- Enrollment
- 1,253
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Meridian, MS
Poplar Springs Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Poplar Springs Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 280291000572
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 60
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Poplar Springs Elementary School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Mississippi schools.
- #1 of 10
- schools in Meridian · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.5:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Poplar Springs Elementary School has class sizes larger than 71% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Poplar Springs Elementary School ranks #1 of 10 schools in Meridian, MS.
School address
District: Meridian Public Schools · Mississippi
NCES ID 280291000572 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-30 students YoY
Poplar Springs Elementary School shrank from 412 students in 2022-23 to 382 in 2023-24 (-7.3%).
Teacher FTE held 28.7 → 28.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-30 students YoY 280291000572 · Meridian, MS Other · SMALL · TRAD
405 enr · 14.5:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Meridian High School (1,253 students)
Poplar Springs Elementary School shrank from 412 students in 2022-23 to 382 in 2023-24 (-7.3%). Teacher FTE held 28.7 → 28.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Poplar Springs Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Meridian High
Meridian High School
1,253 students
- Northwest Juni 484
Northwest Junior High School
484 students
- Magnolia Middl 440
Magnolia Middle School
440 students
- T J Harris El 434
T J Harris Elementary
434 students
- West Hills Ele 423
West Hills Elementary School
423 students
- This school 405
Poplar Springs Elementary School
405 students
What this shows Poplar Springs Elementary School reports 405 students on the CCD universe file.
How Poplar Springs Elementary School compares
Poplar Springs Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.5:1 | ▲ 9% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 405 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.5:1
Leaner classes than 52% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
405
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.5:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 71% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,308
per pupil, district-wide
- above Mississippi avg of $13,683
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 203 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
45
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 83.7%
White 7.9%
Two or More 4.4%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 83.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.0, Poplar Springs Elementary School is less mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Meridian Public Schools reports $14,308 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Poplar Springs Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwest Junior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Magnolia Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| T J Harris Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Hills Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Poplar Springs Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 423
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Meridian
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
West Lauderdale Elementary School
Standard public school
761 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Northeast Lauderdale Elementary
Standard public school
730 students 11.6:1 students per teacher
Southeast Lauderdale Elementary
Standard public school
562 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Clarkdale Elementary School
Standard public school
527 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
T J Harris Elementary
Standard public school
434 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
West Hills Elementary School
Standard public school
423 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
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 (~405 students)
Frequently asked questions about Poplar Springs Elementary School
How many students attend Poplar Springs Elementary School?
Poplar Springs Elementary School has 405 students enrolled. It is a public school in Meridian, MS. CCD year-over-year: 412 (2022-23) → 382 (2023-24), down 30.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Poplar Springs Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Poplar Springs Elementary School is 14.5:1, which is 9% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 8% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Poplar Springs Elementary School?
100.0% of students at Poplar Springs Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Poplar Springs Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Poplar Springs Elementary School is African American at 83.7% of enrollment, in Meridian, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Poplar Springs Elementary School?
Poplar Springs Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher 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 Poplar Springs Elementary School rank among schools in Meridian?
By Resource Investment Index, Poplar Springs Elementary School ranks #1 of 10 schools in Meridian, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Meridian on the city page.
What other schools are in Meridian Public Schools?
Besides Poplar Springs Elementary School, Meridian Public Schools also operates Meridian High School (1,253 students), Northwest Junior High School (484 students), and Magnolia Middle School (440 students). See the Meridian Public Schools district page for the complete list.