Elementary school (grades K-5) · Jackson, MS
Joel E. Smilow Prep
Federal NCES profile for Joel E. Smilow Prep, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
The verdict
Joel E. Smilow Prep earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #7 of 10
- elementary schools in Jackson · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Joel E. Smilow Prep has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joel E. Smilow Prep ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Jackson, MS.
School address
NCES ID 280019201471 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
Joel E. Smilow Prep held near 564 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 39.9 → 33.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-13 students YoY 280019201471 · Jackson, MS Elementary · MID · CHARTER
521 enr · 13.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Douglas Elementary School (521 students)
Joel E. Smilow Prep held near 564 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 39.9 → 33.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
How Joel E. Smilow Prep compares
Joel E. Smilow Prep held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▲ 1% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 521 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
Equity indicators methodology
Student demographics
Largest group: African American at 98.8% of enrollment.
Simpson diversity index - at 2.4, Joel E. Smilow Prep is less mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
District finance for Joel E. Smillow Prep reports $11,640 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
Similar elementary schools in Jackson
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~521 students)
Frequently asked questions about Joel E. Smilow Prep
How many students attend Joel E. Smilow Prep?
Joel E. Smilow Prep has 521 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Jackson, MS. CCD year-over-year: 577 (2022-23) → 564 (2023-24), nearly flat (-13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joel E. Smilow Prep?
The student-teacher ratio at Joel E. Smilow Prep is 13.4:1, which is 1% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Joel E. Smilow Prep?
100.0% of students at Joel E. Smilow Prep are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joel E. Smilow Prep?
The largest demographic group at Joel E. Smilow Prep is African American at 98.8% of enrollment, in Jackson, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joel E. Smilow Prep?
Joel E. Smilow Prep has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Joel E. Smilow Prep rank among elementary schools in Jackson?
By Resource Investment Index, Joel E. Smilow Prep ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Jackson, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Jackson on the city page.
What other schools are in Joel E. Smillow Prep?
None; Joel E. Smillow Prep is a single-school charter district, and Joel E. Smilow Prep is its only campus.