Enrollment
274
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Indianapolis, IN
Louis B Russell Jr School 48
Federal NCES profile for Louis B Russell Jr School 48, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180022500867Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Louis B Russell Jr School 48 earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median.
- #77 of 90
- schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 84.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Louis B Russell Jr School 48 has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Louis B Russell Jr School 48 ranks #77 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
NCES ID 180022500867 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
18.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
84.0%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+70% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Louis B Russell Jr School 48 compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Louis B Russell Jr School 48
Louis B Russell Jr School 48 is a high-poverty, mid-sized charter combined-grade school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 274 students.
At 15.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Indiana median, within a few percentage points of the 15.9:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 84.0% of students qualify for free meals, 70% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 274 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 1,862 Indiana schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 131 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #115, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (77%) and Hispanic or Latino (13%) (diversity index 38/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 81.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Phalen Leadership Academy at Louis B Russell School 48 spends $17,687 per pupil, 46% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 45.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 58 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 274 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Indianapolis's public schools, it stands alongside Indiana Connections Academy (5,376 students): Louis B Russell Jr School 48 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.2:1 vs 36.6:1).
Phalen Leadership Academy at Louis B Russell School 48 is a single-school charter district, so Louis B Russell Jr School 48 operates independently rather than alongside district-mates.
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 Louis B Russell Jr School 48 compares
Louis B Russell Jr School 48 on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.2:1 | ▼ 4% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.0% | ▲ 70% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 274 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
274
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
84.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 70% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 49% in Indiana - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
81.8%
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
$17,687
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 55 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.2 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
African American 77.4%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Two or More 8.0%
White 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 77.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.8, Louis B Russell Jr School 48 is about as mixed as the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Phalen Leadership Academy at Louis B Russell School 48, which includes Louis B Russell Jr School 48.
$17,687
Per student
+46%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
+7%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.7%
State 32.6%
Federal 45.7%
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.
Similar other schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Indiana Connections Academy
Standard public school
5,376 students 36.6:1 students per teacher
Hoosier College and Career Academy
Standard public school
1,484 students 57.1:1 students per teacher
Early Learning Center
Standard public school
1,313 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Victory College Prep Academy
Standard public school
1,058 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Forest Glen Elementary School
Standard public school
971 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Indiana Connections Career Academy
Standard public school
942 students 49.6:1 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 (~274 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Louis B Russell Jr School 48's federal record.
- Compare Louis B Russell Jr School 48 against another school. Compare schools
- Phalen Leadership Academy at Louis B Russell School 48'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 Louis B Russell Jr School 48
How many students attend Louis B Russell Jr School 48?
Louis B Russell Jr School 48 has 274 students enrolled. It is a public school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Louis B Russell Jr School 48?
The student-teacher ratio at Louis B Russell Jr School 48 is 15.2:1, which is 4% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 3% 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 Louis B Russell Jr School 48?
84.0% of students at Louis B Russell Jr School 48 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Louis B Russell Jr School 48?
The largest demographic group at Louis B Russell Jr School 48 is African American at 77.4% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Louis B Russell Jr School 48?
Louis B Russell Jr School 48 has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower 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 Louis B Russell Jr School 48 rank among schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Louis B Russell Jr School 48 ranks #77 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is Louis B Russell Jr School 48 a good school?
Louis B Russell Jr School 48 earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. 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 Phalen Leadership Academy at Louis B Russell School 48?
None; Phalen Leadership Academy at Louis B Russell School 48 is a single-school charter district, and Louis B Russell Jr School 48 is its only campus.
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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.