Enrollment
193
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Carlisle, PA
North Dickinson El Sch
Federal NCES profile for North Dickinson El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 61/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 420501001687
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 81
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Dickinson El Sch earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Pennsylvania schools.
- #1 of 7
- elementary schools in Carlisle · Resource Index
- 61
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.1:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 32.4%
- free-lunch eligible
North Dickinson El Sch has class sizes larger than 86% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Dickinson El Sch ranks #1 of 7 elementary schools in Carlisle, PA.
School address
District: Carlisle Area Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420501001687 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
12.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.1:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
32.4%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
-44% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Dickinson El Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Dickinson El Sch
North Dickinson El Sch is a small elementary school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, enrolling 193 students.
Class loads run heavy: 16.1:1 is larger than about 86% of Pennsylvania schools and 18% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 32.4% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 92% of Pennsylvania schools, with 193 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 93% of the 2,889 Pennsylvania schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Against 116 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #22.
Its student body is led by White (77%) and Hispanic or Latino (8%) (diversity index 40/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 217 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance holds up well here: only 7.8% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Among Carlisle's elementary schools, it stands alongside Crestview El Sch (541 students): North Dickinson El Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.1:1 vs 18.7:1).
Carlisle Area Sd also operates Carlisle Area Hs (1,559 students) and Wilson Ms (604 students) alongside North Dickinson El Sch.
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 North Dickinson El Sch compares
North Dickinson El Sch on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.1:1 | ▲ 18% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.4% | ▼ 44% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 193 | top 92% | - | - |
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.
193
Bigger than 19% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
32.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% below the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 86% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
7.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$15,072
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.9 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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
White 76.7%
Hispanic or Latino 7.8%
African American 6.7%
Asian 4.7%
Two or More 4.1%
Largest group: White at 76.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.7, North Dickinson El Sch is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Carlisle Area Sd, which includes North Dickinson El Sch.
$15,072
Per student
-16%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 62.9%
State 28.3%
Federal 8.7%
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 North Dickinson El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Area Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wilson Ms | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lamberton Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Crestview El Sch | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bellaire El Sch | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Dickinson El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,559
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 604
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 541
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 407
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar elementary schools in Carlisle
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Crestview El Sch
Standard public school
541 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Middlesex El Sch
Standard public school
419 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Bellaire El Sch
Standard public school
407 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Hamilton El Sch
Standard public school
388 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Mooreland El Sch
Standard public school
372 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Letort El Sch
Standard public school
225 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~193 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Dickinson El Sch's federal record.
- Compare North Dickinson El Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Carlisle Area Sd'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 North Dickinson El Sch
How many students attend North Dickinson El Sch?
North Dickinson El Sch has 193 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Carlisle, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Dickinson El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at North Dickinson El Sch is 16.1:1, which is 18% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Dickinson El Sch?
32.4% of students at North Dickinson El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Dickinson El Sch?
The largest demographic group at North Dickinson El Sch is White at 76.7% of enrollment, in Carlisle, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Dickinson El Sch?
North Dickinson El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 61/100 (higher 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 North Dickinson El Sch rank among elementary schools in Carlisle?
By Resource Investment Index, North Dickinson El Sch ranks #1 of 7 elementary schools in Carlisle, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Carlisle on the city page.
Is North Dickinson El Sch a good school?
North Dickinson El Sch earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Pennsylvania 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 Carlisle Area Sd?
Besides North Dickinson El Sch, Carlisle Area Sd also operates Carlisle Area Hs (1,559 students), Wilson Ms (604 students), and Lamberton Ms (583 students). See the Carlisle Area Sd 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.