- Enrollment
- 1,150
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Stratford, CT
Nichols School
Federal NCES profile for Nichols School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 090444000894
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Nichols School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Connecticut schools.
- #7 of 8
- elementary schools in Stratford · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.1:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 39.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Nichols School has class sizes larger than 96% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Nichols School ranks #7 of 8 elementary schools in Stratford, CT.
School address
District: Stratford School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090444000894 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-33 students YoY
Nichols School shrank from 441 students in 2022-23 to 408 in 2023-24 (-7.5%).
Teacher FTE added 26.7 → 27.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-33 students YoY 090444000894 · Stratford, CT Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
418 enr · 16.1:1 · 39.7% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Stratford High School (1,150 students)
Nichols School shrank from 441 students in 2022-23 to 408 in 2023-24 (-7.5%). Teacher FTE added 26.7 → 27.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Connecticut schools → · Find another →
Nichols School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Stratford High
Stratford High School
1,150 students
- Bunnell High S
Bunnell High School
982 students
- Second Hill La
Second Hill Lane School
610 students
- David Wooster
David Wooster Middle School
538 students
- Stratford Acad
Stratford Academy - Johnson House
537 students
- This school 418
Nichols School
418 students
What this shows Nichols School reports 418 students on the CCD universe file.
How Nichols School compares
Nichols School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.1:1 | ▲ 33% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.7% | ▲ 9% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 418 | top 47% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
418
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
39.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 33% above state mean
Top 96% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
18.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$23,008
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $24,680
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.3 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
21
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.0%
African American 25.8%
White 18.2%
Two or More 2.9%
Asian 1.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.9, Nichols School is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
District finance for Stratford School District reports $23,008 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Nichols School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratford High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bunnell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Second Hill Lane School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| David Wooster Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Stratford Academy - Johnson House | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Nichols School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 982
- Students per teacher
- 11.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 610
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 538
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 537
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar elementary schools in Stratford
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Second Hill Lane School
Standard public school
610 students 13:1 students per teacher
Stratford Academy - Johnson House
Standard public school
537 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Eli Whitney School
Standard public school
462 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Wilcoxson School
Standard public school
318 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Chapel School
Standard public school
290 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Franklin School
Standard public school
246 students 11.2:1 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 (~418 students)
Frequently asked questions about Nichols School
How many students attend Nichols School?
Nichols School has 418 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Stratford, CT. CCD year-over-year: 441 (2022-23) → 408 (2023-24), down 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nichols School?
The student-teacher ratio at Nichols School is 16.1:1, which is 33% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Nichols School?
39.7% of students at Nichols School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Nichols School?
The largest demographic group at Nichols School is Hispanic or Latino at 51.0% of enrollment, in Stratford, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Nichols School?
Nichols School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 Nichols School rank among elementary schools in Stratford?
By Resource Investment Index, Nichols School ranks #7 of 8 elementary schools in Stratford, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Stratford on the city page.
What other schools are in Stratford School District?
Besides Nichols School, Stratford School District also operates Stratford High School (1,150 students), Bunnell High School (982 students), and Second Hill Lane School (610 students). See the Stratford School District district page for the complete list.