- Enrollment
- 2,307
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Orange Park, FL
Robert M. Paterson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Robert M. Paterson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120030000203
👥 S:T ratio 66
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Robert M. Paterson Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Florida schools.
- #5 of 15
- schools in Orange Park · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.4:1
- small classes for Florida
- 29.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Robert M. Paterson Elementary has class sizes smaller than 95% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Robert M. Paterson Elementary ranks #5 of 15 schools in Orange Park, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-424 students YoY
Robert M. Paterson Elementary shrank from 1,117 students in 2022-23 to 693 in 2023-24 (-38.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 79.0 → 57.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-424 students YoY 120030000203 · Orange Park, FL Other · MID · TRAD
665 enr · 8.4:1 · 29.7% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Oakleaf High School (2,307 students)
Robert M. Paterson Elementary shrank from 1,117 students in 2022-23 to 693 in 2023-24 (-38.0%). Teacher FTE lost 79.0 → 57.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Robert M. Paterson Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Oakleaf High S
Oakleaf High School
2,307 students
- Middleburg Hig
Middleburg High School
1,866 students
- Orange Park Hi
Orange Park High School
1,844 students
- Ridgeview High
Ridgeview High School
1,792 students
- Clay High Scho
Clay High School
1,776 students
- This school 665
Robert M. Paterson Elementary
665 students
What this shows Robert M. Paterson Elementary reports 665 students on the CCD universe file.
How Robert M. Paterson Elementary compares
Robert M. Paterson Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.4:1 | ▼ 53% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.7% | ▼ 43% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 665 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.4:1
Leaner classes than 94% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
665
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
29.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
8.4:1
students per teacher
- 53% below state mean
Top 5% in Florida - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
29.9%
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
$10,252
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 333 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
49
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 70.5%
Hispanic or Latino 12.6%
Two or More 6.8%
African American 5.4%
Asian 4.7%
Largest group: White at 70.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.7, Robert M. Paterson Elementary is less mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Clay reports $10,252 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Robert M. Paterson Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakleaf High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Middleburg High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orange Park High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridgeview High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clay High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Robert M. Paterson Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,866
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,844
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,792
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,776
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
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 (~665 students)
Frequently asked questions about Robert M. Paterson Elementary
How many students attend Robert M. Paterson Elementary?
Robert M. Paterson Elementary has 665 students enrolled. It is a public school in Orange Park, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,117 (2022-23) → 693 (2023-24), down 424.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Robert M. Paterson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Robert M. Paterson Elementary is 8.4:1, which is 53% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 46% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Robert M. Paterson Elementary?
29.7% of students at Robert M. Paterson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Robert M. Paterson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Robert M. Paterson Elementary is White at 70.5% of enrollment, in Orange Park, FL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Robert M. Paterson Elementary?
Robert M. Paterson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (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 Robert M. Paterson Elementary rank among schools in Orange Park?
By Resource Investment Index, Robert M. Paterson Elementary ranks #5 of 15 schools in Orange Park, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Orange Park on the city page.
What other schools are in Clay?
Besides Robert M. Paterson Elementary, Clay also operates Oakleaf High School (2,307 students), Middleburg High School (1,866 students), and Orange Park High School (1,844 students). See the Clay district page for the complete list.