Enrollment
479
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Niles, IL
V H Nelson Elem School
Federal NCES profile for V H Nelson Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 171314001553
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
V H Nelson Elem School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #4 of 6
- public schools in Niles · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.4:1
- students per teacher
- 479
- students enrolled
V H Nelson Elem School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, V H Nelson Elem School ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Niles, IL.
School address
District: East Maine Sd 63 · Illinois
NCES ID 171314001553 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.4:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
-11% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How V H Nelson Elem School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at V H Nelson Elem School
V H Nelson Elem School is a mid-sized elementary school in Niles, Illinois, enrolling 479 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.4:1 puts it in the smaller third of Illinois schools by student-teacher ratio.
Enrollment of 479 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by White (36%) and Hispanic or Latino (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Niles's elementary schools, it stands alongside Mark Twain Elem School (489 students): V H Nelson Elem School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.4:1 vs 14.1:1).
East Maine Sd 63 also operates Gemini Middle School (1,111 students) and Apollo Elem School (536 students) alongside V H Nelson Elem 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 V H Nelson Elem School compares
V H Nelson Elem School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.4:1 | ▼ 11% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 479 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
479
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 32% in Illinois - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
28.4%
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
$18,758
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 479 Top 33% in Illinois - larger than 67% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 36.0
Students per teacher 12.4:1 -11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 171314001553
Student demographics
White 36.1%
Hispanic or Latino 33.2%
Asian 20.7%
Two or More 6.5%
African American 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 36.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.1, V H Nelson Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 28.4%
In-school suspensions 6
Out-of-school suspensions 8
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for East Maine Sd 63, which includes V H Nelson Elem School.
$18,758
Per student
+10%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+13%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 59.1%
State 31.5%
Federal 9.4%
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 V H Nelson Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Apollo Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mark Twain Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Washington Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Melzer School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to V H Nelson Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,111
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 536
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 489
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 406
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 395
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Niles
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on V H Nelson Elem School's federal record.
- Compare V H Nelson Elem School against another school. Compare schools
- East Maine Sd 63'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 V H Nelson Elem School
How many students attend V H Nelson Elem School?
V H Nelson Elem School has 479 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Niles, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at V H Nelson Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at V H Nelson Elem School is 12.4:1, which is 11% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 21% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of V H Nelson Elem School?
The largest demographic group at V H Nelson Elem School is White at 36.1% of enrollment, in Niles, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for V H Nelson Elem School?
V H Nelson Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does V H Nelson Elem School rank among public schools in Niles?
By Resource Investment Index, V H Nelson Elem School ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Niles, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Niles on the city page.
Is V H Nelson Elem School a good school?
V H Nelson Elem School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois 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 East Maine Sd 63?
Besides V H Nelson Elem School, East Maine Sd 63 also operates Gemini Middle School (1,111 students), Apollo Elem School (536 students), and Mark Twain Elem School (489 students). See the East Maine Sd 63 district page for the complete list.