- Enrollment
- 387
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Valparaiso, IN
Union Center Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Union Center Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 181170001872
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 96
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Union Center Elementary School earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Indiana schools.
- #6 of 15
- elementary schools in Valparaiso · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.5:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 15.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Union Center Elementary School has class sizes larger than 75% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Union Center Elementary School ranks #6 of 15 elementary schools in Valparaiso, IN.
School address
District: Union Township School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 181170001872 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Union Center Elementary School held near 407 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 22.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 181170001872 · Valparaiso, IN Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
386 enr · 17.5:1 · 15.3% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Wheeler High School (387 students)
Union Center Elementary School held near 407 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 22.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Union Center Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Wheeler High S
Wheeler High School
387 students
- This school
Union Center Elementary School
386 students
- Union Township
Union Township Middle School
333 students
- John Simatovic
John Simatovich Elementary School
280 students
What this shows Union Center Elementary School reports 386 students on the CCD universe file.
How Union Center Elementary School compares
Union Center Elementary School 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 | 17.5:1 | ▲ 10% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.3% | ▼ 69% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 386 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
386
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
15.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% 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
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 75% in Indiana - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
1.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$12,501
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.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 386 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 81.6%
Hispanic or Latino 12.2%
Two or More 3.4%
African American 2.6%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 81.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 31.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 31.7, Union Center Elementary School is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Union Township School Corp reports $12,501 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Union Center Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Union Township Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| John Simatovich Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Union Center Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 333
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 280
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar elementary schools in Valparaiso
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Cooks Corners Elementary School
Standard public school
487 students 23.2:1 students per teacher
Heavilin Elementary School
Standard public school
479 students 16:1 students per teacher
Flint Lake Elementary School
Standard public school
476 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Memorial Elementary School
Standard public school
434 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Jackson Elementary School
Standard public school
348 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Washington Twp Elementary School
Standard public school
339 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
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 (~386 students)
Frequently asked questions about Union Center Elementary School
How many students attend Union Center Elementary School?
Union Center Elementary School has 386 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Valparaiso, IN. CCD year-over-year: 413 (2022-23) → 407 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Union Center Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Union Center Elementary School is 17.5:1, which is 10% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Union Center Elementary School?
15.3% of students at Union Center Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Union Center Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Union Center Elementary School is White at 81.6% of enrollment, in Valparaiso, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Union Center Elementary School?
Union Center Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher 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).
How does Union Center Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Valparaiso?
By Resource Investment Index, Union Center Elementary School ranks #6 of 15 elementary schools in Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso on the city page.
What other schools are in Union Township School Corp?
Besides Union Center Elementary School, Union Township School Corp also operates Wheeler High School (387 students), Union Township Middle School (333 students), and John Simatovich Elementary School (280 students). See the Union Township School Corp district page for the complete list.