Enrollment
663
Louisiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lafayette, LA
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for S.J. Montgomery Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 220087000683
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Louisiana median.
- #14 of 16
- schools in Lafayette · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.4:1
- students per teacher
- 68.9%
- free-lunch eligible
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School has class sizes near the Louisiana median. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, S.J. Montgomery Elementary School ranks #14 of 16 schools in Lafayette, LA.
School address
District: Lafayette Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220087000683 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.4:1
vs 16.8:1 Louisiana avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.9%
vs 62.5% Louisiana avg
+10% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How S.J. Montgomery Elementary School compares with Louisiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at S.J. Montgomery Elementary School
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Lafayette, Louisiana, enrolling 663 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Louisiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 663 puts it in the larger third of Louisiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,330 scored Louisiana schools.
Against 349 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #223.
Its student body is led by African American (58%) and Hispanic or Latino (24%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 332 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
16.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Lafayette Parish spends $11,837 per pupil, 28% below the Louisiana average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 181 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 663 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Lafayette's public schools, it stands alongside Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy (2,177 students): S.J. Montgomery Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.4:1 vs 33:1).
Lafayette Parish also operates Southside High School (1,833 students) and Lafayette High School (1,720 students) alongside S.J. Montgomery Elementary School.
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 S.J. Montgomery Elementary School compares
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▲ 4% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.9% | ▲ 10% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 663 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
663
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% above the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 62% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,837
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,376
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 332 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
104
in-school suspensions + 77 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
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 57.8%
Hispanic or Latino 23.7%
White 13.0%
Two or More 3.5%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: African American at 57.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.1, S.J. Montgomery Elementary School is more mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lafayette Parish, which includes S.J. Montgomery Elementary School.
$11,837
Per student
-28%
vs Louisiana
Avg $16,376
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.5%
State 32.8%
Federal 15.7%
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 S.J. Montgomery Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lafayette High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Acadiana High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| David Thibodaux Stem Magnet Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Milton Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to S.J. Montgomery Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,833
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,652
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,362
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 1,261
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar other schools in Lafayette
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy
Standard public school
2,177 students 33:1 students per teacher
David Thibodaux Stem Magnet Academy
Vocational / career-technical school
1,362 students 21:1 students per teacher
Milton Elementary School
Standard public school
1,261 students 20:1 students per teacher
Woodvale Elementary School
Standard public school
793 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Broadmoor Elementary School
Standard public school
749 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Prairie Elementary School
Standard public school
663 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Louisiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~663 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on S.J. Montgomery Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare S.J. Montgomery Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Lafayette Parish'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 S.J. Montgomery Elementary School
How many students attend S.J. Montgomery Elementary School?
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School has 663 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lafayette, LA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at S.J. Montgomery Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at S.J. Montgomery Elementary School is 17.4:1, which is 4% higher than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at S.J. Montgomery Elementary School?
68.9% of students at S.J. Montgomery Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of S.J. Montgomery Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at S.J. Montgomery Elementary School is African American at 57.8% of enrollment, in Lafayette, LA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for S.J. Montgomery Elementary School?
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 S.J. Montgomery Elementary School rank among schools in Lafayette?
By Resource Investment Index, S.J. Montgomery Elementary School ranks #14 of 16 schools in Lafayette, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lafayette on the city page.
Is S.J. Montgomery Elementary School a good school?
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Louisiana median. 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 Lafayette Parish?
Besides S.J. Montgomery Elementary School, Lafayette Parish also operates Southside High School (1,833 students), Lafayette High School (1,720 students), and Acadiana High School (1,652 students). See the Lafayette Parish 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.