Enrollment
485
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Meriden, CT
Nathan Hale School
Federal NCES profile for Nathan Hale School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 090240000448
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Nathan Hale School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Connecticut schools.
- #6 of 6
- schools in Meriden · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.5:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 61.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Nathan Hale School has class sizes larger than 81% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Nathan Hale School ranks #6 of 6 schools in Meriden, CT.
School address
District: Meriden School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090240000448 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
61.0%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+68% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Nathan Hale School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at Nathan Hale School
Nathan Hale School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Meriden, Connecticut, enrolling 485 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 13.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Connecticut schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 61.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 485 puts it in the larger third of Connecticut schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 1,003 Connecticut schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 158 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Connecticut schools statewide, it ranks #149, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (62%) and White (21%) (diversity index 56/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 485 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Meriden School District spends $19,132 per pupil, 20% below the Connecticut average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Meriden's public schools, it stands alongside Roger Sherman School (457 students): Nathan Hale School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.5:1 vs 12.7:1).
Meriden School District also operates Francis T. Maloney High School (1,291 students) and Orville H. Platt High School (1,191 students) alongside Nathan Hale 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 Nathan Hale School compares
Nathan Hale School on the metrics families compare, against Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▲ 12% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.0% | ▲ 68% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 485 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
485
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
61.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 81% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
30.7%
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
$19,132
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $23,870
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 485 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.9 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
Hispanic or Latino 61.6%
White 20.6%
African American 10.5%
Two or More 5.2%
Asian 2.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 61.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.4, Nathan Hale School is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Meriden School District, which includes Nathan Hale School.
$19,132
Per student
-20%
vs Connecticut
Avg $23,870
+15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.9%
State 54.9%
Federal 14.2%
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 Nathan Hale School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis T. Maloney High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orville H. Platt High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edison Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Casimir Pulaski School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Nathan Hale School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,291
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,191
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 773
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 684
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 539
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Meriden
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Roger Sherman School
Standard public school
457 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Hanover School
Standard public school
456 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
John Barry School
Standard public school
418 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Thomas Hooker School
Standard public school
404 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Benjamin Franklin School
Standard public school
357 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Connecticut, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~485 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Nathan Hale School's federal record.
- Compare Nathan Hale School against another school. Compare schools
- Meriden School District'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 Nathan Hale School
How many students attend Nathan Hale School?
Nathan Hale School has 485 students enrolled. It is a public school in Meriden, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nathan Hale School?
The student-teacher ratio at Nathan Hale School is 13.5:1, which is 12% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 14% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Nathan Hale School?
61.0% of students at Nathan Hale School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Nathan Hale School?
The largest demographic group at Nathan Hale School is Hispanic or Latino at 61.6% of enrollment, in Meriden, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Nathan Hale School?
Nathan Hale School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Nathan Hale School rank among schools in Meriden?
By Resource Investment Index, Nathan Hale School ranks #6 of 6 schools in Meriden, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Meriden on the city page.
Is Nathan Hale School a good school?
Nathan Hale School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Connecticut 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 Meriden School District?
Besides Nathan Hale School, Meriden School District also operates Francis T. Maloney High School (1,291 students), Orville H. Platt High School (1,191 students), and Edison Middle School (773 students). See the Meriden School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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.