2024-25 NCES data Other / mixed grade configuration NCES 240027001656

Mary B. Neal Elementary School — Waldorf, MD

Federal NCES profile for Mary B. Neal Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators — Resource Investment Index 45/100.

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0/100100/10045/100
👥 Class size
46
🌟 Gifted program
70
🎓 Counselors
37
📋 Attendance
27
How this works: Each indicator above is scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC data, then averaged into the Resource Investment Index. This measures resource allocation — staffing, programs, and support services — not standardized test scores or academic outcomes. Full methodology →

The verdict

Mary B. Neal Elementary School earns a D Resource Investment Index (45/100), with class sizes near the Maryland median.

D
Resource Index · 45/100
13.6:1
students per teacher
39.6%
free-lunch eligible
626
students enrolled

School address

Waldorf, MD 20602
District: Charles County Public Schools · Maryland

Public location data per NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) Common Core of Data. Verify the school's current address on the NCES CCD record.

Enrollment

626

Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data

Teachers (FTE)

46.0

Federal CCD staff survey

Students per teacher

13.6:1

vs 14.4:1 Maryland avg

-6% vs state

Free-lunch eligible

39.6%

vs 49.0% Maryland avg

-19% vs state

Student-teacher ratio in context

How Mary B. Neal Elementary School compares with Maryland and U.S. medians

At or below state median
0:135:113.6:1

Source: NCES Common Core of Data As of 2024-25 federal staff survey Total enrollment ÷ full-time-equivalent classroom teachers

The federal record — no proprietary index, no editorial formula. PlainSchools publishes the actual federal measurements — enrollment, staffing, demographics, discipline, and finance — straight from the NCES Common Core of Data, CRDC, and F-33 surveys. No composite rating, no opinion-based score on top. You get the same raw numbers researchers and policymakers use, with benchmarks, spending context, and equity indicators computed from the same federal datasets. Full methodology linked below.

What this school's NCES data tells you

Mary B. Neal Elementary School reports 626 enrolled students to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) alongside 46.0 full-time-equivalent teachers, producing a 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio. That figure sits 6% below the Maryland state mean of 14.4:1, signalling more teacher attention per pupil than the state benchmark. Against the national 2024-25 average of 15.9:1, it is 14% lower, a useful calibration for families comparing districts across state lines.

Title I and federal lunch eligibility offer another window into the student body: 39.6% of pupils qualify for free meals, a proxy for household income that federal programs use to direct funding. The free-lunch share is 19% below the Maryland average and 24% below the national baseline. Counselor coverage works out to roughly 313 students per counselor, above the ASCA-recommended ceiling of 250:1. Chronic absenteeism — missing 10% or more of school days — stands at 29.4% according to the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.

On the finance side, the surrounding Charles County Public Schools spends $19,839 per pupil district-wide, below the Maryland average of $22,498 and above the national average of $19,490. Revenue comes 45.0% from local sources (property taxes), 44.3% from the state, and 10.7% from federal programs per the NCES F-33 finance survey. Taken together, these measurements produce a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (D), calculated from 4 distinct NCES and CRDC indicators measuring resource allocation rather than academic outcomes.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25

How Mary B. Neal Elementary School compares

Cross-validating school-level NCES values against Maryland state and U.S. national means lets readers see whether this school is an outlier or in line with peers.

Metric This school vs Maryland Maryland avg U.S. avg
Students per teacher 13.6:1 ▼ 6% 14.4:1 15.9:1
Free-lunch eligible 39.6% ▼ 19% 49.0% 51.8%
Enrollment 626 top 63% — —

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25

Class size vs. every US school

Students per teacher (lower means more individual attention)

14 Among the smallest classes smaller classes than 63% of 92,598 US schools

0–2: 295 US schools (0%). Below this entry. 2–4: 597 US schools (1%). Below this entry. 4–6: 1,033 US schools (1%). Below this entry. 6–8: 1,939 US schools (2%). Below this entry. 8–10: 4,805 US schools (5%). Below this entry. 10–12: 11,082 US schools (12%). Below this entry. 12–14: 16,971 US schools (18%). This entry sits in this band. 14–16: 18,959 US schools (20%). Above this entry. 16–18: 13,660 US schools (15%). Above this entry. 18–20: 8,300 US schools (9%). Above this entry. 20–22: 5,448 US schools (6%). Above this entry. 22–24: 4,007 US schools (4%). Above this entry. 24–26: 2,663 US schools (3%). Above this entry. 26–28: 1,131 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 28–30: 504 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 30–32: 307 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 32–34: 189 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 34–36: 141 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 36–38: 93 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 38–40: 94 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 40–42: 59 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 42–44: 46 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 44–46: 56 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 46–48: 58 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 48–50: 34 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 50–52: 37 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 52–54: 30 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 54–56: 15 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 56–58: 25 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 58–60: 20 US schools (0%). Above this entry. This school 0 60 every US school, by class size, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US schools. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education — NCES Common Core of Data · 2024-25

School size vs. every US school

Total enrollment — where this school sits by size (neither large nor small is 'better')

