Enrollment
496
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Reading, PA
Northwest El Sch
Federal NCES profile for Northwest El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 422004005206
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 1
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northwest El Sch earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Pennsylvania schools.
- #8 of 15
- schools in Reading · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.6:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Northwest El Sch has class sizes larger than 71% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest El Sch ranks #8 of 15 schools in Reading, PA.
School address
District: Reading Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 422004005206 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.6:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Northwest El Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Northwest El Sch
Northwest El Sch is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Reading, Pennsylvania, enrolling 496 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 496 students, its enrollment sits close to the Pennsylvania median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 94% of the 2,889 Pennsylvania schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 529 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Pennsylvania schools statewide, it ranks #426, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (91% of enrollment) (diversity index 17/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 496 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 51.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Reading Sd spends $13,219 per pupil, 26% below the Pennsylvania average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Reading's public schools, it stands alongside Muhlenberg Jr Ms (1,016 students): Northwest El Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.6:1 vs 15.6:1).
Reading Sd also operates Reading Shs (4,879 students) and Central Ms (1,785 students) alongside Northwest 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 Northwest El Sch compares
Northwest 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 | 14.6:1 | ▲ 7% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 496 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
496
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% 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
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 71% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
51.2%
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
$13,219
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
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 496 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.5 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
Hispanic or Latino 90.7%
African American 5.6%
White 1.8%
Two or More 1.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 90.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.4, Northwest El Sch is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Reading Sd, which includes Northwest El Sch.
$13,219
Per student
-26%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 15.9%
State 70.2%
Federal 13.9%
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 Northwest El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Shs | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northeast Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwest Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Amanda E Stout El Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northwest El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,879
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,785
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 868
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 821
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 758
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar other schools in Reading
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Muhlenberg Jr Ms
Standard public school
1,016 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Amanda E Stout El Sch
Standard public school
758 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Riverside El Sch
Standard public school
694 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Thirteenth & Union El Sch
Standard public school
641 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Lauers Park El Sch
Standard public school
615 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Millmont El Sch
Standard public school
590 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~496 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Northwest El Sch's federal record.
- Compare Northwest El Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Reading 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 Northwest El Sch
How many students attend Northwest El Sch?
Northwest El Sch has 496 students enrolled. It is a public school in Reading, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwest El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwest El Sch is 14.6:1, which is 7% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 7% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northwest El Sch?
100.0% of students at Northwest El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northwest El Sch?
The largest demographic group at Northwest El Sch is Hispanic or Latino at 90.7% of enrollment, in Reading, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northwest El Sch?
Northwest El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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 Northwest El Sch rank among schools in Reading?
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest El Sch ranks #8 of 15 schools in Reading, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Reading on the city page.
Is Northwest El Sch a good school?
Northwest El Sch earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% 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 Reading Sd?
Besides Northwest El Sch, Reading Sd also operates Reading Shs (4,879 students), Central Ms (1,785 students), and Northeast Ms (868 students). See the Reading 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.