- Enrollment
- 971
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Highland, IN
Mildred Merkley Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Mildred Merkley Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180456000767
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 51
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mildred Merkley Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Highland · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.3:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 44.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Mildred Merkley Elementary School has class sizes larger than 88% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mildred Merkley Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Highland, IN.
School address
District: School Town of Highland · Indiana
NCES ID 180456000767 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+16 students YoY
Mildred Merkley Elementary School grew from 265 students in 2022-23 to 281 in 2023-24 (+6.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 15.0 → 14.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+16 students YoY 180456000767 · Highland, IN Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
290 enr · 19.3:1 · 44.2% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Highland High School (971 students)
Mildred Merkley Elementary School grew from 265 students in 2022-23 to 281 in 2023-24 (+6.0%). Teacher FTE lost 15.0 → 14.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Mildred Merkley Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Highland High
Highland High School
971 students
- Highland Middl
Highland Middle School
774 students
- Southridge Ele
Southridge Elementary School
439 students
- Judith Morton 383
Judith Morton Johnston Elementary
383 students
- Allen J Warren 308
Allen J Warren Elementary School
308 students
- This school 290
Mildred Merkley Elementary School
290 students
What this shows Mildred Merkley Elementary School reports 290 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mildred Merkley Elementary School compares
Mildred Merkley Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.3:1 | ▲ 21% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.2% | ▼ 11% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 290 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.3:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
290
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% 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
19.3:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 88% in Indiana - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
19.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$10,938
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
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 290 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 6 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.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 44.5%
White 38.6%
African American 9.0%
Two or More 4.5%
Asian 3.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.2, Mildred Merkley Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for School Town of Highland reports $10,938 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mildred Merkley Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Highland Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southridge Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Judith Morton Johnston Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Allen J Warren Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mildred Merkley Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 774
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 439
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 383
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 308
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Highland
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~290 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mildred Merkley Elementary School
How many students attend Mildred Merkley Elementary School?
Mildred Merkley Elementary School has 290 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Highland, IN. CCD year-over-year: 265 (2022-23) → 281 (2023-24), up 16.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mildred Merkley Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mildred Merkley Elementary School is 19.3:1, which is 21% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 23% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mildred Merkley Elementary School?
44.2% of students at Mildred Merkley Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mildred Merkley Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Mildred Merkley Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 44.5% of enrollment, in Highland, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mildred Merkley Elementary School?
Mildred Merkley Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical 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 Mildred Merkley Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Highland?
By Resource Investment Index, Mildred Merkley Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Highland, 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 Highland on the city page.
What other schools are in School Town of Highland?
Besides Mildred Merkley Elementary School, School Town of Highland also operates Highland High School (971 students), Highland Middle School (774 students), and Southridge Elementary School (439 students). See the School Town of Highland district page for the complete list.