Enrollment
420
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbus, IN
L F Smith Elementary
Federal NCES profile for L F Smith Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180036000070
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
L F Smith Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Indiana schools.
- #4 of 10
- schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 55.8%
- free-lunch eligible
L F Smith Elementary has class sizes smaller than 74% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, L F Smith Elementary ranks #4 of 10 schools in Columbus, IN.
School address
District: Bartholomew Con School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180036000070 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
55.8%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+13% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How L F Smith Elementary compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at L F Smith Elementary
L F Smith Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Columbus, Indiana, enrolling 420 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.5:1 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 55.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 420 students, its enrollment sits close to the Indiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 502 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #270.
Its student body is led by White (71%) and Hispanic or Latino (16%) (diversity index 47/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 420 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.4% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Columbus's public schools, it stands alongside Southside Elementary School (891 students): L F Smith Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.5:1 vs 18.6:1).
Bartholomew Con School Corp also operates Columbus North High School (2,360 students) and Columbus East High School (1,452 students) alongside L F Smith Elementary.
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 L F Smith Elementary compares
L F Smith Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▼ 15% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.8% | ▲ 13% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 420 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
420
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
55.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% 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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 26% in Indiana - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
22.4%
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
$11,632
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 420 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 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
White 70.7%
Hispanic or Latino 16.2%
Two or More 7.6%
African American 3.6%
Asian 1.9%
Largest group: White at 70.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.6, L F Smith Elementary is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bartholomew Con School Corp, which includes L F Smith Elementary.
$11,632
Per student
-4%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.5%
State 52.0%
Federal 12.5%
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 L F Smith Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus North High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbus East High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northside Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southside Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to L F Smith Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,360
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,452
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 908
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 891
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar other schools in Columbus
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Southside Elementary School
Standard public school
891 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Parkside Elementary School
Standard public school
733 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Clifty Creek Elementary School
Standard public school
705 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Lillian Schmitt Elementary School
Standard public school
704 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
W D Richards Elementary School
Standard public school
610 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Mount Healthy Elementary School
Standard public school
365 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~420 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on L F Smith Elementary's federal record.
- Compare L F Smith Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Bartholomew Con School Corp'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 L F Smith Elementary
How many students attend L F Smith Elementary?
L F Smith Elementary has 420 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbus, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at L F Smith Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at L F Smith Elementary is 13.5:1, which is 15% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 14% 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 L F Smith Elementary?
55.8% of students at L F Smith Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of L F Smith Elementary?
The largest demographic group at L F Smith Elementary is White at 70.7% of enrollment, in Columbus, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for L F Smith Elementary?
L F Smith Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does L F Smith Elementary rank among schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, L F Smith Elementary ranks #4 of 10 schools in Columbus, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbus on the city page.
Is L F Smith Elementary a good school?
L F Smith Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of 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 Bartholomew Con School Corp?
Besides L F Smith Elementary, Bartholomew Con School Corp also operates Columbus North High School (2,360 students), Columbus East High School (1,452 students), and Northside Middle School (908 students). See the Bartholomew Con School Corp 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.