- Enrollment
- 5,239
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Carmel, IN
Prairie Trace Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Trace Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180120000991
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 81
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie Trace Elementary School earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Indiana schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in Carmel · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.9:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 8.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie Trace Elementary School has class sizes larger than 79% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Trace Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Carmel, IN.
School address
District: Carmel Clay Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180120000991 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Prairie Trace Elementary School held near 705 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 40.0 → 43.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 180120000991 · Carmel, IN Elementary · MID · TRAD
715 enr · 17.9:1 · 8.6% lunch · RII 60
Nearest enrollment peer: Carmel High School (5,239 students)
Prairie Trace Elementary School held near 705 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 40.0 → 43.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Prairie Trace Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Carmel High Sc
Carmel High School
5,239 students
- Creekside Midd 1,428
Creekside Middle School
1,428 students
- Clay Middle Sc 1,415
Clay Middle School
1,415 students
- Carmel Middle 1,047
Carmel Middle School
1,047 students
- This school 715
Prairie Trace Elementary School
715 students
- Cherry Tree El 711
Cherry Tree Elementary School
711 students
What this shows Prairie Trace Elementary School reports 715 students on the CCD universe file.
How Prairie Trace Elementary School compares
Prairie Trace Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.9:1 | ▲ 13% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 8.6% | ▼ 83% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 715 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
715
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
8.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 83% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 79% in Indiana - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
7.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,444
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 60.7%
Asian 24.3%
Hispanic or Latino 6.3%
African American 4.6%
Two or More 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 60.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.5, Prairie Trace Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Carmel Clay Schools reports $13,444 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Prairie Trace Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Creekside Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Clay Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Carmel Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cherry Tree Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie Trace Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,415
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,047
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 711
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Similar elementary schools in Carmel
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Carmel Elementary School
Standard public school
700 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Woodbrook Elementary School
Standard public school
628 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
College Wood Elementary School
Standard public school
616 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
West Clay Elementary School
Standard public school
580 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Towne Meadow Elementary School
Standard public school
527 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~715 students)
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Trace Elementary School
How many students attend Prairie Trace Elementary School?
Prairie Trace Elementary School has 715 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Carmel, IN. CCD year-over-year: 697 (2022-23) → 705 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Trace Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Trace Elementary School is 17.9:1, which is 13% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Prairie Trace Elementary School?
8.6% of students at Prairie Trace Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Trace Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Trace Elementary School is White at 60.7% of enrollment, in Carmel, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Trace Elementary School?
Prairie Trace Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Prairie Trace Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Carmel?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Trace Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Carmel, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Carmel on the city page.
What other schools are in Carmel Clay Schools?
Besides Prairie Trace Elementary School, Carmel Clay Schools also operates Carmel High School (5,239 students), Creekside Middle School (1,428 students), and Clay Middle School (1,415 students). See the Carmel Clay Schools district page for the complete list.