- Enrollment
- 1,111
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 171314001553
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 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 35/100 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
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- 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 →
NCES CCD universe card
School universe 171314001553 · Niles, IL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
479 enr · 13.3:1 · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Gemini Middle School (1,111 students)
Resource Investment Index #4 of 6 public schools in Niles. NCES Common Core of Data stamps for this campus. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
V H Nelson Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gemini Middle
Gemini Middle School
1,111 students
- Apollo Elem Sc
Apollo Elem School
536 students
- Mark Twain Ele
Mark Twain Elem School
489 students
- This school
V H Nelson Elem School
479 students
- Washington Ele 406
Washington Elem School
406 students
- Melzer School 395
Melzer School
395 students
What this shows V H Nelson Elem School reports 479 students on the CCD universe file.
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 | 13.3:1 | ▼ 5% | 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
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
479
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 46% in Illinois - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
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
$20,003
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
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.
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for East Maine Sd 63, which includes V H Nelson Elem School.
$20,003
Per student
+10%
vs Illinois
Avg $18,196
+13%
vs U.S.
Avg $17,658
Revenue mix
Local 59.1%
State 31.5%
Federal 9.4%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2022-23 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 | Similar 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
- 536
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 489
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 406
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 395
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Niles
1 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.
Similar enrollment (~479 students)
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 13.3:1, which is 5% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 15% 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 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.
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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.