Enrollment
535
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Owensboro, KY
Sutton Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Sutton Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 210459001139
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 81
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sutton Elementary School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Owensboro · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.7:1
- students per teacher
- 41.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Sutton Elementary School has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sutton Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Owensboro, KY.
School address
District: Owensboro Independent · Kentucky
NCES ID 210459001139 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.9%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
-29% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sutton Elementary School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sutton Elementary School
Sutton Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Owensboro, Kentucky, enrolling 535 students.
At 15.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Kentucky median, within a few percentage points of the 15.2:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 41.9% free-meal eligibility runs 29% below the Kentucky average.
Enrollment of 535 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 1,389 Kentucky schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 286 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #8, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (72%) and Two or More (9%) (diversity index 46/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 268 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance holds up well here: only 7.5% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Its district draws 23.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Owensboro's elementary schools, it stands alongside Newton Parrish Elementary School (545 students): Sutton Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.7:1 vs 14:1).
Owensboro Independent also operates Owensboro High School (1,342 students) and Owensboro Middle School (790 students) alongside Sutton 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 Sutton Elementary School compares
Sutton Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.7:1 | ▲ 3% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.9% | ▼ 29% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 535 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
535
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 60% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
7.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$15,009
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $13,211
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 268 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.4 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
White 72.1%
Two or More 8.8%
African American 7.7%
Hispanic or Latino 6.4%
Asian 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 72.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.0, Sutton Elementary School is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Owensboro Independent, which includes Sutton Elementary School.
$15,009
Per student
+14%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.0%
State 51.9%
Federal 23.1%
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 Sutton Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Owensboro Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Newton Parrish Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Estes Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Foust Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sutton Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,342
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 545
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 492
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar elementary schools in Owensboro
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Newton Parrish Elementary School
Standard public school
545 students 14:1 students per teacher
Foust Elementary School
Standard public school
400 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Cravens Elementary School
Standard public school
396 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Valley Elementary School
Alternative education program
19 students 3.2:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~535 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sutton Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Sutton Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Owensboro Independent'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 Sutton Elementary School
How many students attend Sutton Elementary School?
Sutton Elementary School has 535 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Owensboro, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sutton Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sutton Elementary School is 15.7:1, which is 3% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sutton Elementary School?
41.9% of students at Sutton Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sutton Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Sutton Elementary School is White at 72.1% of enrollment, in Owensboro, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sutton Elementary School?
Sutton Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher 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 Sutton Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Owensboro?
By Resource Investment Index, Sutton Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Owensboro, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Owensboro on the city page.
Is Sutton Elementary School a good school?
Sutton Elementary School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky 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 Owensboro Independent?
Besides Sutton Elementary School, Owensboro Independent also operates Owensboro High School (1,342 students), Owensboro Middle School (790 students), and Newton Parrish Elementary School (545 students). See the Owensboro Independent 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.