- Enrollment
- 1,202
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Columbia City, IN
Northern Heights Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Northern Heights 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 180228001185
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 76
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northern Heights Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Indiana schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Columbia City · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 29.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Northern Heights Elementary School has class sizes larger than 80% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Heights Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Columbia City, IN.
School address
District: Whitley County Con Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180228001185 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
Northern Heights Elementary School held near 519 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 33.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 180228001185 · Columbia City, IN Elementary · MID · TRAD
504 enr · 18:1 · 29.4% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbia City High School (1,202 students)
Northern Heights Elementary School held near 519 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 33.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Northern Heights Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbia City
Columbia City High School
1,202 students
- Indian Springs
Indian Springs Middle School
797 students
- Little Turtle
Little Turtle Elementary School
583 students
- This school
Northern Heights Elementary School
504 students
- Mary Raber Ele 297
Mary Raber Elementary School
297 students
- Coesse School 291
Coesse School
291 students
What this shows Northern Heights Elementary School reports 504 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northern Heights Elementary School compares
Northern Heights Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18:1 | ▲ 13% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.4% | ▼ 41% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 504 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
504
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
29.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 80% in Indiana - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
9.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$10,015
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
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 504 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 92.7%
Two or More 3.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
African American 0.2%
Asian 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 92.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 13.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 13.8, Northern Heights Elementary School is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Whitley County Con Schools reports $10,015 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northern Heights Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia City High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian Springs Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Little Turtle Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mary Raber Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Coesse School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northern Heights Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 297
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 291
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Columbia City
2 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 (~504 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northern Heights Elementary School
How many students attend Northern Heights Elementary School?
Northern Heights Elementary School has 504 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Columbia City, IN. CCD year-over-year: 510 (2022-23) → 519 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Heights Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern Heights Elementary School is 18:1, which is 13% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northern Heights Elementary School?
29.4% of students at Northern Heights Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northern Heights Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Northern Heights Elementary School is White at 92.7% of enrollment, in Columbia City, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northern Heights Elementary School?
Northern Heights 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 Northern Heights Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Columbia City?
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Heights Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Columbia City, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Columbia City on the city page.
What other schools are in Whitley County Con Schools?
Besides Northern Heights Elementary School, Whitley County Con Schools also operates Columbia City High School (1,202 students), Indian Springs Middle School (797 students), and Little Turtle Elementary School (583 students). See the Whitley County Con Schools district page for the complete list.