Enrollment
391
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bridgeport, CT
Paul Laurence Dunbar School
Federal NCES profile for Paul Laurence Dunbar School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 090045001161
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul Laurence Dunbar School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Connecticut schools.
- #17 of 34
- schools in Bridgeport · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 84.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul Laurence Dunbar School has class sizes larger than 85% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Laurence Dunbar School ranks #17 of 34 schools in Bridgeport, CT.
School address
District: Bridgeport School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090045001161 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
+16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
84.2%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+131% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Paul Laurence Dunbar School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at Paul Laurence Dunbar School
Paul Laurence Dunbar School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Bridgeport, Connecticut, enrolling 391 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14:1 puts it in the larger third of Connecticut schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 84.2% of students qualify for free meals, 131% above the Connecticut average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 391 students, its enrollment sits close to the Connecticut median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,003 scored Connecticut schools.
Against 74 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #29.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (61%) and African American (32%) (diversity index 52/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Bridgeport's public schools, it stands alongside Achievement First Bridgeport Academy (1,090 students): Paul Laurence Dunbar School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14:1 vs 20.6:1).
Bridgeport School District also operates Central High School (1,803 students) and Warren Harding High School (1,324 students) alongside Paul Laurence Dunbar 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 Paul Laurence Dunbar School compares
Paul Laurence Dunbar School on the metrics families compare, against Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | ▲ 16% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.2% | ▲ 131% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 391 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
391
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
84.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 131% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 85% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.4%
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
$20,908
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $23,870
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 48 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 61.4%
African American 31.7%
White 3.3%
Two or More 2.8%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 61.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.1, Paul Laurence Dunbar School is about as mixed as the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bridgeport School District, which includes Paul Laurence Dunbar School.
$20,908
Per student
-12%
vs Connecticut
Avg $23,870
+26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.0%
State 61.5%
Federal 18.5%
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 Paul Laurence Dunbar School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Warren Harding High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blackham School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bassick High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cesar Batalla School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul Laurence Dunbar School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,803
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,324
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,088
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,075
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 990
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar other schools in Bridgeport
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Achievement First Bridgeport Academy
Standard public school
1,090 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Blackham School
Standard public school
1,088 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Cesar Batalla School
Standard public school
990 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Read School
Standard public school
863 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Geraldine Johnson School
Standard public school
825 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Capital Preparatory Harbor School
Standard public school
775 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Connecticut, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~391 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Paul Laurence Dunbar School's federal record.
- Compare Paul Laurence Dunbar School against another school. Compare schools
- Bridgeport School District'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 Paul Laurence Dunbar School
How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar School?
Paul Laurence Dunbar School has 391 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bridgeport, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar School is 14:1, which is 16% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paul Laurence Dunbar School?
84.2% of students at Paul Laurence Dunbar School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul Laurence Dunbar School?
The largest demographic group at Paul Laurence Dunbar School is Hispanic or Latino at 61.4% of enrollment, in Bridgeport, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul Laurence Dunbar School?
Paul Laurence Dunbar School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Paul Laurence Dunbar School rank among schools in Bridgeport?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Laurence Dunbar School ranks #17 of 34 schools in Bridgeport, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Bridgeport on the city page.
Is Paul Laurence Dunbar School a good school?
Paul Laurence Dunbar School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Connecticut 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 Bridgeport School District?
Besides Paul Laurence Dunbar School, Bridgeport School District also operates Central High School (1,803 students), Warren Harding High School (1,324 students), and Blackham School (1,088 students). See the Bridgeport School District 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.