- Enrollment
- 582
- Students per teacher
- 8.3:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Freehold, NJ
Joseph J Catena School
Federal NCES profile for Joseph J Catena School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 340564003810
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joseph J Catena School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of New Jersey schools.
- #2 of 6
- elementary schools in Freehold · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 9.9:1
- small classes for New Jersey
- 8.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Joseph J Catena School has class sizes smaller than 75% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph J Catena School ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Freehold, NJ.
School address
District: Freehold Township School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 340564003810 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-21 students YoY
Joseph J Catena School held near 426 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 45.5 → 44.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-21 students YoY 340564003810 · Freehold, NJ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
445 enr · 9.9:1 · 8.1% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Dwight D. Eisenhower School (582 students)
Joseph J Catena School held near 426 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 45.5 → 44.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
Joseph J Catena School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dwight D. Eise
Dwight D. Eisenhower School
582 students
- Clifton T. Bar
Clifton T. Barkalow School
574 students
- Marshall W. Er
Marshall W. Errickson School
464 students
- West Freehold
West Freehold School
447 students
- This school
Joseph J Catena School
445 students
- Laura Donovan
Laura Donovan School
441 students
What this shows Joseph J Catena School reports 445 students on the CCD universe file.
How Joseph J Catena School compares
Joseph J Catena School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 9.9:1 | ▼ 16% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 8.1% | ▼ 73% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 445 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.9:1
Leaner classes than 89% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
445
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
8.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% below the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
9.9:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 25% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 75% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
11.9%
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
$27,687
per pupil, district-wide
- above New Jersey avg of $26,225
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 445 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 70.6%
Hispanic or Latino 12.4%
Asian 8.3%
Two or More 5.2%
African American 3.6%
Largest group: White at 70.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.5, Joseph J Catena School is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Freehold Township School District reports $27,687 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Joseph J Catena School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Clifton T. Barkalow School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Marshall W. Errickson School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Freehold School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Laura Donovan School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joseph J Catena School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 574
- Students per teacher
- 8.2:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 464
- Students per teacher
- 10.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 447
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 441
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar elementary schools in Freehold
1 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 (~445 students)
Frequently asked questions about Joseph J Catena School
How many students attend Joseph J Catena School?
Joseph J Catena School has 445 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Freehold, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 447 (2022-23) → 426 (2023-24), nearly flat (-21).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph J Catena School?
The student-teacher ratio at Joseph J Catena School is 9.9:1, which is 16% lower than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 37% 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 Joseph J Catena School?
8.1% of students at Joseph J Catena School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joseph J Catena School?
The largest demographic group at Joseph J Catena School is White at 70.6% of enrollment, in Freehold, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joseph J Catena School?
Joseph J Catena School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Joseph J Catena School rank among elementary schools in Freehold?
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph J Catena School ranks #2 of 6 elementary schools in Freehold, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Freehold on the city page.
What other schools are in Freehold Township School District?
Besides Joseph J Catena School, Freehold Township School District also operates Dwight D. Eisenhower School (582 students), Clifton T. Barkalow School (574 students), and Marshall W. Errickson School (464 students). See the Freehold Township School District district page for the complete list.