Enrollment
418
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Meriden, CT
John Barry School
Federal NCES profile for John Barry School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 090240000445
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John Barry School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Connecticut median.
- #4 of 6
- schools in Meriden · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.9:1
- students per teacher
- 76.7%
- free-lunch eligible
John Barry School has class sizes near the Connecticut median. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John Barry School ranks #4 of 6 schools in Meriden, CT.
School address
District: Meriden School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090240000445 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
35.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.9:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
76.7%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+111% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How John Barry School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at John Barry School
John Barry School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Meriden, Connecticut, enrolling 418 students.
At 11.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Connecticut median, within a few percentage points of the 12.1:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 76.7% of students qualify for free meals, 111% above the Connecticut average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 418 students, its enrollment sits close to the Connecticut median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,003 scored Connecticut schools.
Against 108 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #53.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (69%) and African American (12%) (diversity index 49/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Meriden School District spends $19,132 per pupil, 20% below the Connecticut average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Meriden's public schools, it stands alongside Nathan Hale School (485 students): John Barry School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.9:1 vs 13.5:1).
Meriden School District also operates Francis T. Maloney High School (1,291 students) and Orville H. Platt High School (1,191 students) alongside John Barry 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 John Barry School compares
John Barry School on the metrics families compare, against Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▼ 2% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.7% | ▲ 111% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 418 | top 47% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
418
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
76.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 111% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
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
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 56% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 44% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
32.5%
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
$19,132
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $23,870
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
3
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.7 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
Hispanic or Latino 69.1%
African American 12.2%
White 9.6%
Two or More 7.4%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 69.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.3, John Barry School is about as mixed as the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Meriden School District, which includes John Barry School.
$19,132
Per student
-20%
vs Connecticut
Avg $23,870
+15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.9%
State 54.9%
Federal 14.2%
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 John Barry School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis T. Maloney High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orville H. Platt High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edison Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Casimir Pulaski School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John Barry School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,291
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,191
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 773
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 684
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 539
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Meriden
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nathan Hale School
Standard public school
485 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Roger Sherman School
Standard public school
457 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Hanover School
Standard public school
456 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
Thomas Hooker School
Standard public school
404 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Benjamin Franklin School
Standard public school
357 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Connecticut, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~418 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on John Barry School's federal record.
- Compare John Barry School against another school. Compare schools
- Meriden School District'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 John Barry School
How many students attend John Barry School?
John Barry School has 418 students enrolled. It is a public school in Meriden, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Barry School?
The student-teacher ratio at John Barry School is 11.9:1, which is 2% lower than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 24% lower 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 John Barry School?
76.7% of students at John Barry School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John Barry School?
The largest demographic group at John Barry School is Hispanic or Latino at 69.1% of enrollment, in Meriden, CT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John Barry School?
John Barry School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 John Barry School rank among schools in Meriden?
By Resource Investment Index, John Barry School ranks #4 of 6 schools in Meriden, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Meriden on the city page.
Is John Barry School a good school?
John Barry School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Connecticut median. 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 Meriden School District?
Besides John Barry School, Meriden School District also operates Francis T. Maloney High School (1,291 students), Orville H. Platt High School (1,191 students), and Edison Middle School (773 students). See the Meriden School District 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.