626 larger than 75% of 95,891 US schools

0–150: 14,035 US schools (15%). Below this entry. 150–300: 16,928 US schools (18%). Below this entry. 300–450: 21,633 US schools (23%). Below this entry. 450–600: 17,006 US schools (18%). Below this entry. 600–750: 10,042 US schools (10%). This entry sits in this band. 750–900: 5,568 US schools (6%). Above this entry. 900–1,050: 3,006 US schools (3%). Above this entry. 1,050–1,200: 1,826 US schools (2%). Above this entry. 1,200–1,350: 1,220 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,350–1,500: 908 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,500–1,650: 692 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,650–1,800: 607 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,800–1,950: 502 US schools (1%). Above this entry. 1,950–2,100: 432 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,100–2,250: 346 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,250–2,400: 252 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,400–2,550: 203 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,550–2,700: 163 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,700–2,850: 115 US schools (0%). Above this entry. 2,850–3,000: 85 US schools (0%). Above this entry. This school 0 3,000 every US school, by enrollment, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US schools. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education — NCES Common Core of Data · 2024-25

What the federal data reveals about equity at this school

Federal measurements — not ratings — surface the resource and opportunity picture. Below are the indicators that researchers, civil-rights monitors, and funding formulas use to assess equity.

Economic need
39.6%
free-lunch eligible — 19% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold — federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher — 6% below state mean
Top 34% in Maryland — lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Below the 15:1 benchmark — typical of schools with smaller class sizes and more individualized attention.
Engagement
29.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Chronic absenteeism at or above 20% — the CDC threshold for "high" — signals significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$19,839
per pupil, district-wide — below Maryland avg of $22,498
Above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 313 students — the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.

Overview

Enrollment 626 Top 63% in Maryland — larger than 37% of 1,383 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 46.0
Students per teacher 13.6:1 -6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible 39.6% -19% vs state
NCES ID 240027001656

Student demographics

African American 75.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.9%
Two or More 6.9%
Asian 3.8%
White 3.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%

Largest group: African American at 75.7% of enrollment.

Programs & staff

Gifted & talented Yes
Counselors (FTE) 2.0
Students per counselor 313:1

Discipline & special education

Chronically absent 29.4%
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 13

Funding & spending

District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Charles County Public Schools, which includes Mary B. Neal Elementary School.

$19,839
Per student
-12%
vs Maryland
Avg $22,498
+2%
vs U.S.
Avg $19,490
Revenue mix
Local 45.0%
State 44.3%
Federal 10.7%

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.

Other Schools in This District

Charles County Public Schools · 5 sibling schools

View district profile

Similar other schools in Waldorf

6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.

William a. Diggs Elementary School
Standard public school
876 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Arthur Middleton Elementary School
Standard public school
774 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Berry Elementary School
Standard public school
726 students 16:1 students per teacher
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School
Standard public school
661 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
William B. Wade Elementary School
Standard public school
651 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
J. P. Ryon Elementary School
Standard public school
640 students 15.2:1 students per teacher

Educator & family resources

In-depth guides on understanding NCES data, school choice, and education funding.

Understanding NCES data

How CCD, CRDC and EDFacts feed every public-school number you see.

Choose a school district

Eight signals that matter more than the overall ranking number.

How schools are funded

Title I, F-33, state aid formulas and what per-pupil spending really means.

Chronic absenteeism

Why missing 10% of school matters and how it varies by district.

Magnet vs charter vs traditional

Three school types, three funding models, three sets of trade-offs.

School discipline data

What CRDC suspension and expulsion records do and don't reveal.

Frequently asked questions about Mary B. Neal Elementary School

How many students attend Mary B. Neal Elementary School?

Mary B. Neal Elementary School has 626 students enrolled. It is a other school in Waldorf, MD.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mary B. Neal Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Mary B. Neal Elementary School is 13.6:1, which is 6% lower than the Maryland average of 14.4:1 and 14% lower than the national average of 15.9:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.

What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mary B. Neal Elementary School?

39.6% of students at Mary B. Neal Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.

What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mary B. Neal Elementary School?

The largest demographic group at Mary B. Neal Elementary School is African American at 75.7%. The school serves a diverse student body in Waldorf, MD.

What is the Resource Investment Index for Mary B. Neal Elementary School?

Mary B. Neal Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (D) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. This index measures federal resource allocation — staffing levels, program availability, and support services — not standardized test scores or academic outcomes.

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Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) CCD + Public School Universe (2024-25), CRDC (2021-22), F-33 District Finance Survey (FY 2021-22) · 2024-25 Data as of the 2024-25 school year. Coverage from U.S. Department of Education NCES Common Core of Data. Varies by entity type — administrative districts and certain charter networks may report only a subset of fields.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) — universe of U.S. public schools and districts. nces.ed.gov/ccd
  • NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) — discipline, absenteeism, and AP-course participation. ocrdata.ed.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey — per-pupil expenditure and revenue sources. nces.ed.gov/ccd/f33agency
  • USDA National School Lunch Program (NSLP) — free and reduced-price lunch eligibility. fns.usda.gov/nslp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic and socioeconomic context for school catchment areas. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • U.S. Department of Education ESSA Title I — federal Title I program participation. ed.gov