- Enrollment
- 1,120
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Little Rock, AR
Lawson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Lawson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 051185000928
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lawson Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #9 of 24
- schools in Little Rock · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.2:1
- students per teacher
- 99.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Lawson Elementary School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lawson Elementary School ranks #9 of 24 schools in Little Rock, AR.
School address
District: Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist. · Arkansas
NCES ID 051185000928 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-36 students YoY
Lawson Elementary School shrank from 219 students in 2022-23 to 183 in 2023-24 (-16.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 18.7 → 17.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-36 students YoY 051185000928 · Little Rock, AR Other · SMALL · TRAD
220 enr · 12.2:1 · 99.5% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Sylvan Hills High School (1,120 students)
Lawson Elementary School shrank from 219 students in 2022-23 to 183 in 2023-24 (-16.4%). Teacher FTE lost 18.7 → 17.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Lawson Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Sylvan Hills H
Sylvan Hills High School
1,120 students
- Joe T. Robinso
Joe T. Robinson High School
1,030 students
- Maumelle High
Maumelle High School
869 students
- Sylvan Hills M
Sylvan Hills Middle School
772 students
- Sylvan Hills J
Sylvan Hills Junior High School
721 students
- This school 220
Lawson Elementary School
220 students
What this shows Lawson Elementary School reports 220 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lawson Elementary School compares
Lawson Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.2:1 | ▼ 10% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.5% | ▲ 68% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 220 | top 83% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
220
Bigger than 22% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 36% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
31.8%
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
$13,934
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arkansas avg of $12,818
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 220 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 42.7%
African American 29.5%
Hispanic or Latino 24.5%
Two or More 3.2%
Largest group: White at 42.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.0, Lawson Elementary School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist. reports $13,934 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lawson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvan Hills High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joe T. Robinson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Maumelle High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sylvan Hills Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sylvan Hills Junior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lawson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,030
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 869
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 772
- Students per teacher
- 10.2:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
- Enrollment
- 721
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar other schools in Little Rock
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~220 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Lawson Elementary School
How many students attend Lawson Elementary School?
Lawson Elementary School has 220 students enrolled. It is a public school in Little Rock, AR. CCD year-over-year: 219 (2022-23) → 183 (2023-24), down 36.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lawson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lawson Elementary School is 12.2:1, which is 10% lower than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 22% 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 Lawson Elementary School?
99.5% of students at Lawson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lawson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Lawson Elementary School is White at 42.7% of enrollment, in Little Rock, AR. 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 Lawson Elementary School?
Lawson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (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 Lawson Elementary School rank among schools in Little Rock?
By Resource Investment Index, Lawson Elementary School ranks #9 of 24 schools in Little Rock, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Little Rock on the city page.
What other schools are in Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist.?
Besides Lawson Elementary School, Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist. also operates Sylvan Hills High School (1,120 students), Joe T. Robinson High School (1,030 students), and Maumelle High School (869 students). See the Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist. district page for the complete list.