- Enrollment
- 2,360
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Indianapolis, IN
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy
Federal NCES profile for Merle Sidener Gifted Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180477002439
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 54
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #9 of 89
- elementary schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 40.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy has class sizes smaller than 87% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merle Sidener Gifted Academy ranks #9 of 89 elementary schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Indianapolis Public Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180477002439 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy held near 304 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 19.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+4 students YoY 180477002439 · Indianapolis, IN Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
228 enr · 12:1 · 40.0% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students)
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy held near 304 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount). Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 19.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Arsenal Techni
Arsenal Technical High School
2,360 students
- Crispus Attuck
Crispus Attucks High School
1,269 students
- Shortridge Hig
Shortridge High School
1,206 students
- George Washing 729
George Washington High School
729 students
- Northwest Comm 623
Northwest Community Middle School
623 students
- This school 228
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy
228 students
What this shows Merle Sidener Gifted Academy reports 228 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merle Sidener Gifted Academy compares
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12:1 | ▼ 25% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.0% | ▼ 19% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 228 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
228
Bigger than 23% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
40.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 13% in Indiana - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
11.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$23,197
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,921
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 228 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 39.0%
White 31.1%
Hispanic or Latino 18.9%
Two or More 8.3%
Asian 2.6%
Largest group: African American at 39.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.8, Merle Sidener Gifted Academy is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
District finance for Indianapolis Public Schools reports $23,197 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merle Sidener Gifted Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal Technical High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crispus Attucks High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shortridge High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwest Community Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merle Sidener Gifted Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,206
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 623
- Students per teacher
- 26:1
- Resource Index
- 8/100
Similar elementary schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate
Standard public school
1,365 students 21:1 students per teacher
Edgewood Intermediate School
Standard public school
1,300 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Creston Intermediate & Middle Schl
Standard public school
1,106 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Raymond Park Intermediate & Middle
Standard public school
1,079 students 14:1 students per teacher
Stonybrook Intermediate & Middle
Standard public school
1,043 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Paramount Brookside
Standard public school
843 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~228 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merle Sidener Gifted Academy
How many students attend Merle Sidener Gifted Academy?
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy has 228 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Indianapolis, IN. CCD year-over-year: 300 (2022-23) → 304 (2023-24), nearly flat (+4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merle Sidener Gifted Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Merle Sidener Gifted Academy is 12:1, which is 25% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 24% 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 Merle Sidener Gifted Academy?
40.0% of students at Merle Sidener Gifted Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merle Sidener Gifted Academy?
The largest demographic group at Merle Sidener Gifted Academy is African American at 39.0% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merle Sidener Gifted Academy?
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (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 Merle Sidener Gifted Academy rank among elementary schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Merle Sidener Gifted Academy ranks #9 of 89 elementary 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 elementary schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
What other schools are in Indianapolis Public Schools?
Besides Merle Sidener Gifted Academy, Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students), Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students), and Shortridge High School (1,206 students). See the Indianapolis Public Schools district page for the complete list.