Enrollment
722
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Harrisburg, PA
North Side El Sch
Federal NCES profile for North Side El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 420540001781
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Side El Sch earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #13 of 22
- elementary schools in Harrisburg · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.8:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 99.4%
- free-lunch eligible
North Side El Sch has class sizes larger than 90% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Side El Sch ranks #13 of 22 elementary schools in Harrisburg, PA.
School address
District: Central Dauphin Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420540001781 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
43.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.8:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.4%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+71% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Side El Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Side El Sch
North Side El Sch is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, enrolling 722 students.
Class loads run heavy: 16.8:1 is larger than about 90% of Pennsylvania schools and 24% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 99.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 722 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 409 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #158.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and African American (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 74/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 722 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Harrisburg's elementary schools, it stands alongside Thomas W Holtzman Jr El Sch (792 students): North Side El Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.8:1 vs 18.4:1).
Central Dauphin Sd also operates Central Dauphin Shs (1,966 students) and Central Dauphin East Shs (1,573 students) alongside North Side 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 Side El Sch compares
North Side 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 | 16.8:1 | ▲ 24% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.4% | ▲ 71% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 722 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
722
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 90% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,143
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 722 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.4 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 38.9%
African American 24.9%
Asian 18.0%
Hispanic or Latino 10.5%
Two or More 7.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 38.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.8, North Side 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 Central Dauphin Sd, which includes North Side El Sch.
$15,143
Per student
-16%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 68.5%
State 22.6%
Federal 8.9%
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 Side El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Dauphin Shs | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Dauphin East Shs | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Linglestown Ms | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Central Dauphin Ms | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Dauphin East Ms | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Side El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,966
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,573
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 841
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 834
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 702
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Harrisburg
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Thomas W Holtzman Jr El Sch
Standard public school
792 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Sara Lindemuth El Sch
Standard public school
758 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Paxtonia El Sch
Standard public school
682 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
South Side El Sch
Standard public school
603 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
West Hanover El Sch
Standard public school
589 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Melrose Sch
Standard public school
536 students 15.3:1 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 (~722 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Side El Sch's federal record.
- Compare North Side El Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Central Dauphin 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 Side El Sch
How many students attend North Side El Sch?
North Side El Sch has 722 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Harrisburg, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Side El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at North Side El Sch is 16.8:1, which is 24% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 7% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Side El Sch?
99.4% of students at North Side El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Side El Sch?
The largest demographic group at North Side El Sch is White at 38.9% of enrollment, in Harrisburg, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Side El Sch?
North Side El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical 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 Side El Sch rank among elementary schools in Harrisburg?
By Resource Investment Index, North Side El Sch ranks #13 of 22 elementary schools in Harrisburg, 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 Harrisburg on the city page.
Is North Side El Sch a good school?
North Side El Sch earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Central Dauphin Sd?
Besides North Side El Sch, Central Dauphin Sd also operates Central Dauphin Shs (1,966 students), Central Dauphin East Shs (1,573 students), and Linglestown Ms (841 students). See the Central Dauphin 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.