- Enrollment
- 940
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Picayune, MS
Nicholson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Nicholson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 280363000694
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 11
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Nicholson Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Mississippi schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Picayune · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.6:1
- small classes for Mississippi
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Nicholson Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 74% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Nicholson Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Picayune, MS.
School address
District: Picayune School District · Mississippi
NCES ID 280363000694 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Nicholson Elementary School held near 363 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.8 → 30.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 280363000694 · Picayune, MS Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
324 enr · 11.6:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Picayune Memorial High School (940 students)
Nicholson Elementary School held near 363 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.8 → 30.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Nicholson Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Picayune Memor
Picayune Memorial High School
940 students
- Picayune Junio
Picayune Junior High School
465 students
- West Side Elem
West Side Elementary School
444 students
- Roseland Park 370
Roseland Park Elementary School
370 students
- This school 324
Nicholson Elementary School
324 students
- South Side Low 320
South Side Lower Elementary School
320 students
What this shows Nicholson Elementary School reports 324 students on the CCD universe file.
How Nicholson Elementary School compares
Nicholson Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.6:1 | ▼ 13% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 324 | top 69% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.6:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
324
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.6:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 26% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
35.5%
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
$12,883
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $13,683
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 324 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
33
in-school suspensions + 46 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 24.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 47.5%
African American 25.9%
Hispanic or Latino 21.3%
Two or More 4.6%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 47.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.0, Nicholson Elementary School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Picayune School District reports $12,883 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Nicholson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picayune Memorial High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Picayune Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Side Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roseland Park Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Side Lower Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Nicholson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 465
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 444
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 370
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 320
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar elementary schools in Picayune
3 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 (~324 students)
Frequently asked questions about Nicholson Elementary School
How many students attend Nicholson Elementary School?
Nicholson Elementary School has 324 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Picayune, MS. CCD year-over-year: 363 (2022-23) → 363 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nicholson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Nicholson Elementary School is 11.6:1, which is 13% lower than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 26% 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 Nicholson Elementary School?
100.0% of students at Nicholson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Nicholson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Nicholson Elementary School is White at 47.5% of enrollment, in Picayune, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Nicholson Elementary School?
Nicholson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Nicholson Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Picayune?
By Resource Investment Index, Nicholson Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Picayune, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Picayune on the city page.
What other schools are in Picayune School District?
Besides Nicholson Elementary School, Picayune School District also operates Picayune Memorial High School (940 students), Picayune Junior High School (465 students), and West Side Elementary School (444 students). See the Picayune School District district page for the complete list.