Enrollment
501
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Marengo, IL
Locust Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Locust Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 170007705249
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 39
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Locust Elem School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Illinois schools.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Marengo · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.7:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 501
- students enrolled
Locust Elem School has class sizes larger than 78% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Locust Elem School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Marengo, IL.
School address
District: Marengo-Union E Cons D 165 · Illinois
NCES ID 170007705249 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+12% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Locust Elem School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Locust Elem School
Locust Elem School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Marengo, Illinois, enrolling 501 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
Enrollment of 501 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and Hispanic or Latino (35%) (diversity index 55/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 24.4% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Marengo-Union E Cons D 165 spends $13,479 per pupil, 21% below the Illinois average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Marengo-Union E Cons D 165 also operates Marengo Comm Middle School (342 students) and Ulysses S Grant Intermediate Sch (249 students) alongside Locust Elem School.
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 Locust Elem School compares
Locust Elem School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.7:1 | ▲ 12% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 501 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
501
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 78% in Illinois - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.4%
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
$13,479
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $17,042
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 501 Top 30% in Illinois - larger than 70% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 34.0
Students per teacher 15.7:1 +12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 170007705249
Student demographics
White 56.9%
Hispanic or Latino 34.9%
Two or More 5.8%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 56.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.1, Locust Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 24.4%
In-school suspensions 2
Out-of-school suspensions 4
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Marengo-Union E Cons D 165, which includes Locust Elem School.
$13,479
Per student
-21%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.1%
State 32.4%
Federal 13.6%
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 Locust Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marengo Comm Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ulysses S Grant Intermediate Sch | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Locust Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 342
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 249
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Locust Elem School's federal record.
- Compare Locust Elem School against another school. Compare schools
- Marengo-Union E Cons D 165'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 Locust Elem School
How many students attend Locust Elem School?
Locust Elem School has 501 students enrolled. It is a public school in Marengo, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Locust Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Locust Elem School is 15.7:1, which is 12% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Locust Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Locust Elem School is White at 56.9% of enrollment, in Marengo, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Locust Elem School?
Locust Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Locust Elem School rank among public schools in Marengo?
By Resource Investment Index, Locust Elem School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Marengo, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Marengo on the city page.
Is Locust Elem School a good school?
Locust Elem School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Illinois 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 Marengo-Union E Cons D 165?
Besides Locust Elem School, Marengo-Union E Cons D 165 also operates Marengo Comm Middle School (342 students) and Ulysses S Grant Intermediate Sch (249 students). See the Marengo-Union E Cons D 165 district page for the complete list.