Elementary school (grades K-5) · Indianapolis, IN

The Nature School of Central Indiana

Federal NCES profile for The Nature School of Central Indiana, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.

2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180023002735Charter school
0/100100/10036/100
👥 S:T ratio
0
📋 Attendance
72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →

The verdict

The Nature School of Central Indiana earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Indiana schools.

#45 of 89
elementary schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
36
Resource Index · Typical
25:1
large classes for Indiana
7.0%
free-lunch eligible

The Nature School of Central Indiana has class sizes larger than 98% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.

By Resource Investment Index, The Nature School of Central Indiana ranks #45 of 89 elementary schools in Indianapolis, IN.

CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24

+3 students YoY

The Nature School of Central Indiana held near 145 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).

Teacher FTE lost 7.0 → 6.0 across the same CCD years.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).

Steady CCD campus

+3 students YoY 180023002735 · Indianapolis, IN Elementary · SMALL · CHARTER

175 enr · 25:1 · 7.0% lunch · RII 36

Nearest enrollment peer: Virtual Academy of Fairfield-Suisun (175 students)

The Nature School of Central Indiana held near 145 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 7.0 → 6.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →

How The Nature School of Central Indiana compares

The Nature School of Central Indiana held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.

Metric This school vs Indiana Indiana avg U.S. avg
Students per teacher 25:1 ▲ 57% 15.9:1 15.7:1
Free-lunch eligible 7.0% ▼ 86% 49.5% 51.7%
Enrollment 175 top 93% - -

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25

25:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
175
Bigger than 17% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.

Equity indicators methodology

Economic need
7.0%
free-lunch eligible - 86% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
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
25:1
students per teacher - 57% above state mean
Top 98% in Indiana - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
11.4%
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
$9,880
per pupil, district-wide - below Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.

Student demographics

White 78.3%
Two or More 13.7%
Hispanic or Latino 3.4%
African American 2.3%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%

Largest group: White at 78.3% of enrollment.

Student-body diversity index 36.6/100

Simpson diversity index - at 36.6, The Nature School of Central Indiana is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.

District finance for The Nature School of Central Indiana reports $9,880 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.

Similar elementary schools in Indianapolis

6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.

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.

Frequently asked questions about The Nature School of Central Indiana

How many students attend The Nature School of Central Indiana?

The Nature School of Central Indiana has 175 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Indianapolis, IN. CCD year-over-year: 142 (2022-23) → 145 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).

What is the student-teacher ratio at The Nature School of Central Indiana?

The student-teacher ratio at The Nature School of Central Indiana is 25:1, which is 57% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 59% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.

What percentage of students receive free lunch at The Nature School of Central Indiana?

7.0% of students at The Nature School of Central Indiana are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.

What is the racial and ethnic makeup of The Nature School of Central Indiana?

The largest demographic group at The Nature School of Central Indiana is White at 78.3% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN.

What is the Resource Investment Index for The Nature School of Central Indiana?

The Nature School of Central Indiana has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.

How does The Nature School of Central Indiana rank among elementary schools in Indianapolis?

By Resource Investment Index, The Nature School of Central Indiana ranks #45 of 89 elementary schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Indianapolis on the city page.

What other schools are in The Nature School of Central Indiana?

None; The Nature School of Central Indiana is a single-school charter district, and The Nature School of Central Indiana is its only campus.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) CCD + Public School Universe (2024-25), CRDC (2021-22), F-33 District Finance Survey (FY 2022-23) · 2024-25 Data as of the 2024-25 school year. Coverage from U.S. Department of Education NCES Common Core of Data. Varies by entity type; administrative districts and certain charter networks may report only a subset of fields.

All federal data sources used on this page

Full source list and how we compute each figure: methodology page.

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