- Enrollment
- 2,115
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Merrillville, IN
John Wood Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for John Wood Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180969001584
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John Wood Elementary School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 91% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Merrillville · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 54.0%
- free-lunch eligible
John Wood Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 91% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John Wood Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 schools in Merrillville, IN.
School address
District: Merrillville Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180969001584 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-23 students YoY
John Wood Elementary School shrank from 315 students in 2022-23 to 292 in 2023-24 (-7.3%).
Teacher FTE held 20.7 → 20.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-23 students YoY 180969001584 · Merrillville, IN Other · SMALL · TRAD
227 enr · 11.3:1 · 54.0% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Merrillville High School (2,115 students)
John Wood Elementary School shrank from 315 students in 2022-23 to 292 in 2023-24 (-7.3%). Teacher FTE held 20.7 → 20.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
John Wood Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Merrillville H
Merrillville High School
2,115 students
- Pierce Middle
Pierce Middle School
878 students
- Merrillville I 788
Merrillville Intermediate School
788 students
- Jonas E Salk E 565
Jonas E Salk Elementary School
565 students
- Homer Iddings 535
Homer Iddings Elementary School
535 students
- This school 227
John Wood Elementary School
227 students
What this shows John Wood Elementary School reports 227 students on the CCD universe file.
How John Wood Elementary School compares
John Wood Elementary School is a shrinking 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 | 11.3:1 | ▼ 29% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.0% | ▲ 9% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 227 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
227
Bigger than 23% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
54.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% 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
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 9% in Indiana - lower ratio than 91% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
34.8%
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
$10,733
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
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
18
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 44.9%
Hispanic or Latino 29.1%
White 18.9%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 44.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.5, John Wood Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
District finance for Merrillville Community School Corp reports $10,733 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How John Wood Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrillville High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pierce Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Merrillville Intermediate School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jonas E Salk Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Homer Iddings Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John Wood Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 788
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 565
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 535
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in Merrillville
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Jonas E Salk Elementary School
Standard public school
565 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Homer Iddings Elementary School
Standard public school
535 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Henry P Fieler Elementary School
Standard public school
466 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Edgar L Miller Elementary School
Standard public school
330 students 13.8:1 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 (~227 students)
Frequently asked questions about John Wood Elementary School
How many students attend John Wood Elementary School?
John Wood Elementary School has 227 students enrolled. It is a public school in Merrillville, IN. CCD year-over-year: 315 (2022-23) → 292 (2023-24), down 23.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Wood Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at John Wood Elementary School is 11.3:1, which is 29% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 28% 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 Wood Elementary School?
54.0% of students at John Wood Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John Wood Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at John Wood Elementary School is African American at 44.9% of enrollment, in Merrillville, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John Wood Elementary School?
John Wood Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 John Wood Elementary School rank among schools in Merrillville?
By Resource Investment Index, John Wood Elementary School ranks #4 of 5 schools in Merrillville, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Merrillville on the city page.
What other schools are in Merrillville Community School Corp?
Besides John Wood Elementary School, Merrillville Community School Corp also operates Merrillville High School (2,115 students), Pierce Middle School (878 students), and Merrillville Intermediate School (788 students). See the Merrillville Community School Corp district page for the complete list.