- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbus, KS
Park Elem
Federal NCES profile for Park Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 200507001341
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Park Elem earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Kansas schools.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.3:1
- large classes for Kansas
- 56.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Park Elem has class sizes larger than 89% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Park Elem ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Columbus, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
Park Elem grew from 201 students in 2022-23 to 216 in 2023-24 (+7.5%).
Teacher FTE added 12.4 → 12.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+15 students YoY 200507001341 · Columbus, KS Other · SMALL · TRAD
208 enr · 17.3:1 · 56.2% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbus Junior High and High School (438 students)
Park Elem grew from 201 students in 2022-23 to 216 in 2023-24 (+7.5%). Teacher FTE added 12.4 → 12.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Park Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbus Junio
Columbus Junior High and High School
438 students
- Central Elem
Central Elem
348 students
- This school
Park Elem
208 students
- Highland Elem 130
Highland Elem
130 students
What this shows Park Elem reports 208 students on the CCD universe file.
How Park Elem compares
Park Elem is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▲ 25% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.2% | ▲ 32% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 208 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
208
Bigger than 20% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 89% in Kansas - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
15.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,603
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,788
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 + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 76.4%
Hispanic or Latino 9.6%
Two or More 6.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.3%
African American 2.4%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: White at 76.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.0, Park Elem is about as mixed as the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
District finance for Columbus reports $14,603 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Park Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Junior High and High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Central Elem | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highland Elem | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Park Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 348
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 130
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Columbus
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~208 students)
Frequently asked questions about Park Elem
How many students attend Park Elem?
Park Elem has 208 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbus, KS. CCD year-over-year: 201 (2022-23) → 216 (2023-24), up 15.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Park Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Park Elem is 17.3:1, which is 25% higher than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Park Elem?
56.2% of students at Park Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Park Elem?
The largest demographic group at Park Elem is White at 76.4% of enrollment, in Columbus, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Park Elem?
Park Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Park Elem rank among public schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Park Elem ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Columbus, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Columbus?
Besides Park Elem, Columbus also operates Columbus Junior High and High School (438 students), Central Elem (348 students), and Highland Elem (130 students). See the Columbus district page for the complete list.