Enrollment
290
Louisiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Natchitoches, LA
N.S.U. Elementary Lab School
Federal NCES profile for N.S.U. Elementary Lab School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 220114000836
👥 S:T ratio 17
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 99
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
N.S.U. Elementary Lab School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Louisiana schools.
- #3 of 4
- schools in Natchitoches · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.7:1
- large classes for Louisiana
- 30.1%
- free-lunch eligible
N.S.U. Elementary Lab School has class sizes larger than 87% of Louisiana schools. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, N.S.U. Elementary Lab School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Natchitoches, LA.
School address
District: Natchitoches Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220114000836 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
14.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.7:1
vs 16.8:1 Louisiana avg
+23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
30.1%
vs 62.5% Louisiana avg
-52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How N.S.U. Elementary Lab School compares with Louisiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at N.S.U. Elementary Lab School
N.S.U. Elementary Lab School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Natchitoches, Louisiana, enrolling 290 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.7:1 is larger than about 87% of Louisiana schools and 23% above the 16.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 30.1% free-meal eligibility runs 52% below the Louisiana average.
Enrollment of 290 puts it in the smaller third of Louisiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,330 scored Louisiana schools.
Among 45 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Louisiana schools statewide, it ranks #38, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (71%) and African American (16%) (diversity index 47/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 580 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance holds up well here: only 0.3% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Its district draws 20.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Natchitoches's public schools, it stands alongside L.P. Vaughn Elementary & Middle School (687 students): N.S.U. Elementary Lab School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.7:1 vs 15.3:1).
Natchitoches Parish also operates Natchitoches Central High School (1,188 students) and L.P. Vaughn Elementary & Middle School (687 students) alongside N.S.U. Elementary Lab School.
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 N.S.U. Elementary Lab School compares
N.S.U. Elementary Lab School on the metrics families compare, against Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.7:1 | ▲ 23% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.1% | ▼ 52% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 290 | top 75% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.7:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
290
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
30.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.7:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 87% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
0.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$15,353
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,376
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 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 71.0%
African American 16.2%
Hispanic or Latino 5.5%
Two or More 3.8%
Asian 2.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: White at 71.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.5, N.S.U. Elementary Lab School is more mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Natchitoches Parish, which includes N.S.U. Elementary Lab School.
$15,353
Per student
-6%
vs Louisiana
Avg $16,376
-7%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.8%
State 36.4%
Federal 20.8%
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 N.S.U. Elementary Lab School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natchitoches Central High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| L.P. Vaughn Elementary & Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Provencal Elementary & Junior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Natchitoches Magnet School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Natchitoches Elementary & Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to N.S.U. Elementary Lab School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,188
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 687
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 444
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 66/100
- Enrollment
- 420
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 70/100
- Enrollment
- 383
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in Natchitoches
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
L.P. Vaughn Elementary & Middle School
Standard public school
687 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Natchitoches Magnet School
Standard public school
420 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Natchitoches Parish Technical and Career Center
Alternative education program
37 students 4.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Louisiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~290 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on N.S.U. Elementary Lab School's federal record.
- Compare N.S.U. Elementary Lab School against another school. Compare schools
- Natchitoches Parish'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 N.S.U. Elementary Lab School
How many students attend N.S.U. Elementary Lab School?
N.S.U. Elementary Lab School has 290 students enrolled. It is a public school in Natchitoches, LA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at N.S.U. Elementary Lab School?
The student-teacher ratio at N.S.U. Elementary Lab School is 20.7:1, which is 23% higher than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 32% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at N.S.U. Elementary Lab School?
30.1% of students at N.S.U. Elementary Lab School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of N.S.U. Elementary Lab School?
The largest demographic group at N.S.U. Elementary Lab School is White at 71.0% of enrollment, in Natchitoches, LA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for N.S.U. Elementary Lab School?
N.S.U. Elementary Lab School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 N.S.U. Elementary Lab School rank among schools in Natchitoches?
By Resource Investment Index, N.S.U. Elementary Lab School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Natchitoches, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Natchitoches on the city page.
Is N.S.U. Elementary Lab School a good school?
N.S.U. Elementary Lab School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Louisiana 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 Natchitoches Parish?
Besides N.S.U. Elementary Lab School, Natchitoches Parish also operates Natchitoches Central High School (1,188 students), L.P. Vaughn Elementary & Middle School (687 students), and Provencal Elementary & Junior High School (444 students). See the Natchitoches Parish 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.