- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sparks, MD
Sparks Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sparks Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 240012000476
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sparks Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median.
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.9:1
- students per teacher
- 10.6%
- free-lunch eligible
- 509
- students enrolled
Sparks Elementary has class sizes near the Maryland median. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Baltimore County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240012000476 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+25 students YoY
Sparks Elementary grew from 472 students in 2022-23 to 497 in 2023-24 (+5.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 32.3 → 29.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+25 students YoY 240012000476 · Sparks, MD Elementary · MID · TRAD
509 enr · 15.9:1 · 10.6% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Dundalk High (2,087 students)
Sparks Elementary grew from 472 students in 2022-23 to 497 in 2023-24 (+5.3%). Teacher FTE lost 32.3 → 29.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Sparks Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dundalk High
Dundalk High
2,087 students
- Perry Hall Hig
Perry Hall High
2,012 students
- Woodlawn High
Woodlawn High
1,922 students
- Kenwood High
Kenwood High
1,900 students
- Dulaney High
Dulaney High
1,889 students
- This school 509
Sparks Elementary
509 students
What this shows Sparks Elementary reports 509 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sparks Elementary compares
Sparks Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.9:1 | ▲ 10% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.6% | ▼ 78% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 509 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
509
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
10.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 78% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
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
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 69% in Maryland - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
9.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$18,666
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 509 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.6%
Asian 8.8%
Hispanic or Latino 6.7%
African American 3.3%
Two or More 2.6%
Largest group: White at 78.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.8, Sparks Elementary is less mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Baltimore County Public Schools reports $18,666 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sparks Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Perry Hall High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Woodlawn High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kenwood High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dulaney High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sparks Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,922
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,889
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
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 (~509 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sparks Elementary
How many students attend Sparks Elementary?
Sparks Elementary has 509 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sparks, MD. CCD year-over-year: 472 (2022-23) → 497 (2023-24), up 25.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sparks Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sparks Elementary is 15.9:1, which is 10% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sparks Elementary?
10.6% of students at Sparks Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sparks Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sparks Elementary is White at 78.6% of enrollment, in Sparks, MD.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sparks Elementary?
Sparks Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical 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).
What other schools are in Baltimore County Public Schools?
Besides Sparks Elementary, Baltimore County Public Schools also operates Dundalk High (2,087 students), Perry Hall High (2,012 students), and Woodlawn High (1,922 students). See the Baltimore County Public Schools district page for the complete list.