Enrollment
431
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bowling Green, KY
T C Cherry Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for T C Cherry Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210057000106
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 75
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
T C Cherry Elementary School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #6 of 18
- schools in Bowling Green · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 81.3%
- free-lunch eligible
T C Cherry Elementary School has class sizes larger than 78% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, T C Cherry Elementary School ranks #6 of 18 schools in Bowling Green, KY.
School address
District: Bowling Green Independent · Kentucky
NCES ID 210057000106 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.2:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
81.3%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+37% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How T C Cherry Elementary School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at T C Cherry Elementary School
T C Cherry Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Bowling Green, Kentucky, enrolling 431 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 81.3% of students qualify for free meals, 37% above the Kentucky average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 431 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kentucky median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Against 235 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #47.
Its student body is led by White (43%) and African American (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 431 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
10.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 21.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Bowling Green's public schools, it stands alongside Rich Pond Elementary (990 students): T C Cherry Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.2:1 vs 21.1:1).
Bowling Green Independent also operates Bowling Green High School (1,377 students) and Bowling Green Junior High (1,042 students) alongside T C Cherry 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 T C Cherry Elementary School compares
T C Cherry 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 | 17.2:1 | ▲ 13% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.3% | ▲ 37% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 431 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
431
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
81.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 78% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
10.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,472
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 431 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 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 42.9%
African American 26.0%
Hispanic or Latino 12.8%
Two or More 10.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 7.0%
Asian 1.2%
Largest group: White at 42.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.7, T C Cherry 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 Bowling Green Independent, which includes T C Cherry Elementary School.
$13,472
Per student
+2%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.8%
State 50.1%
Federal 21.0%
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 T C Cherry Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bowling Green Junior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dishman Mcginnis Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Potter Gray Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| W R Mcneill Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to T C Cherry Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,377
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 1,042
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 506
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 499
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 433
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar other schools in Bowling Green
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Rich Pond Elementary
Standard public school
990 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Lost River Elementary
Standard public school
856 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Jennings Creek Elementary
Standard public school
852 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Jody Richards Elementary
Standard public school
754 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Plano Elementary
Standard public school
750 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Warren Elementary
Standard public school
714 students 17:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~431 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on T C Cherry Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare T C Cherry Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Bowling Green 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 T C Cherry Elementary School
How many students attend T C Cherry Elementary School?
T C Cherry Elementary School has 431 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bowling Green, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at T C Cherry Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at T C Cherry Elementary School is 17.2:1, which is 13% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at T C Cherry Elementary School?
81.3% of students at T C Cherry Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of T C Cherry Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at T C Cherry Elementary School is White at 42.9% of enrollment, in Bowling Green, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for T C Cherry Elementary School?
T C Cherry Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 T C Cherry Elementary School rank among schools in Bowling Green?
By Resource Investment Index, T C Cherry Elementary School ranks #6 of 18 schools in Bowling Green, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Bowling Green on the city page.
Is T C Cherry Elementary School a good school?
T C Cherry Elementary School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky 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 Bowling Green Independent?
Besides T C Cherry Elementary School, Bowling Green Independent also operates Bowling Green High School (1,377 students), Bowling Green Junior High (1,042 students), and Dishman Mcginnis Elementary School (506 students). See the Bowling Green 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.