- Enrollment
- 2,115
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Merrillville, IN
Jonas E Salk Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Jonas E Salk Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180969001585
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jonas E Salk Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #1 of 5
- schools in Merrillville · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.7:1
- students per teacher
- 57.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Jonas E Salk Elementary School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jonas E Salk Elementary School ranks #1 of 5 schools in Merrillville, IN.
School address
District: Merrillville Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180969001585 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Jonas E Salk Elementary School held near 593 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 36.8 → 38.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 180969001585 · Merrillville, IN Other · MID · TRAD
565 enr · 15.7:1 · 57.2% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Merrillville High School (2,115 students)
Jonas E Salk Elementary School held near 593 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 36.8 → 38.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Jonas E Salk 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
- This school 565
Jonas E Salk Elementary School
565 students
- Homer Iddings 535
Homer Iddings Elementary School
535 students
- Henry P Fieler 466
Henry P Fieler Elementary School
466 students
What this shows Jonas E Salk Elementary School reports 565 students on the CCD universe file.
How Jonas E Salk Elementary School compares
Jonas E Salk Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.7:1 | ▼ 1% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.2% | ▲ 16% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 565 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
565
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 55% in Indiana - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.0%
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
42
in-school suspensions + 39 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 57.5%
Hispanic or Latino 23.0%
White 11.5%
Two or More 6.4%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 57.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.9, Jonas E Salk Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
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 Jonas E Salk Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrillville High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pierce Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Merrillville Intermediate School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Homer Iddings Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Henry P Fieler Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jonas E Salk 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
- 535
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 466
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar other schools in Merrillville
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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
John Wood Elementary School
Standard public school
227 students 11.3:1 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 (~565 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Jonas E Salk Elementary School
How many students attend Jonas E Salk Elementary School?
Jonas E Salk Elementary School has 565 students enrolled. It is a public school in Merrillville, IN. CCD year-over-year: 587 (2022-23) → 593 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jonas E Salk Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jonas E Salk Elementary School is 15.7:1, which is 1% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 0% higher 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 Jonas E Salk Elementary School?
57.2% of students at Jonas E Salk Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jonas E Salk Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Jonas E Salk Elementary School is African American at 57.5% of enrollment, in Merrillville, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jonas E Salk Elementary School?
Jonas E Salk Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Jonas E Salk Elementary School rank among schools in Merrillville?
By Resource Investment Index, Jonas E Salk Elementary School ranks #1 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 Jonas E Salk 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.