Enrollment
461
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Harrisburg, PA
Rutherford El Sch
Federal NCES profile for Rutherford El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 420540001811
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rutherford El Sch earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #4 of 22
- elementary schools in Harrisburg · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.7:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 99.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Rutherford El Sch has class sizes larger than 94% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rutherford El Sch ranks #4 of 22 elementary schools in Harrisburg, PA.
School address
District: Central Dauphin Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420540001811 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.7:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+30% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.5%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+71% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Rutherford El Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Rutherford El Sch
Rutherford El Sch is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, enrolling 461 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.7:1 is larger than about 94% of Pennsylvania schools and 30% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 99.5% of students eligible for free meals.
With 461 students, its enrollment sits close to the Pennsylvania median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Among 537 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Pennsylvania schools statewide, it ranks #52, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (28%) and Asian (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 78/100).
16.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Harrisburg's elementary schools, it stands alongside Thomas W Holtzman Jr El Sch (792 students): Rutherford El Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.7:1 vs 18.4:1).
Central Dauphin Sd also operates Central Dauphin Shs (1,966 students) and Central Dauphin East Shs (1,573 students) alongside Rutherford El Sch.
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 Rutherford El Sch compares
Rutherford El Sch on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.7:1 | ▲ 30% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.5% | ▲ 71% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 461 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
461
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% 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
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 94% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,143
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.0 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
African American 28.2%
Asian 25.6%
White 20.6%
Hispanic or Latino 15.0%
Two or More 10.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 28.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.9, Rutherford El Sch is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Central Dauphin Sd, which includes Rutherford El Sch.
$15,143
Per student
-16%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 68.5%
State 22.6%
Federal 8.9%
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 Rutherford El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Dauphin Shs | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Central Dauphin East Shs | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Linglestown Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Central Dauphin Ms | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Side El Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rutherford El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,966
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,573
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 841
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 834
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 722
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Harrisburg
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Thomas W Holtzman Jr El Sch
Standard public school
792 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Sara Lindemuth El Sch
Standard public school
758 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
North Side El Sch
Standard public school
722 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Paxtonia El Sch
Standard public school
682 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
South Side El Sch
Standard public school
603 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
West Hanover El Sch
Standard public school
589 students 18.4:1 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 (~461 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Rutherford El Sch's federal record.
- Compare Rutherford El Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Central Dauphin 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 Rutherford El Sch
How many students attend Rutherford El Sch?
Rutherford El Sch has 461 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Harrisburg, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rutherford El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Rutherford El Sch is 17.7:1, which is 30% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rutherford El Sch?
99.5% of students at Rutherford El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rutherford El Sch?
The largest demographic group at Rutherford El Sch is African American at 28.2% of enrollment, in Harrisburg, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rutherford El Sch?
Rutherford El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Rutherford El Sch rank among elementary schools in Harrisburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Rutherford El Sch ranks #4 of 22 elementary schools in Harrisburg, 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 Harrisburg on the city page.
Is Rutherford El Sch a good school?
Rutherford El Sch earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% 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 Central Dauphin Sd?
Besides Rutherford El Sch, Central Dauphin Sd also operates Central Dauphin Shs (1,966 students), Central Dauphin East Shs (1,573 students), and Linglestown Ms (841 students). See the Central Dauphin 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.