Enrollment
641
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Reading, PA
Thirteenth & Union El Sch
Federal NCES profile for Thirteenth & Union El Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 422004000832
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 7
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thirteenth & Union El Sch earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Pennsylvania schools.
- #3 of 15
- schools in Reading · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Thirteenth & Union El Sch has class sizes larger than 71% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thirteenth & Union El Sch ranks #3 of 15 schools in Reading, PA.
School address
District: Reading Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 422004000832 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
44.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.6:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Thirteenth & Union El Sch compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Thirteenth & Union El Sch
Thirteenth & Union El Sch is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Reading, Pennsylvania, enrolling 641 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 641 puts it in the larger third of Pennsylvania schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 455 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #209.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (88% of enrollment) (diversity index 22/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 321 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 37.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Reading Sd spends $13,219 per pupil, 26% below the Pennsylvania average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Reading's public schools, it stands alongside Muhlenberg Jr Ms (1,016 students): Thirteenth & Union El Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.6:1 vs 15.6:1).
Reading Sd also operates Reading Shs (4,879 students) and Central Ms (1,785 students) alongside Thirteenth & Union El Sch.
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 Thirteenth & Union El Sch compares
Thirteenth & Union El Sch on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.6:1 | ▲ 7% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 641 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
641
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 71% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
37.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,219
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
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 321 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 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
Hispanic or Latino 88.3%
White 5.9%
African American 2.7%
Two or More 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 88.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 21.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 21.6, Thirteenth & Union El Sch is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Reading Sd, which includes Thirteenth & Union El Sch.
$13,219
Per student
-26%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 15.9%
State 70.2%
Federal 13.9%
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 Thirteenth & Union El Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Shs | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northeast Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwest Ms | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Amanda E Stout El Sch | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thirteenth & Union El Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,879
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,785
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 868
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 821
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 758
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar other schools in Reading
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Muhlenberg Jr Ms
Standard public school
1,016 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Amanda E Stout El Sch
Standard public school
758 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Riverside El Sch
Standard public school
694 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Lauers Park El Sch
Standard public school
615 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Millmont El Sch
Standard public school
590 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Tenth & Green El Sch
Standard public school
564 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~641 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Thirteenth & Union El Sch's federal record.
- Compare Thirteenth & Union El Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Reading Sd'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 Thirteenth & Union El Sch
How many students attend Thirteenth & Union El Sch?
Thirteenth & Union El Sch has 641 students enrolled. It is a public school in Reading, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thirteenth & Union El Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Thirteenth & Union El Sch is 14.6:1, which is 7% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 7% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thirteenth & Union El Sch?
100.0% of students at Thirteenth & Union El Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thirteenth & Union El Sch?
The largest demographic group at Thirteenth & Union El Sch is Hispanic or Latino at 88.3% of enrollment, in Reading, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thirteenth & Union El Sch?
Thirteenth & Union El Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Thirteenth & Union El Sch rank among schools in Reading?
By Resource Investment Index, Thirteenth & Union El Sch ranks #3 of 15 schools in Reading, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Reading on the city page.
Is Thirteenth & Union El Sch a good school?
Thirteenth & Union El Sch earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Pennsylvania 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 Reading Sd?
Besides Thirteenth & Union El Sch, Reading Sd also operates Reading Shs (4,879 students), Central Ms (1,785 students), and Northeast Ms (868 students). See the Reading Sd 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.