- Enrollment
- 397
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Columbia, PA
Park El Sch
Federal NCES profile for Park El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 420636006998
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Park El Sch earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Columbia · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 71.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Park El Sch has class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Park El Sch ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Columbia, PA.
School address
District: Columbia Borough Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420636006998 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+3 students YoY
Park El Sch held near 481 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 39.0 → 40.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+3 students YoY 420636006998 · Columbia, PA Elementary · MID · TRAD
511 enr · 13.4:1 · 71.1% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbia Hs (397 students)
Park El Sch held near 481 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE added 39.0 → 40.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Park El Sch in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Park El Sch
511 students
- Columbia Hs
Columbia Hs
397 students
- Columbia Ms Ta 202
Columbia Ms Taylor Campus
202 students
- Columbia Ms Hi 202
Columbia Ms Hill Campus
202 students
What this shows Park El Sch reports 511 students on the CCD universe file.
How Park El Sch compares
Park El Sch held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 1% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.1% | ▲ 22% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 511 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
511
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 51% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.6%
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
$19,673
per pupil, district-wide
- above Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 511 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 44.4%
White 34.1%
Two or More 11.9%
African American 8.0%
Asian 1.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.6, Park El Sch is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
District finance for Columbia Borough Sd reports $19,673 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Park El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Hs | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbia Ms Taylor Campus | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbia Ms Hill Campus | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Park El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 202
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 202
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Columbia
1 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 (~511 students)
Frequently asked questions about Park El Sch
How many students attend Park El Sch?
Park El Sch has 511 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Columbia, PA. CCD year-over-year: 478 (2022-23) → 481 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Park El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Park El Sch is 13.4:1, which is 1% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Park El Sch?
71.1% of students at Park El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Park El Sch?
The largest demographic group at Park El Sch is Hispanic or Latino at 44.4% of enrollment, in Columbia, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Park El Sch?
Park El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower 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 Park El Sch rank among public schools in Columbia?
By Resource Investment Index, Park El Sch ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Columbia, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Columbia Borough Sd?
Besides Park El Sch, Columbia Borough Sd also operates Columbia Hs (397 students), Columbia Ms Taylor Campus (202 students), and Columbia Ms Hill Campus (202 students). See the Columbia Borough Sd district page for the complete list.