Enrollment
302
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Fort Wayne, IN
John S Irwin Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for John S Irwin Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180363000535
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John S Irwin Elementary School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #6 of 20
- elementary schools in Fort Wayne · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.8:1
- students per teacher
- 65.9%
- free-lunch eligible
John S Irwin Elementary School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John S Irwin Elementary School ranks #6 of 20 elementary schools in Fort Wayne, IN.
School address
District: Fort Wayne Community Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180363000535 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
18.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.8:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
65.9%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+33% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How John S Irwin Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at John S Irwin Elementary School
John S Irwin Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, enrolling 302 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 65.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 302 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 268 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #28, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (49%) and White (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 67/100).
13.9% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 21.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Fort Wayne's elementary schools, it stands alongside Prince Chapman Academy (819 students): John S Irwin Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.8:1 vs 14.9:1).
Fort Wayne Community Schools also operates Northrop High School (2,145 students) and R Nelson Snider High School (1,927 students) alongside John S Irwin Elementary 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 S Irwin Elementary School compares
John S Irwin Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.9% | ▲ 33% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 302 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
302
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
65.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 69% in Indiana - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,247
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.3 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 48.7%
White 26.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.6%
Two or More 9.3%
Asian 4.3%
Largest group: African American at 48.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.0, John S Irwin Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fort Wayne Community Schools, which includes John S Irwin Elementary School.
$13,247
Per student
+10%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.4%
State 56.6%
Federal 21.1%
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 S Irwin Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northrop High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| R Nelson Snider High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Side High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wayne High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Side High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John S Irwin Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,145
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,927
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,405
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,398
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,383
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Fort Wayne
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Prince Chapman Academy
Standard public school
819 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Cedarville Elementary School
Standard public school
764 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Covington Elementary School
Standard public school
746 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Weisser Park Elementary School
Standard public school
632 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Fred H Croninger Elementary School
Standard public school
619 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Jeff H Towles Intermediate School
Standard public school
600 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~302 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on John S Irwin Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare John S Irwin Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Fort Wayne Community 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 John S Irwin Elementary School
How many students attend John S Irwin Elementary School?
John S Irwin Elementary School has 302 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Fort Wayne, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John S Irwin Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at John S Irwin Elementary School is 16.8:1, which is 6% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 7% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at John S Irwin Elementary School?
65.9% of students at John S Irwin Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John S Irwin Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at John S Irwin Elementary School is African American at 48.7% of enrollment, in Fort Wayne, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John S Irwin Elementary School?
John S Irwin Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 S Irwin Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Fort Wayne?
By Resource Investment Index, John S Irwin Elementary School ranks #6 of 20 elementary schools in Fort Wayne, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Fort Wayne on the city page.
Is John S Irwin Elementary School a good school?
John S Irwin Elementary School earns 56/100 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 Fort Wayne Community Schools?
Besides John S Irwin Elementary School, Fort Wayne Community Schools also operates Northrop High School (2,145 students), R Nelson Snider High School (1,927 students), and South Side High School (1,405 students). See the Fort Wayne Community 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.