 students
- Eastwood Eleme 257
Eastwood Elementary School
257 students
- This school 246
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School
246 students
What this shows James Whitcomb Riley Elem School reports 246 students on the CCD universe file.
How James Whitcomb Riley Elem School compares
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.8% | ▼ 5% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 246 | top 86% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
246
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 77% in Indiana - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.2%
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
$14,783
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,921
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 246 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
18
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 88.6%
Two or More 4.5%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%
Asian 2.8%
African American 1.2%
Largest group: White at 88.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 21.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 21.1, James Whitcomb Riley Elem School is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for New Castle Community School Corp reports $14,783 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James Whitcomb Riley Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| New Castle Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wilbur Wright Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Parker Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Eastwood Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Whitcomb Riley Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 627
- Students per teacher
- 10.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 305
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 278
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 257
- Students per teacher
- 11.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in New Castle
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Blue River Valley Elementary Sch
Standard public school
331 students 15:1 students per teacher
Wilbur Wright Elementary School
Standard public school
305 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Blue River Valley Jr-Sr High Sch
Standard public school
289 students 11.6:1 students per teacher
Parker Elementary School
Standard public school
278 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Eastwood Elementary School
Standard public school
257 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Westwood Elementary School
Standard public school
256 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~246 students)
Frequently asked questions about James Whitcomb Riley Elem School
How many students attend James Whitcomb Riley Elem School?
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School has 246 students enrolled. It is a public school in New Castle, IN. CCD year-over-year: 235 (2022-23) → 253 (2023-24), up 18.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Whitcomb Riley Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Whitcomb Riley Elem School is 17.6:1, which is 11% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James Whitcomb Riley Elem School?
46.8% of students at James Whitcomb Riley Elem School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Whitcomb Riley Elem School?
The largest demographic group at James Whitcomb Riley Elem School is White at 88.6% of enrollment, in New Castle, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Whitcomb Riley Elem School?
James Whitcomb Riley Elem 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).
How does James Whitcomb Riley Elem School rank among schools in New Castle?
By Resource Investment Index, James Whitcomb Riley Elem School ranks #4 of 7 schools in New Castle, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in New Castle on the city page.
What other schools are in New Castle Community School Corp?
Besides James Whitcomb Riley Elem School, New Castle Community School Corp also operates New Castle High School (828 students), New Castle Middle School (627 students), and Wilbur Wright Elementary School (305 students). See the New Castle Community School Corp district page for the complete list.