Enrollment
789
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8
Federal NCES profile for Pittsburgh Colfax K-8, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 421917006022
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #51 of 62
- elementary schools in Pittsburgh · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 has class sizes larger than 71% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 ranks #51 of 62 elementary schools in Pittsburgh, PA.
School address
District: Pittsburgh Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421917006022 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
54.0
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 Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, enrolling 789 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.
Enrollment of 789 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 361 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #122.
Its student body is led by White (50%) and African American (18%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 789 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Pittsburgh Sd spends $24,314 per pupil, 35% above the Pennsylvania average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Pittsburgh's elementary schools, it stands alongside Penn Hills El Sch (1,228 students): Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.6:1 vs 13.2:1).
Pittsburgh Sd also operates Pittsburgh Allderdice Hs (1,386 students) and Pittsburgh Brashear Hs (897 students) alongside Pittsburgh Colfax K-8.
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 Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 compares
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 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 | 789 | top 16% | - | - |
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.
789
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
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
18.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$24,314
per pupil, district-wide
- above Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 789 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 59 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.9 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 49.6%
African American 18.1%
Asian 15.8%
Two or More 8.4%
Hispanic or Latino 7.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 49.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.4, Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Pittsburgh Sd, which includes Pittsburgh Colfax K-8.
$24,314
Per student
+35%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
+47%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.7%
State 38.2%
Federal 10.2%
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 Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Allderdice Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pittsburgh Brashear Hs | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pittsburgh Capa 6-12 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pittsburgh Obama 6-12 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academ | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pittsburgh Colfax K-8's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 897
- Students per teacher
- 9.8:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 840
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 678
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar elementary schools in Pittsburgh
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Penn Hills El Sch
Standard public school
1,228 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Mcknight El Sch
Standard public school
875 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Chartiers Valley Intrmd School
Standard public school
801 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Ohara El Sch
Standard public school
726 students 14:1 students per teacher
J.E. Harrison Education Ctr
Standard public school
716 students 9.8:1 students per teacher
Whitehall El Sch
Standard public school
669 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~789 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Pittsburgh Colfax K-8's federal record.
- Compare Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 against another school. Compare schools
- Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh Colfax K-8
How many students attend Pittsburgh Colfax K-8?
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 has 789 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Pittsburgh, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8?
The student-teacher ratio at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 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 Pittsburgh Colfax K-8?
100.0% of students at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pittsburgh Colfax K-8?
The largest demographic group at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 is White at 49.6% of enrollment, in Pittsburgh, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pittsburgh Colfax K-8?
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 rank among elementary schools in Pittsburgh?
By Resource Investment Index, Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 ranks #51 of 62 elementary schools in Pittsburgh, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Pittsburgh on the city page.
Is Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 a good school?
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Pittsburgh Sd?
Besides Pittsburgh Colfax K-8, Pittsburgh Sd also operates Pittsburgh Allderdice Hs (1,386 students), Pittsburgh Brashear Hs (897 students), and Pittsburgh Capa 6-12 (840 students). See the Pittsburgh 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.